The colonial powers, namely Belgium, made a classic colonial error of assuming the state that they had arbitrarily created, and defined the borders of, would maintain a national identity following the departure of the colonial power. The Republic of Congo was not historically a cohesive state prior to the arrival of the Europeans, and there were several distinct peoples living in the area with distinct cultures and interests. This led to a violent struggle for power following the departure of the Belgians.Â
