▁Congo ▁col ony ▁into ▁a ▁Bel go - C ong ol ese ▁community . ▁The ▁Belg ian ▁government ▁regarded ▁him ▁as ▁" friend ly " ▁towards ▁its ▁administration , ▁and ▁they ▁granted ▁him ▁a ▁carte ▁de ▁mér ite ▁civ ique . ▁In ▁ 1 9 5 2 , ▁while ▁in ▁Sen eg al , ▁he ▁joined ▁Liberal ▁International . ▁The ▁following ▁year ▁he ▁tra ve led ▁to ▁Belg ium ▁where ▁he ▁was ▁received ▁by ▁members ▁of ▁the ▁Liberal ▁Party . ▁The ▁trip ▁was ▁limited ▁and ▁a ▁largely ▁managed ▁by ▁the ▁government . ▁Bol amba ▁subsequently ▁critic ised ▁Belg ian ▁travel ▁restrictions ▁for ▁the ▁Cong ol ese , ▁writing , ▁" Nothing ▁should ▁prevent ▁Black s ▁to ▁work ▁in ▁Belg ium , ▁if ▁they ▁wish ▁to ... Black ▁parents ▁should ▁have ▁the ▁freedom ▁to ▁let ▁their ▁children ▁be ▁educated ▁in ▁Belg ian ▁univers ities ▁of ▁their ▁choice ." ▁ ▁Bol amba ▁became ▁the ▁first ▁African ▁to ▁be ▁appointed ▁assistant ▁private ▁secretary ▁to ▁Belg ium ' s ▁Minister ▁of ▁the ▁Col on ies , ▁holding ▁the ▁post ▁from ▁September ▁ 1 9 5 6 ▁until ▁October ▁ 1 9 5 7 . ▁He ▁served ▁as ▁president ▁of ▁the ▁Association ▁des ▁An ci ens ▁El è ves ▁des ▁Fr ères ▁des ▁E col es ▁Chr ét iennes , ▁vice - pres ident ▁of ▁the ▁M ouv ement ▁Cultural ▁Bel go - C ong ol ais , ▁member ▁of ▁the ▁consult ative ▁committee ▁for ▁É m issions ▁a fr ic aines ▁de ▁Radio ▁Congo ▁Bel ge ,