six-day visit
\n KINSHASA
\nBelgium\u2019s King Philippe bestowed a top honour on the last known surviving Congolese veteran of World War II on Wednesday, beginning a six-day visit amid ongoing efforts to atone for colonial-era abuses.
\nFormer Corporal Albert Kunyuku, now 100, was decorated Commander of the Order of the Crown. Enlisted at the age of 18, Kunyuku fought in then-Burma during the Second World War, on behalf of Belgium.
\nThe king also was expected to address Congo\u2019s parliament later in the day and meet with President Felix Tshisekedi.
\nCongolese government spokesman Patrick Muyaya said this week\u2019s visit by King Philippe and Queen Mathilde would include talks centered around economic cooperation and ongoing reconciliation efforts by the former colonial power.
\n\u201cThere is talk of the restitution of works of art that are a part of our culture,\u201d he said.
\nBelgium\u2019s current king has gone further than any of his predecessors in expressing his \u201cdeepest regrets\u201d for the \u201cacts of violence and cruelty\u201d inflicted under Belgian rule, which ended in 1960.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
six-day visit KINSHASA Belgium\u2019s King Philippe bestowed a top honour on the last known surviving Congolese veteran of World War II on Wednesday, beginning a six-day visit amid ongoing efforts to atone for colonial-era abuses. Former Corporal Albert Kunyuku, now 100, was decorated Commander of the Order of the Crown. Enlisted at the age of […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-265163","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-world"},"yoast_head":"\n