Belgo-Congolese Round Table Conference

[5] Several factors contributed to this idea taking shape, including: The creation of a large scale Belgian-Congolese dialogue was also compatible with a speech from Belgian King Baudouin broadcast on January 13, 1959.

"[10] On January 3, 1960, the Belgian government announced it was convening a round table conference with the goal of helping the Congolese transition from colonial rule to independence.

[3] A number of traditional chiefs (chefs coutumiers) were invited to the Round Table Conference to reduce the proportion of key independence figures in the delegations.

It’s Joseph Kasa-Vubu who put pressure on the Belgian government and demanded the release of Lumumba from prison so that he can join the original delegation in Belgium.

Question 9 dealt with Lumumba’s case since his criminal record was already tainted as he was already convicted by the colonial justice for embezzlement of public funds of the PTT (Telegraph and Telephone Post) of the city of Stanleyville.

Concern was expressed by Congolese students in Brussels that disunity in the Congo would prevent the delegates from taking advantage of Belgium's tenuous position.

De Schryver and the Belgian delegation were shocked by the joint statement, having underestimated the full extent of Congolese discontent and their willingness to cooperate across party lines.