Charles Duchesne
He was instructed by Minister of Colonies Jules Renkin to assign the trial of the agents of the Belgian company for Commerce du Haut Congo, denounced in 1907 by Dr. Dörpinghaus, to one of his subordinates.
During this term Duceshne was sent on a mission of inspection to Haut-Congo, and in particular to Haut-Ituri, where problems included gold thefts from the state mines of Kilo and Moto, incursions from Uganda, and revolts by the local people.
Soon after he acted as governor of Orientale Province while Adolphe De Meulemeester was on leave, and received Colonial Minister Louis Franck in Stanleyville on an inspection and study trip.
After de Meulemeester returned from leave, Duchesne took over the government of Équateur Province, which Alphonse Engels had just left.
From 2–5 May 1921 Duchesne received Governor General Lippens, and discussed appeasement and compensation after the recent revolt of Mongo people, or related peoples, in the territories between Haute-Lukenie, Haute-Luilaka, Salonga, Lomela and the Block de la Busira grants to the Commerce du Haut-Congo company.
The Trappists in return accused Duchesne of removing many boys from school so they could work in farming, for the administration or for private enterprises.
[6] Soon after his return to Coquilhatville in September 1933 Duchesne received Minister of State Count Henry Carton de Wiart, who later criticised the drowsiness of the provincial capital.
In 1923 he inspected the territories of Lisala, Modjamboli, Abumumbasi, Yakoma, Bosobolo, Bangi, Libenge, Gemena, Likimi and Nouvelle-Anvers.
Soon after he went to meet de Meulemeester in Stanleyville and settled an exchange of populations with him to make both their territories more ethnically homogeneous.
[1] During his sixth term in the Congo Duchesne began to see real improvements in the ports, roads, sanitation and urban infrastructure.
The Trappists of Westmalle had been replaced by a decision of the Pope by the Fathers of the Sacred Heart under Bishop Edouard van Goethem [it].
[1] Distinguished visitors included Léopold of Belgium, Duke of Brabant, on 7 June 1925, who inspected troops and saw the sights accompanied by Duchesne.
In September Coquilhatville was visited by André Gide, the filmmaker Marc Allégret and the Duchess of Treviso, attaché at the Pasteur Institute of Paris.
Gide, in his Voyage au Congo, paid tribute to his hosts, admired the indigenous hospital that was nearing completions, and wrote of the achievements at the Jardin botanique d'Eala [fr].
In August 1926 the former governor-general Lippens visited Coquilhatville and took part in a ceremony to inaugurate a Chamber of Commerce and the Équateur Labor Exchange (Bourse du Travail de l'Équateur).
On 10 August 1928 Duchesne was host to King Albert and Queen Elisabeth, accompanied by Governor General Tilkens.
In his report he described the unrest caused by the conviction of a white man for violence against a native, and criticized efforts to persist in a market that was no longer viable.
[1] On 12 November 1929 Duchesne moved to Léopoldville to serve as acting governor general in the absence of Auguste Tilkens until 24 July 1930.
[1] In 1931 there was an economic crisis in the Belgian Congo triggered by problems in Belgium, the primary market, and an overvalued currency, leading to reduced exports.
[1] Duchesne left office on 24 March 1933 and was succeeded by J. Jorissen as Commissioner of the newly created Coquilhatville Province.
