Titolo completo

Trade, arms and development in Africa. The Italian cooperation with the Congo in the Sixties

By June 1960, the Congo gained independence from Belgium and almost immediately entered a prolonged and tragic period of civil war, characterized by conflicting visions among national leaders on how to forge a path for the new state. Given its territory's vast wealth in raw materials, the Congo quickly captured the attention of international actors, including Italian authorities and private enterprises. Rome sought to strengthen its relations with Léopoldville to satisfy a domestic need to expand exports. Simultaneously, Italy’s membership in the Western bloc required the government to address the demands of its international partners during the Congo’s delicate transition, necessitating a commitment to military assistance. Consequently, Italy had to balance domestic interests with the competing expectations of both the Western alliance and the emerging African state. This paper analyses the evolution of the Italy-Congo relationship during the 1960s, with a specific focus on economic and military cooperation.