EARLY BELGIAN COLONIAL EFFORTS - The University of Texas at ...

These main two ethnic groups, the Landuman and the Nalu, in the Nunez area
(6.1) 346 at the time of this Belgian effort were often at war with each other and
constantly maneuvering for allies and advantages against each other. In 1844 Sarah,
king of the Landuman, died leaving two sons, Tongo and Mayoré. Their succession
battle over the next ten years provided the backdrop for the treaty that enabled Belgium
was able to acquire on the Rio Nunez. 347
Prior to van Haverbeke’s arrival on the Rio Nunez, Lamina, king of the Nalu,
felt he had been wronged by the French and Mayoré in a series of actions against Tongo
with Nalu support. It is surmised that Lamina ceded the land to the Belgians as a way to
register his displeasure with the French by not only ceding the land but introducing
additional competition from a different nation to the trading area. 348 There is a sharp
difference of opinion as to whether the cessation of land to Belgium was at Lamina’s
suggestion or van Haverbeke’s. The result, however, was a treaty ceding land to
Belgium subject to ratification of the treaty and payment of an annual sum of money to
the tribe and the king. 349 Having procured a treaty for the placement of a colony, which
he was specifically not authorized to negotiate, van Haverbeke returned to Belgium. He
left Abraham Cohen behind in the Rio Nunez as an unofficial agent or representative of
Belgium.
346 Mouser, 233.
347 Braithwaite, 119-131.
348 The area was a strip of land along both sides of Rio Nunez from the coast and included the
two small towns of Victoria and Rapass, also spelled Ropass. AMAE 2024.
349 Traité entre le Lieutenant de Vaisseau Vanhaverbeke, commandant la Goélette de guerre
belge Louise marie, agissant au nom de le majesté Léopold 1 er , Roi des Belges, d’une part, et Lumina
chef Suprême des nalous. AMAE 2024.
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