Congo (Kinshasa)
 

21 Jun 1877 - 30 Jun 1960	1 Jul 1960 - 1 Jul 1963	1 Jul 1963 - 21 Nov 1971
21 Nov 1971 - 17 May 1997	17 May 1997 - 18 Feb 2006	Adopted 18 Feb 2006

Map of Congo (Kinshasa) Hear National Anthem "Debout Congolaise!" (Arise Congolese!) Adopted 1960-1972, 1997 Former National Anthem "La Zaïroise" (The Song of Zaire) (1972-1997) ---------------------------------  Belgian Congo Anthem "Naar Wijd en Zijd /Vers  l'Avenir" (Towards the Future) (1905-1960) Constitution (18 Feb 2006; in French) ---------------------------- Zaire Constitution (19 Nov 1971 - 17 May 1997; in French) Capital: Kinshasa (Léopoldville 1929-24 Dec 1966; Boma 1886-20 Nov 1929) Currency: Congolese Franc (CDF)  National Holiday: 30 Jun (1960) Independence Day Population: 73,599,190 (2012) GDP: $27.53 billion (2012) Exports: $11.2 billion (2012) Imports: $9.23 billion (2012) Ethnic groups: Luba 18%, Kongo (all Bantu) 16.1%, Mongo 13.5%, and the Mangbetu-Azande (Hamitic) 6.1%, Rwanda 10.3%, Bangi and Ngale 5.8%, Rundi 3.8%, Teke 2.7%, Boa 2.3%, Chokwe 1.8%, Lugbara 1.6%, Banda 1.4%, other 16.6% (1983) Total Armed Forces: 151,251 (2010) UN MONUSCO Force: 19,166 (20123) Merchant marine: 1 ship (2010)  Religions: Roman Catholic 50%, Protestant 20%, Kimbanguist (indigenous Christian) 10%, Muslim 10%, other syncretic sects and traditional beliefs 10% (2004) International Organizations/Treaties: 1885 - 1908: ICRM, ITU, UPU; from 1960: ACP, AfDB, APM, AU, BTWC, CCM (signatory), CEEAC, CEPGL, COMESA, CTBT, CWC, EAC (applicant), ENMOD (signatory), ESCR, FAO, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, ICSID, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO (suspended), ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, IRENA (signatory), ISA, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, KP, MIGA, NAM, NPT, NTBT, OIF, OPCW, PCA, SADC, UN, UNCLOS, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFCC, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO Congo Index Chronology 12 Sep 1876                Congo colonization, funded by the King of Belgium,                              begins. 22 Apr 1884                International Association of the Congo (as an                              independent state) 23 Feb 1885                Sovereign status of the International Association                              of the Congo recognized by Berlin Conference. 29 May 1885                Independent State of the Congo ("Congo Free                              State")(with the King of Belgium Leopold II as                              sovereign). 1892 - Dec 1894/Jan 1895   Ubangui-Bomu territory claimed by Congo                              Free State. 15 Nov 1908                Annexation by Belgium (Belgian Congo). 25 May 1940 -  8 Sep 1944  Administration loyal to the Belgian government                               in exile.  1 Jul 1960                Independence (Republic of the Congo). 11 Jul 1960 - 14 Jan 1963  Secession of Katanga.  8 Aug 1960 - Jul 1962     South Kasai declares itself sovereign,                               styled État Minier.  1 Aug 1964                Democratic Republic of the Congo  7 Sep 1964 - Dec 1965     People's Republic of the Congo proclaimed                               in dissidence at Stanleyville. 29 Oct 1971                Republic of Zaire 17 May 1997                Democratic Republic of the Congo Aug 1998 -  8 Apr 2003     Rebellion in the eastern provinces led by RDC. Provinces Traditional States  UN Operations (1960-1964, from 2000) Rebel Government at Stanleyville (1964-1965) Eastern Rebellion (1998-2003) Arab Military Territory (1887-1894) Historical Maps of Congo Map of Congo Crisis 1960 - 1964 Map of Zaire (1997) Map of 2006 Proposed Provinces

