Congo History

We were assigned in class to find out more information about certain periods of time in Congo’s history, so we could better understand the video, “Invisible Children.”

1955-1966
Up until 1960, Belgium had control over Congo, but on January 27, 1960, Belgium announced that they would relinquish their control in six months, and on June 30, 1960, Congo was granted its independence and was renamed “Republic of Congo.” Before they gained their independence on May 31, 1960, Patrice Lumumba was confirmed to be Congo’s first elected prime minister, and Joseph Kasavubu was to be Congo’s first elected president. However, on July 11, 1960, Katanga, which was the richest province of Congo, succeeded under Moise Tshombe. Also, the second richest province of Congo, Kasai, succeeded as well. Lumumba appealed to the USSR to help them, but the United States, with UN forces, stopped all of the USSR’s aid. On December 1, 1960, Mobutu’s forces arrested Lumumba, and on January 17, 1961, Lumumba was transferred to a prison in Katanga, where he was executed. Afterwards, the UN and Congolese government were able to recapture the provinces of Katanga and Kasai. After a period of unrest and rebellion, in 1965, Mobutu seized the country and declared himself president.
2000-2007
On January 18, 2001, Laurent Kabila, the president of the Democratic Republic of Congo, was confirmed dead after he was shot by one of his bodyguards on January 16, 2001. His son, Joseph Kabila, became president after his death. On July 30, 2006, the first free elections, since the one in 1960, occurred, with Kabila winning the election and being inaugurated as president on December 6, 2006.