Le Retour de l'oncle belge

The Return of the Belgian Uncle

Tintin, back in the Congo 44 years after the independence proclaimed by Lumumba? From its contested conqueror King Leopold II to the defunct reign of dictator Mobutu, the former Zaïre hasn’t finished that catalogue of adversity that stirs up the great riches of its subsoil. What with its external and internal wars, the plundering of its resources and the corruption of its leaders, the Congo today is a country bled dry whose exhausted and starved population keeps an eye out for the slightest upturn, albeit without much faith. Belgian diplomacy, which has kept out of the picture these last years, has decided to reaffirm itself in this troubled great lakes region by backing the transition policy initiated by President Joseph Kabila to lead the Congo towards free elections and stability. But the prize cannot be won until civil order and security are re-established. The former colonial power, their “Belgian uncle”, as many Congolese call it with a touch of affection and reproach, has decided to send 200 soldiers to Kisangani, “the city of suffering”, to give peace-keeping training to the first regiments of the new Congolese army that has emerged from the former warring factions. Operation “Future” sees itself as a first of its kind: gone is the colonial spirit, enter the spirit of partnership! The challenge to the Belgian and Congolese troops is historic, say their backers, if this “leopard is to change his spots”…

Belgium - 2004 - 1 h 02 mn - Betacam Digital - Colour

Director
Philippe Dutilleul
Camera
Antonio Capurso
Sound
Frans Wentzel
Editing
Martin Frognier

Production
Radiotélévision belge de la communauté française,
local 2J3,
52 boulevard Auguste-Reyers, Boîte 077,
1044 Bruxelles, Belgique
Tél : +32 2 737 4222
Fax : +32 (0)2 737 4574
E-mail : amx@rtbf.be

Sales
Radiotélévision belge de la communauté française,
52 boulevard Auguste-Reyers, Boîte 077,
1044 Bruxelles, Belgique
Tél : +32 2 737 4394
Fax : +32 (0)2 737 4574
E-mail : rib@rtbf.be