Secretaries-general of the International Association for Africa 
Oct 1876 - Nov 1878        Jules Xavier Charles Joseph        (b. 1835 - d. 1917)
                             Léonard, Baron Greindl 
15 Nov 1878 - Oct 1882     Maximilien Charles Ferdinand       (b. 1819 - d. 1911)
                             Strauch (from 1882, President of
                             Committee for the Studies of Upper Congo)
President of the International Association of the Congo [AIC])
Oct 1882 - 29 May 1885     Maximilien Charles Ferdinand       (s.a.)
                             Strauch
Sovereign¹
29 May 1885 - 15 Nov 1908  Léopold II                         (b. 1835 - d. 1909) 

Plenipotentiary of the Comité d'études du Haut-Congo (from 1882, AIC) in Africa
1879 - 1884                Henry Morton Stanley               (b. 1841 - d. 1904)
Commandants of the Station at Karema (leading station)
12 Aug 1879 - Dec 1880     Ernest François Cambier            (b. 1844 - d. 1909)
 5 Dec 1880 - 25 Feb 1882  Guillaume Jules Arthur Ramaeckers  (b. 1848 - d. 1882)
25 Feb 1882 - 19 Sep 1882  Jérôme Becker                      (b. 1850 - d. 1912)
19 Sep 1882 - Dec 1885     Émile Pierre Joseph Storms         (b. 1846 - d. 1918) 
23 Apr 1883 - Sep 1883     Richard Böhm (acting for Storms)   (b. 1854 - d. 1884)
Administrators-general
22 Apr 1884 - Mar 1886     Sir Francis Walter de Winton       (b. 1835 - d. 1901)
22 Apr 1884 - Jun 1884     Sir Frederic John Goldsmid         (b. 1818 - d. 1908)
                             (acting for Winton)
30 Jul 1886 - 26 Mar 1887  Camille Janssen                    (b. 1837 - d. 1926)
Governors-general
26 Mar 1887 - 17 Apr 1891  Camille Janssen                    (s.a.)
 1 Mar 1888 - 1889         Herman Ledeganck                   (b. 1841 - d. 1908)
                             (acting for Janssen)
17 Apr 1891 -  8 May 1891  Henri Ernest Gondry (acting)       (b. 1845 - d. 1889)
 8 May 1891 - 26 Aug 1892  Camille Aimé Coquilhat (1st time)  (b. 1853 - d. 1891)
                             (acting)
26 Aug 1892 -  4 Sep 1896  Théophile Théodore Joseph Antoine, (b. 1844 - d. 1921)
                             Baron Wahis (1st time) 
 4 Sep 1896 - 21 Dec 1900  Émile Wangermée (acting)           (b. 1855 - d. 1924)
21 Dec 1900 - Dec 1900     Bartels (acting)
Dec 1900 - 20 May 1912     Théophile Théodore Joseph Antoine, (s.a.)
                             Baron Wahis (2nd time)
20 May 1912 -  5 Jan 1916  Félix Alexandre Fuchs              (b. 1858 - d. 1928)
 5 Jan 1916 - 30 Jan 1921  Eugène Joseph Marie Henry          (b. 1862 - d. 1930)
30 Jan 1921 - 24 Jan 1923  Maurice Eugène Auguste Lippens     (b. 1875 - d. 1956)
24 Jan 1923 - 27 Dec 1927  Martin Joseph Marie René Rutten    (b. 1876 - d. 1944)
27 Dec 1927 - 14 Sep 1934  Auguste Constant Tilkens           (b. 1869 - d. 1949)
1929 - 1930                Charles Duchesne                   (b. 1881 - d. 1945)
                             (acting for Tilkens)
14 Sep 1934 - 31 Dec 1946  Pierre Marie Joseph Ryckmans       (b. 1891 - d. 1959)
 1 Jan 1947 -  1 Jan 1952  Eugène Jacques Pierre              (b. 1888 - d. 1958)
                             Louis Jungers
 1 Jan 1952 - 12 Jul 1958  Léon Antoine Marie Pétillon        (b. 1903 - d. 1996)
12 Jul 1958 - 30 Jun 1960  Henri Arthur Adolf Marie           (b. 1910 - d. 1999)
                             Christopher Cornelis
Presidents
 1 Jul 1960 - 25 Nov 1965  Joseph Kasavubu                    (b. 1910? - d. 1969) ABAKO
                             (Head of State to 1 Aug 1964)
31 Mar 1961 -  5 Aug 1961  Antoine Gizenga                    (b. 1925)            MNC-L
                             (Head of State, in rebellion, at Stanleyville)
25 Nov 1965 - 16 May 1997  Mobutu Sese Seko                   (b. 1930 - d. 1997) Mil;1967 MRP
                             (until 10 Jan 1972 Joseph-Désiré Mobutu)
17 May 1997 - 16 Jan 2001  Laurent Désiré Kabila              (b. 1939 - d. 2001)  AFDL
                             (Head of State to 29 May 1997)
17 Jan 2001 -              Joseph Kabila Kabange              (b. 1971)         AFDL;2002 PPRD
                             (interim to 26 Jan 2001) 
 

