WI: Communist Congo

(I refer to Congo-Kinshasa as just Congo here, if you are confused)

There were numerous left-wing factions in the Congo Crisis, many of which received suppose from China and the Soviet Union, most notable being Antoine Gizenga's Free Republic of the Congo (albeit it tried to work as a legal Lumumbist government, and I consider it unlikely that they, or Lumumba's government itself for that matter, would turn outright communist) and the Simba rebels in the second half of the crisis, so what if Congo ended up as a communist state?

Obviously, relations with the West would be incredibly hostile due to their anti-Communist intervention in the Congo, as well as former colonial connotations, so would the new Communist Congo try to align with the Eastern Bloc? How differently would the Cold War develop with such a large African country turning full communist, and less than five years after achieving independence, too? And if the Soviet Union falls, would Congo end up as an isolated socialist country like Cuba or try to liberalize?
 

Bulldoggus

Banned
Probably doesn't do well. Their weren't enough educated Congolese at the time to run any sort of successful bureaucracy. Congo would have become a basket case regardless.
 
(I refer to Congo-Kinshasa as just Congo here, if you are confused)

There were numerous left-wing factions in the Congo Crisis, many of which received suppose from China and the Soviet Union, most notable being Antoine Gizenga's Free Republic of the Congo (albeit it tried to work as a legal Lumumbist government, and I consider it unlikely that they, or Lumumba's government itself for that matter, would turn outright communist) and the Simba rebels in the second half of the crisis, so what if Congo ended up as a communist state?

Obviously, relations with the West would be incredibly hostile due to their anti-Communist intervention in the Congo, as well as former colonial connotations, so would the new Communist Congo try to align with the Eastern Bloc? How differently would the Cold War develop with such a large African country turning full communist, and less than five years after achieving independence, too? And if the Soviet Union falls, would Congo end up as an isolated socialist country like Cuba or try to liberalize?

What is with the Katanga Free State and the mercenaries that operated there ?
 
I'm actually considering a similar scenario for a planned timeline.

The first thing that would happen is that the US and its allies would do everything in their power to bring it down. A Communist Congo would give the Communist Bloc access to one of the most resource rich regions in Africa, whilst the left-wing anti-colonial forces in all the neighboring territories have just gained a major patron.

Assuming that this Red Congo survives, which is by no means a certainty, I can see them aiming to expand influence in a number of key areas:

The former French Congo, which went Communist IOTL, may end up forming a union with them.

The Central African Republic. IOTL one of their leaders was overthrow by the military for being too left-wing and pro-China. With a secure Communist government in the Congo they might be in a stronger position, or if the coup still happens Congo could use that as a pretext for invading and restoring the legitimate government.

Sudan. The south had a long-standing conflict, and Congo could use it to support pro-Congo/pro-Communist groups.

Great Lakes Region. Hardly the most stable region IOTL. Plenty of opportunities for mischief.

The Portuguese Colonies, especially Angola which has a huge border with the Congo.

The Rhodesias and South Africa. The former already had a serious insurgency probably, and with men and material flowing in from the north they are likely to fall even earlier. Once they fall South Africa is next on the list.

If the Congo had a stable Communist government, or even one that was just functional enough to supply and support rebels in neighboring areas, then a huge chunk of Africa could end up following.
 

Bulldoggus

Banned
If the Congo had a stable Communist government, or even one that was just functional enough to supply and support rebels in neighboring areas
I honestly doubt any Congolese government, especially one without US/European money flowing in, could have done well. Again, there just weren't enough educated people there to properly fill a bureaucracy, an education system, a proper army, or anything else a modern government needs. And even if they could have survived, Congo-Kinsasha would have had far too many issues in their own massive landmass to go about funding insurgencies left, right, and center.
 
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