Two soldiers of the Force Publique around 1900
The Force Publique or Public Army was the colonial army of the Congo Free State and afterwards from Belgium-Congo. At its peak, just before the Congolese Dipenda, the Force Publique counted more than 100,000 men, spread over more than fifty barracks in all corners of Congo-Kinshasa.
The Force Publique was founded in 1885 by Leopold II, King of Belgium and sovereign Prince of the Congo Free State, with the aim of providing logistical support to Belgian settlers and occupying strategic points. The battle against Arab slave traders in East Congo was also conducted by the Force Publique. The FP thus expanded to both an army and a police force and was initially under the direct command of the Governor-General and the King.
The officers' corps was and remained open to whites only. Initially, only non-Congolese blacks were admitted to the Force Publique, but from the turn of the century there was a change. Each smal part should contain up to 20% of immigrants with the same ethnic background. This measure allowed the Force Publique to be deployed throughout Congo.
During the First World War, the Force Publique acquired world renown through its military victories around the Tanganyikameer against the Germans. The military occupation of Ruanda-Urundi and East-East Africa (the present Tanzania) since 1917 was conducted by the Force Publique. In 1916, the Force Publique had to crowd victories when they conquered the Germans on the side of the French and the British Cameroon. After the ceasefire of 1918, the Force Publique would withdraw from most of German East Africa, which became British mandate (Tanganyika). The Force Publique was still present in Ruanda-Urundi until the sixties, which previously belonged to German East Africa and became Belgium's mandate. The Force Publique was feared by the enemy because of his alleged cannibalism.
During the Second World War, the Force Publique in Abyssinia (now Ethiopia) fought against the Italian army, which had to withdraw.
After the Congolese independence, the Force Publique was completely dismantled, despite the strong resistance of the white officers, and after the Afrikanerization, the remains went on in the new Armée National Congolese.
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