Chief ministers (Administrators-general for Home Affairs to 1891,
then Secretaries of State for Home Affairs)(in Brussels)
1885 - 1888                Maximilien Charles Ferdinand       (s.a.)               Non-party
                             Strauch 
1888 - 1890                Camille Aimé Coquilhat             (s.a.)               Non-party
1890 - 1898                Edmond van Eetvelde (1st time)     (b. 1852 - d. 1925)  Non-party
1899 - 1900                Edmond van Eetvelde (2nd time)     (s.a.)               Non-party
Prime ministers
24 Jun 1960 -  5 Sep 1960² Patrice Emery Lumumba              (b. 1925 - d. 1961)  MNC-L
 5 Sep 1960 - 20 Sep 1960  Joseph Iléo (1st time)             (b. 1921 - d. 1994)  MNC-K 
Chairmen of the Board of Commissioners-general
20 Sep 1960 -  3 Oct 1960  Albert Ndele                       (b. 1930)            ABAKO
 4 Oct 1960 -  9 Feb 1961  Justin Marie Bomboko               (b. 1928)            UNIMO
Prime ministers
13 Dec 1960 -  5 Aug 1961  Antoine Gizenga                    (s.a.)               MNC-L
                             (in rebellion, at Stanleyville)
 9 Feb 1961 -  2 Aug 1961  Joseph Iléo (2nd time)             (s.a.)               MNC-K
 2 Aug 1961 - 30 Jun 1964  Cyrille Adoula                     (b. 1921 - d. 1978)  Non-party
10 Jul 1964 - 13 Oct 1965  Moïse Kapenda Tshombé              (b. 1919 - d. 1969)  CONAKAT
18 Oct 1965 - 14 Nov 1965  Évariste Kimba                     (b. 1926 - d. 1966)  BALUBAKAT
25 Nov 1965 - 26 Oct 1966  Léonard Mulumba                    (b. 1928 - d. 1986)  Mil
First state commissioners (prime ministers)
 6 Jul 1977 -  6 Mar 1979  Mpinga Kasenga                     (b. 1937 - d. 1994)  MPR
 6 Mar 1979 - 27 Aug 1980  Bo-Boliko Lokonga Monse Mihambo    (b. 1934)            MPR
27 Aug 1980 - 23 Apr 1981  Jean Nguza Karl-I-Bond (1st time)  (b. 1938 - d. 2003)  MPR
23 Apr 1981 -  5 Nov 1982  N'singa Udjuu Ongwabeki Untubu     (b. 1934)            MPR
 5 Nov 1982 - 31 Oct 1986  Kengo Wa Dondo (1st time)          (b. 1935)            MPR
                             (Joseph-Léon Lubicz)
22 Jan 1987 -  7 Mar 1988  Mabi Mulumba                       (b. 1941)            MPR
 7 Mar 1988 - 26 Nov 1988  Sambwa Pida Nbagui                 (b. 1940 - d. 1998)  MPR
26 Nov 1988 -  4 May 1990  Kengo Wa Dondo (2nd time)          (s.a.)               MPR
 4 May 1990 -  1 Apr 1991  Lunda Bululu                       (b. 1942)            MPR
 1 Apr 1991 - 29 Sep 1991  Mulumba Lukoji                     (b. 1943 - d. 1997)  MPR
29 Sep 1991 -  1 Nov 1991  Étienne Tshisekedi wa Mulumba      (b. 1932)            UDPS
                             (1st time) 
 1 Nov 1991 - 25 Nov 1991  Bernardin Mungul Diaka             (b. 1933 - d. 1999)  RDR
25 Nov 1991 - 15 Aug 1992  Jean Nguza Karl-I-Bond (2nd time)  (s.a.)               UFERI
15 Aug 1992 - 18 Mar 1993  Étienne Tshisekedi wa Mulumba      (s.a.)               UDPS
                             (2nd time) 
18 Mar 1993 - 14 Jan 1994  Faustin Birindwa                   (b. 1943 - d. 1999)  UDPS
 6 Jul 1994 -  2 Apr 1997  Kengo Wa Dondo (3rd time)          (s.a.)               UDI
 2 Apr 1997 -  9 Apr 1997³ Étienne Tshisekedi wa Mulumba      (s.a.)               UDPS
                             (3rd time) 
 9 Apr 1997 - 16 May 1997  Likulia Bolongo                    (b. 1939)            Non-party
16 May 1997 - 30 Dec 2006  Post abolished
Prime ministers
30 Dec 2006 - 10 Oct 2008  Antoine Gizenga                    (s.a.)               PALU
10 Oct 2008 -  6 Mar 2012  Adolphe Muzito                     (b. 1957)            PALU
 6 Mar 2012 - 18 Apr 2012  Louis Koyagialo (acting)           (b. 1947)            PPRD
18 Apr 2012 -              Augustin Matata Ponyo Mapon        (b. 1964)            PPRD     

