ABSTRACT
This chapter examines the origins, causes, and implications of the process of post-colonial state formation and failure. It gives a brief political history of the nature of Belgian colonialism. Inter-ethnic tensions reflect issues related to the division of labour and labour migration, human resource allocations, and power relations within the colonial administration rather than the values of ethnicities within the Bantu way of life and traditional societies. The resource-rich Katanga region played a major role in establishing colonialism and a post-colonial Congolese political economy and state formation. The principle of self-determination as used by the secessionists in Katanga did not express the full rights of the Katangese for self-governing with the same benefits and citizens' rights for all as articulated in the Charter of the United Nations and that of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU). Since most African countries gained their political independence, there have been many cases of claims of political separatism and secessionism.
