Belgian Congo

Two postcards of the Force Publique of the Belgian Congo.
Probably from between the wars, but the latter may be late WW1.

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The Force Publique at the very beginning and the very end of Belgian colonial rule. The first pictures shows two Congolese askaris c1909 - shortly after Belgium had been forced to take over King Leopold's brutal and corrupt Congo Free State. They wear the blue and red uniform worn by the Force Publique until 1915. The second photo shows an honour guard in 1959 - months before the Congo gained its independence and the Force Publique mutinied against its Belgian officers.