 

U.N. Operations in the Congo 

Special Representatives of the Secretary-General
Jul 1960 - Aug 1960        Ralph J. Bunche (U.S.)             (b. 1904 - d. 1971)
Aug 1960 - Sep 1960        Andrew Wellington Cordier (U.S.)   (b. 1901 - d. 1975)
Sep 1960 - May 1961        Rajeshwar Dayal (India)            (b. 1909 - d. 1999)
Mar 1961 - May 1961        Mekki Abbas (Sudan)(acting)
Commanders of UN Forces (UNOC)
May 1961 - 31 Jan 1962     Sture Linnér (Sweden)              (b. 1917 - d. 2010)
 1 Feb 1962 - May 1963     Robert K.A. Gardiner (Ghana)       (b. 1914)
 1 May 1963 - Apr 1964     Max H. Dorsinville (Haiti)         (b. 1910 - d. 2005)
Apr 1964 - Jun 1964        Bibiano Fernández Osorio-Tafall    (b. 1902 - d. 1990)
                             (Mexico)
Commanders of UN Forces (MONUC from 1 Jul 2010, MONUSCO)
 1 Mar 2000 -  1 Jan 2004  Mountaga Diallo (Senegal)
 1 Jan 2004 - 28 Feb 2005  Samaila Iliya (Nigeria)            (b. 1952)
 4 Apr 2005 -  Oct 2008    Babacar Gaye (1st time)(Senegal)   (b. 1951)
Oct 2008 - Nov 2008        Vicente Diaz de Villegas (Spain)   (b. 1948)
Nov 2008 -  9 Jul 2010     Babacar Gaye (2nd time)(Senegal)   (s.a.)
 9 Jul 2010 -              Chander Prakash (India)            (b. 1953)

 ¹Full style of the ruler 29 May 1885 - 15 Nov 1908: Roi de Belges, Souverain de l'État Indépendant du Congo ("King of the Belgians, Sovereign of the Independent State of the Congo"). Normally as part of the executive formula: Léopold II Roi de Belges, Souverain de l'État Indépendant du Congo; also in official use as a term of reference to the holder of the office: Roi-Souverain.

 ²President Kasavubu dismissed Prime Minister Lumumba on 5 Sep 1960 and appointed Iléo in his place, but this was not recognized by parliament and Lumumba continued as prime minister of a rival government until 14 Sep 1960.

