The Open Flemish Liberals and Democrats (Open VLD) and New Flemish Alliance (N-VA) parties have stated that they will not take part in a parliamentary mission to Central Africa, according to Belgian broadcaster RTBF.
The trip, organised by the Commission of the Chamber, is intended to explore Belgium’s colonial role in the region, revisiting difficult questions about Belgium’s past. The trip, scheduled for September, is set to bring Flemish Federal lawmakers to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Rwanda, and Burundi.
The Flemish liberals state that the trip would have “no added value” and “too high a cost”, arguing that the hearings could easily be done from Belgium. The nationalist N-VA argues that the trip could open the door to financial reparations over Belgium’s colonial past, which the party rejects.
Translation: The work in the Congo committee continues. It is important to follow the advice of the experts, but with a view to the future...the work should take place in Parliament. Open VLD will not participate in a long tour through the ex-colonies. No added value and too great a cost.
During the trip, the other parties represented in the national parliament will meet authorities of the three African countries, as well as academic representatives and civil society groups. Several Congolese speakers will attest to the impact of Belgium’s colonial legacy.
Tomas Roggeman, a Member of Parliament for the N-VA, says that the visit is part of a pretence organised by the current government.
“The visit is, in our opinion, part of Vivaldi’s trial of intent, which seeks to make citizens pay financial reparations and a fine for our colonial past. We will not attend and we prefer a dialogue with the African community at home. We want to look towards a future with Kinshasa, Kigali, and Bujumbura, and not dwell on the past,” Roggeman said.
Belgium’s colonial past has returned to the spotlight in recent months. On 20 June, Belgium returned a tooth of the DRC’s first prime minister, who was assassinated following a coup d’état. Belgium was suspected to have been involved in his murder.
Mixed-race métis Belgian-Congolese children are soon set to have full access to the Belgian State Archives in order to trace their family history and colonial ancestry. Many Belgian colonists had children with African women.
