> But would the Congolese have had electron microscopes but for Belgian colonialism?

Probably yes. Europe and Central Africa were already connected and trading since the 1400's[1]. The kingdom of Kongo sent an ambassador to Vatican in the 1600's[2]. Things would have played out differently if the slave trade in the Americas did not precipitate the downfall of many African kingdoms. The part of Congo where Ebola was discovered would probably not have been called Congo today.

Colonialism's goal was not to trade or bring technological advances but rather to accelerate the exploitation of the continent[3]. Belgian colonialism in particular was vicious at that.[4]

[1]https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diogo_C%C3%A3o

[2]https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emanuele_Ne_Vunda

[3]https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Berlin_Conference

[4]https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atrocities_in_the_Congo_Free_S...