 ³Regarding the appointment of Birindwa as illegal, Tshisekedi continued as prime minister of a rival government into 1994. Tshisekedi had already been effectively suspended on 11 Dec 1992, when President Mobutu named Nicolas Zushi Mupiemina as chairman of a Board of Secretaries-General to take over coordination of the government.

Territorial Disputes: Heads of the Great Lakes states and UN pledged in 2004 to abate tribal, rebel, and militia fighting in the region, including northeast Congo, where the UN Organization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUC), organized in 1999, maintains over 16,500 uniformed peacekeepers; members of Uganda's Lords Resistance Army forces continue to seek refuge in Congo's Garamba National Park as peace talks with the Uganda government evolve; the location of the boundary in the broad Congo River with the Republic of the Congo is indefinite except in the Pool Malebo/Stanley Pool area; Uganda and DRC dispute Rukwanzi Island in Lake Albert and other areas on the Semliki River with hydrocarbon potential; boundary commission continues discussions over Congolese-administered triangle of land on the right bank of the Lunkinda River claimed by Zambia near the DRC village of Pweto; DRC accuses Angola of shifting monuments. 

Party abbreviations: PALU = Parti Lumumbiste Unifié (Unified Lumumbist Party, left-wing, nationalist, est.1964); PPRD = Parti du Peuple pour la Reconstruction et la Démocratie (People's Party for Reconstruction and Democracy, center-left, pro-Joseph Kabila, est.2002); UDPS = Union pour la Démocratie et le Progrès Social (Democratic Union for the Social Progress, social-democratic, est.1982); UFERI = Union des Fédéralistes et des Républicains Indépendants (Union of Independent Federalists and Republicans, liberal, populist, est.1990); Mil = Military;
- Former parties: ABAKO = Alliance des Bakongo (Alliance of the Bakongo, conservative, federalist, Bakongo ethnic, 1950-65); AFDL = Alliance des Forces Démocratiques pour la Libération du Congo (Alliance of Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Congo -only legal party from 1997, L. Kablia personalist, 1996-2002); BALUBAKAT = Association des Baluba du Katanga (Association of the Baluba of Katanga, 1957-65); CONAKAT = Confédération des Associations Tribales du Katanga (Confederation of Tribal Associations of Katanga, Katangan secessionist, 1958-63); MNC-L = Mouvement National Congolais-Lumumba (Congolese National Movement-Lumumba faction, left-wing, nationalist, 1959-65); MNC-K = Mouvement National Congolais-Kalonji (Congolese National Movement-Kalonji faction, Albert Kalonji personalist, moderate, split from MNC, 1959-62); MPR = Mouvement Populaire Révolutionnaire (Popular Revolutionary Movement, nationalist, Mobuto personalist, est.1966, only legal party 23 Dec 1970 - Jan 1991); RDR = Rassemblement Démocratique pour la République (Democratic Rally for the Republic); UNIMO = Union des Mongo (Union of Mongo, Mongo ethnic, 1960-65)

 

Map of People's Republic of Congo

Capital: Stanleyville

 7 Sep 1964 - Dec 1965     People's Republic of the Congo proclaimed at
                             at Stanleyvile in eastern provinces.

Presidents
21 Jul 1964 -  7 Sep 1964  Gaston Émile Soumialot Ete Tambwe  (b. 1922 - d. 2007)  CNL
                             (head of the Provisional Government)
 7 Sep 1964 - 27 May 1965  Christophe Gbenye                  (b. 1927)            CNL
President of the Supreme Council of the Congolese Revolution
27 May 1965 -  6 Aug 1965  Gaston Émile Soumialot Ete Tambwe  (s.a.)               CNL

Chairman of the Revolutionary Government
27 May 1965 -  5 Aug 1965  Christophe Gbenye                  (s.a.)               CNL
Chairmen of the Executive Council
 6 Aug 1965 -  8 Dec 1965  Abdoulaye Yerodia Ndombasi         (b. 1933)            CNL
                             (Singama Luvila)

Party abbreviation: CNL = Conseil National de Libération (National Liberation Council, leftist, nationalist, 1963-65)

            Aug 1998 - 8 Apr 2003

 

