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Jan 1, 1482
Discovery of Congo
Discovered by Diogo Cao of Portugal.
Portuguese people create ties between the king of Kongo. -
Slave Trade Begins
Slave trade continues throughout the seventeenth century between Britain, Portugal, and France -
Congo Under Control
King Leopold II of Belgium declares Congo as a free state that will be headed by him. -
Belgians gain more ground in Congo
The Belgians conquer Katanga, the southern portion of the Congo. -
Protests in Congo
Belgian annexes the Congo during protests concerning killings carried out by Leopold's army on a large scale. -
Promotion of Self Government
A "30 Year Plan" is created to promote self controlled government in the Congo by Antion van Bilsen. -
Riots in Leopoldville
Nationalist riots in Leopoldville cause Belgian to increasingly lose control over Congo. -
Congo is Independent
Congo is independent from Belgium. Patrice Lumumba is elected Prime Minister and Joseph Kasavubu is elected as the president. -
Katanga Declares Independence
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Belgian Troops
Belgian troops are sent into Congo to protect their Belgian residents and protect their mining expenditures. United Nation troops are also sent in to maintain order in the Congo. -
Lumumba is dismissed as Prime Minister
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Lumumba is arrested
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Lumumba is murdered
Lumumba is murdered supposedly with US and Belgian support. -
End to Katanga's Secession
Tshombe, who declared Katanga independent, now declares an end to the Katanga secession. -
Tshombe becomes Prime Minister
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Mobutu takes over
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Congo renamed
Mobutu renames Congo as Zaire. He also renames specific areas such as Katanga and the Congo River -
End of foreign investors
Mobutu forces European investors out of Zaire -
Diverted attack on Katanga
Belgian and Morcannon troops stop an attack on Katanga by Angolan rebels. -
Mobutu invites foreign investors back to Zaire
this happens without much success -
Failing Economy in Zaire
Zaire fails to pay back loans from Belgium which causes the cessation of development programs -
End on ban to multiparty government
Mobutu allows a transitional government with multiparties but remains the dominate power of Zaire -
Partnership with opposing leaders
Riots occur in Kinshasa forcing Mobutu to align himself with opposing leaders to maintain peace. However Mobutu remains in control over all important ministries. -
creation of anti-Mobutu governments
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Kengo Wa Dondo becomes Prime Minister
Dondo wants free-market reforms for Zaire -
Capture of Eastern Zaire by Tutsi rebels
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Zaire becomes the Democratic Republic of Congo
Tutsi rebels capture Kinshasa -
Luarent-Desire Kabila becomes President
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Eastern Congo Under Control
Rwanda and Uganda rebels take over the eastern side of the Democratic Republic of Congo -
Lusaka Accord
This peace treaty is signed in order to create a cease fire between the six countries involved in the war between Congo. -
UN soldiers in Congo
UN soldiers are sent into Congo to monitor the cease fire. However violence still continues between Uganda-Rwanda rebels and the government forces. -
Joseph Kabila becomes President
Joseph Kabila takes over after his father, Laurent-Desire Kabila, is killed. -
Rwanda and Uganda troops pull out
Rwanda and Uganda agree to remove troops from the frontline after the three countries agree to a plan to pull out UN soldiers. -
Kinshasa agrees to a power-sharing deal with Ugandan rebels
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Peace deal with Rwanda
Both presidents sign a peace agreement in which Rwanda soldiers are to leave Congo -
Ugandas peace agreement
A peace agreement is signed in which it states that Ugandan soldiers will be removed from Congo. -
A Transitional Constitution is formed
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the last of the Ugandan soldiers leave Congo
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a temporary parliment is inaugurated
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a new constitution is adopted
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Zairian army returns to Congo
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Uganda must compensate Congo
Court Justice rules that Uganda must pay for the resources it took from Congo in the five years up to 2003. -
Congo adopts a new national flag
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Joseph Kabila is elected president
Kabila wins from the October election -
Rumangabo is captured
A major army base is captured by rebel forces. -
Debt relief approved
Eight billion dollar relief is approved by the World Bank
