Batetela Rebellions

The Batetela Rebellions were a series of uprisings by the Batetela people that occurred between 1895 and 1908 against the government of the Congo Free State.

The rebellions began as a response to 1893 execution of Batetela leader Gongo Lutete during the 1892-1894 war in the Eastern Congo, but soon spread to other tribal groups and was a manifestation of widespread African discontent with the colonial authorities. The first outbreak, in 1895, was put down by Francis Dhanis, and was followed by another from 1897–1899, which was more difficult to put down. Scattered pockets of resistance persisted and were not put down until 1908.