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Paper short abstract:

Cabinda and Eastern Congo are two examples of colonial arrangements that persist in the post-independence. This study aims to conclude about the reasons for their permanence after independence, the current tensions of separatism and irredentism and possible solutions in a pre-colonial framework.

Paper long abstract:

The so-called Berlin conference (1884) is a symbolic moment of the division of Africa according to non-African interests that left deep marks of confrontation that last until today.

The truth is that the African independences of the 20th century were achieved, somewhat ironically, according to the frameworks outlined in that conference. Postcolonialism was defined by colonialism.

This led to the formation of several "new" countries that continued to disregard traditional historical and cultural specificities, implying latent tensions that were carried into the future.

Two cases of current tension derived from these 19th-century designs are:

i)Cabinda in Angola, where a constant demand for independence or autonomy is permanent, accentuated by the fact that it is a region rich in oil, which considers not to receive the benefits of that wealth, and

ii)the Eastern Congo, also holder of enormous wealth and which today is the subject of a huge dispute involving the Democratic Republic of Congo, the M23 guerrilla movement and allegedly Rwanda and Uganda.

This investigation deals with the initial causes of territorial attribution, analyzing its possible artificiality, the essentially pragmatic and economic reasons for maintaining the situation, the present causes of the revolt and the solutions that can be attained.

In the end, it tries to frame post-colonialism in a pre-colonial paradigm and not as a "soft" colonial continuation.