A History of the Democratic Republic of Congo

By vmtimeline
  • Period: to

    King Leopold ll of Belgium makes a plan to colonize Congo.

    King Leopold ll of Belguim makes a plan for a private venture of colonizing Congo.
  • Period: to

    Leopold commissions a navigator to establish his authority.

    King Leopold the ll orders an explorer named Henry Stanley to establish his authority in the Congo Basin.

  • Leopold the II announces the beginning of the Congo Free State.

    King Leopard the ll announces the establishment of the Congo Free State.
  • The Belgians conquer Katanga.

    The Belgians conquer Katanga.

  • Protests take place over killings due to Leopold's rule.

    Protests take place over killings due to Leopold's rule.

    The citizens of the Congo are protesting over millions of deaths caused by the Belgian.

  • Congo "Thirty Year Plan"

    Belgian Professor Antoin van Bilsen creates the "30-Year Plan" for granting the Congo increased self-government.

  • Belgium begins to lose some control.

    Belgium loses some control over Congo after protests in Leopoldville.

  • Congo becomes independant.

    Congo becomes independant when Patrice Lumumba is hired as Prime Minister and Joseph Kasavubu as president.

  • Kasavubu dismisses Lumumba as prime minister.

  • Lumumba arrested

    Patrice Lumumba is arrested.

  • Lumumba is murdered.

    Patrice Lumumba is arrested shortly after he is fired from the rank of Prime Minister, reportedly because of US and Belgian complicity.

  • Moïse Kapenda Tshombe is appointed Prime Minister.

  • Kasavubu and Tshombe ousted in a coup led by Joseph Mobutu.

  • Mobutu renames the country Zaire.

    Joseph Mobutu renames the Free State of Congo into Zaire.

  • Joseph Mobutu starts foreign firms in Zaire.

    Joseph Mobutu starts foreign firms in Zaire. He also forces European investors out of the country.

  • Mobutu invites back foreign investors back with little success.

    Joseph Mobutu invites back foreign investors back with little success.

  • New pro and anti Mobutu groups created.

    These were created to not just have a single ruler.

  • Zaire is renamed the Democratic Republic of Congo.

  • Post- Mobutu war begins

    A post Mobutu war begins in Zaire and surrounding countries, the main fighters in the war rebels from different political standpoints.

  • Post war treaty signed

    A post war ceasefire treaty is signed by the six African countries involved in the war.

  • A new constitution is adopted by parliament.

  • Voters back a new constitution, already approved by parliament.

    Voters back a new constitution, already approved by parliament, paving the way for elections in 2006.

  • New constitution comes into play, as well as new flag.

  • End of timeline.

    Congo has changed alot for the better in recent years, and I hope you learned something about the history.