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The Democratic Republic of the Congo Gains Independence
After World War II, the Congolese negotiated with Belgium for their independence. In 1960, the country was named. Independence leader Patrice Lumumba became prime minister, but soon after the first elections, he was assassinated and a unrest spread throughout the region. United Nations troops could not restore peace. There was a lot of uncertainty in the construction of a new country, there was a lot of uncertainty about leadership and the DRC didn’t know how to rebuild themselves. -
Mobutu Sese Seko Seizes Power
Mobutu Sese Seko eventually seized power in 1965 with help from Western nations. New leadership has risen and the country is confused on what to do because they have to make sure what they are going is right, now that they are independent. -
Renaming the Cournty
In 1971, he renamed the country the Republic of Zaire, after the Portuguese name for the Congo River. Mobutu ruled a brutal one-party dictatorship and robbed the national treasury to amass a personal fortune. The event gives the country a bad experience with a dictatorship type of leadership. -
Lifting the Ban
Under international and domestic pressure, he lifted the ban on political parties in 1990. As Mobutu became locked in a power struggle with his opponents, much of the nation's infrastructure deteriorated. Rampaging underpaid soldiers, corruption, and a collapsed economy plunged the country into chaos. Citizens were now allowed to be in a political party that they sided with. -
Conflict Spills Over
Total collapse was averted with minor political reform in 1994. However, conflict in Rwanda began to spill over into Zaire as one million Hutu refugees from Rwanda swelled makeshift camps in eastern Zaire. The political tense calmed down but, unfortunately neighboring regions such as Rwonda brought addition stress to the country -
Hutus
When armed Hutus from among these refugees began killing ethnic Tutsis in Zaire in 1996, the Rwandan government organized a Tutsi militia that quickly defeated the Hutus. Most Hutu refugees were later sent back to Rwanda. The Tutsi militia soon allied with the forces of Laurent Kabila, a longtime Congolese rebel. Kabila's forces marched rapidly on major cities, often being joined by Zairian troops as they surrendered. Incoming refugees added additional conflict to the country. -
Kabila
In May 1997, Kabila entered Kinshasa. He declared himself president and changed Zaire's name back to the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Mobutu died in exile in September 1997. The country was given its current name. -
Acussing of Corruption
Promises of democracy were tainted by Kabila's ban on political parties and suppression of political demonstrations. In August 1998, many of accused him of corruption, nepotism, and an anti-Tutsi bias. They joined the Tutsi rebels to spark war. Angola, Zimbabwe, and Namibia fought on Kabila's behalf. Rwanda and Uganda allied with the rebel movement, which soon controlled most of eastern Congo-Kinshasa.In attempt to achieve democracy, new civil wars were created for the country to face. -
The Rebels Split
The rebels split into two factions in 1999; Uganda backed one (the Movement for the Liberation of Congo, or MLC) and Rwanda the other (the Rally for Congolese Democracy, or RCD). All six nations and the two rebel groups signed a 1999 cease-fire, but it was promptly violated.The rebels became more organized and tried to establish the country’s peace. -
Assassination
In January 2001, Kabila was assassinated. Leadership was lost and new leadership needed to be found. -
War is Declared Over
His son Joseph Kabila took over as president and initiated peace measures that led to a treaty in December 2002. The war was declared over. Foreign troops left the country, and the leaders of the MLC and the RCD were granted positions in a transitional government. While the peace agreement held for a few years, heavy fighting between government and rebel forces, and among rebel forces themselves, erupted a few years later.Tension arose as two militia groups fought for control. -
Joseph Kabila
In 2006, Joseph Kabila was elected president. This was the first election since independence. -
Re-Election
He was re-elected president with 49 percent of the vote in late 2011. The 2011 election was plagued with logistical problems and widespread allegations of voting irregularities and voter intimidation. Several people were killed in demonstrations both leading up to and following the election.The re-election in 2011 has led to great problems between the people. -
Fighting and Killing
Kabila faces challenges as president, as Congo is widely considered the least developed country in the world. Dozens of armed groups continue to fight each other, having killed tens of thousands of people and caused thousands more to become refugees. In 2013, the UN Security Council approved the creation of a combat force to target and disarm these groups. The Democratic Republic of the Congo still faces challenges within its own people and country.
