Democratic Republic of the Congo: History

Belgium colonizes Kongo and announces the establishment of the Congo Free State.

The Belgian state annexes Congo amid protests against the millions of Congolese that have been killed or worked to death during the Belgian control of the territory.

Congo becomes independent, while the State of Katanga separates and proclaims its independence from the Republic of Congo.

A coup led by Joseph Mobutu takes place, succeeding and giving him control of the government. Later in 1971, he renames the country Zaire and himself, Mobutu Sese Seko; also Katanga becomes Shaba and the river Congo becomes the river Zaire.

Mobutu begins to nationalize many foreign-owned firms and forces European investors out of the country.

The country fails to repay Belgium its loans, resulting in a cancellation of development programs and increased deterioration of the economy.

Tutsi rebels and other anti-Mobutu rebels, aided principally by Rwanda, capture the capital, Kinshasa, while Mobutu is abroad for medical treatment and rename the country to the Democratic Republic of Congo. 

Just after a few months of peace, rebels rise up against the new DR Congo government, with both sides backed by other African nations.

US refugee agency says the war has killed 2.5 million people, directly or indirectly, since August 1998.

Last Ugandan troops leave eastern DR Congo following the peace treaty signed in 2002.

The International Court of Justice rules that Uganda must compensate DR Congo for rights abused and the plundering of resources in the five years up to 2003.

DRCongo, Rwanda, and Burundi relaunch the regional economic bloc Great Lakes Countries Economic Community, known under its French acronym CEPGL.

$8 billion debt relief deal approved by the World Bank and IMF.