The 1896 Corps des Travailleurs Arabes: Belgium's Forced Arab Labor

The History of Belgium: A Small Country with a Giant Colonial Legacy — Fexingo History · Jul 4, 2026 · 7m · transcript

In 1896, the Congo Free State created the Corps des Travailleurs Arabes, a brutal labor corps of forced Arab and Swahili workers, many captured during the Arab Campaign. This episode examines the corps' formation under Bwana Mwema, its use in porterage and construction along the Lualaba River, and the harsh conditions that led to high mortality. We explore the legacy of Zanzibari and Manyema laborers, the role of the Force Publique in enforcing labor, and how this episode fits into the broader pattern of forced labor in King Leopold's Congo. Specific figures like Francis Dhanis and…