Map of Rebel Held Congo Territory 2003

Capitals: Kisangani (RCD-K), Goma (RCD-G)

 5 Aug 1998                Rebellion against Congo government under Laurent Kabila
                             begins, aided by Rwanda and Uganda.
16 May 1999                Rebel movement is split into two factions RCD in Kisangani
                             in the north and RCD-Goma in Goma in the South.
16 Jan 2001                MLC and most of RDC-ML form umbrella group called Front
                             for the Liberation of Congo (FLC).
25 Apr 2002                RCD-ML signs peace agreement with Congo government, not 
                             recognized by RCD-Goma.
30 Jul 2002                Rwanda and Congo sign peace agreement.
 8 Apr 2003                Peace accord formally ends civil war; Uganda agrees to
                             withdraw. 

President
May 2002 -  8 Apr 2003     Étienne Tshisekedi wa Mulumba      (b. 1932)            RCD-G
                            (declared to be President of Congo by RCD-G)

Party abbreviations: RCD = Rassemblement Congolais pour la Démocratie (Congolese Rally for Democracy, anti-Kabila, 1998/99 splits into RCD-G and RCD-MLC); RCD-G = Rassemblement Congolais pour la Démocratie-Goma (Congolese Union for Democracy-Goma, anti-Kabila, backed by Rwanda; est.20,000 [2002]); RCD-K = Rassemblement Congolais pour la Démocratie-Kisangani (Congolese Union for Democracy-Kisangani, anti-Kabila); RCD-MLC = Rassemblement Congolais pour la Démocratie-Mouvement de Libération du Congolese (Congolese Rally for Democracy-Movement for the Congolese Liberation, anti-Kabila, Ugandan backed); RDC-ML = Rassemblement Congolais pour la Démocratie - Mouvement de Libération (Congolese Rally for Democracy-Movement Liberation, spilt in 2000 from RDC-G, under Mbusa Nyamwisi; est.2-3,000 [2002]); RDC-N = Rassemblement Congolais pour la Démocratie-National (another RDC splinter faction under Roger Lumbala)

c.1870                     Arab traders establish their trading posts (in the course
                             of the following years - through a network of fortified 
                             trading posts and alliances with local leaders - they succeed
                             in imposing their power in large parts of eastern Congo).
1884                       Agreement dividing the region between the two powers reached.
1887                       Tippo Tip recognized as wali (governor) of the eastern region
                             of the Congo Free State.
Mar 1892                   Belgian authorities begin conquest of the region, temporary 
                             creation of the Arab Military Territory.
Jul 1894                   Belgian conquest completed, area is fully incorporated into
                             the Belgian Congo.

Wali¹
1887 - 1890                Hamed bin Mohammed "Tippo-Tip"     (b. 1837 - d. 1905)
                            (overlord² of the Arab community from 1874) 
1890 - 1893                Rashid bin Mohammed                (b. 1855 - d. ....)

Belgian Residents at Stanley Falls 
1888 - 1889                Louis Albert Marie Joseph Haneuse  (b. 1853 - d. 1938)
1889 - 1893                Nicholas Isidore Tobback           (b. 1859 - d. 1905)
Commander of the Arab Military Territory
1892 - 1894                Francis Ernest Joseph Marie,       (b. 1862 - d. 1909)
                             Baron Dhanis

  ¹the term "Arab" was used by Belgian colonial historiography to designate these eastern communities, but this is not fully correct, although there were some Arabs among their members -and even some Indians -most were of East African Swahili origin. 
  The most important vassals of Rashid bin Mohammed in c.1892 were: Bwana N'Zige ("brother" of Tippo-Tip) in Kabambare, Gongo Lutete in Ngandu (b. 1860 - d. 1892), Kibonga-Longo ain Mawambe, Kibonge in Kirundu, Mohammed bin Hassan "Rumaliza" in Ujiji (b. 1850 - d. ....), Mserera in Riba-Riba, Munia Muhara in Nyangwe, Sefu ("son" of Tippo-Tip) in Kasongo (b. 1860 - d. 1893).

 ²although Tippo-Tip sometimes recognized the authority of Zanzibar - using the flag of 
the Sultanate - he acted mostly independently.