Congo Timeline
Category: Other
Updated: 13 Nov 2017
Contributors
Created byEmily Adler
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Events
First powers arise in the 1200s.
Rise of Kongo empire, centred in
modern northern Angola and
including extreme western Congo
and territories round lakes Kisale
and Upemba in central Katanga.First Europeans arrive in the Congo.
Portuguese navigator Diogo Cao
becomes the first European to visit
the Congo; Portuguese set up ties
with the king of Kongo.The beginning to European
imperialism was established.
Belgian King Leopold II sets up
a private venture to colonize Kongo.British explorer Henry Stanley
navigates Congo river to the
Atlantic Ocean. The navigation
lead to further trade and
European profit.Leopold announces the establishment
of the Congo Free State, headed by
himself. He becomes main power of Congo.Belgians conquer Katanga.Belgian annexes Congo amid
protests over killings and atrocities
carried out, the Belgian were said
to have killed or worked Congolese
to death during Leopold's control
of the territory.Belgium begins to lose control
over events in the Congo following
serious nationalist riots in Leopoldville.Congo becomes independent with
Patrice Lumumba as prime minister
and Joseph Kasavubu as president.Kasavubu dismissed Lumumba
as prime minister and he is later
arrested, and then murdered in 1961.President Kasavubu appoints
Tshombe prime minister.Kasavubu and Tshombe ousted in a
coup led by Joseph Mobutu. Political
disagreements begin to occur.Mobutu agrees to end the ban on
multiparty politics and appoints a
transitional government, but retains
substantial powers. Later in 1993,
rival pro- and anti-Mobutu governments
created.Mobutu agrees to the appointment of
Kengo Wa Dondo, an advocate of
austerity and free-market reforms,
as prime minister.Tutsi and other anti-Mobutu rebels,
aided principally by Rwanda, capture
the capital, Kinshasa; Zaire is renamed
the Democratic Republic of Congo;
Laurent-Desire Kabila installed as
president. A shift in the entire
political party occurred.President Laurent Kabila is shot dead by a
bodyguard. Joseph Kabila succeeds
his father. Political system is similar
to a monarchy.Kabila meets Rwandan President Paul
Kagame in Washington. Rwanda, Uganda
and the rebels agree to a UN pull-out
plan. Uganda, Rwanda begin pulling
troops back from the frontline. The war
between Uganda, Rwanda, and Congolese
rebels ends.Peace deal signed in South Africa
between Kinshasa government and
main rebel groups. Under the deal
rebels and opposition members are to
be given portfolios in an interim
government.Interim parliament inaugurated.Uganda warns that its troops may
re-enter DR Congo after a group of
Ugandan Lord's Resistance Army rebels
enter via Sudan.New constitution comes into force
and a new national flag is adopted.Joseph Kabila is declared winner of
October's run-off presidential election.
Is the president of DR Congo.Uganda and DR Congo agree to try
defuse a border dispute.Major outbreak of the deadly
Ebola virus occurs.The government and rebel militia sign
a peace pact aimed at ending years
of conflict in the east.Army troops clash with Rwandan militias
with whom they were formerly allied in
eastern Congo, leaving thousands
of people displaced.Uganda, South Sudan and DR Congo
launch joint assault on Ugandan Army
bases in north-east DR Congo. Hundreds
of civilians are killed in backlash attacks.Ex-vice president Jean-Pierre Bemba is
to stand trial on charges of war crimes
for his troops' actions in Central
African Republic between 2002 and 2003.UN report into killing of Hutus in DR
Congo between 1993 and 2003 says
they may constitute "crimes of genocide".Constitution changed, boosting
President Kabila's election chances.Court sentences Kibibi Mutware to 20 years
in jail in a mass rape case in eastern Congo.
This is the first conviction of a commanding
officer for rape in eastern DR Congo.Mai Mai militia leader Gideon Kyungu
Mutanga escapes during a
mass prison break-out by
almost 1,000 inmates.Presidential and parliamentary elections.
Mr Kabila gains another term.Warlord Thomas Lubanga becomes first
person convicted by the International
Criminal Court since it was set up 10 years
ago. He is sentenced to 14 years in jail for
using child soldiers in his rebel army in
2002 and 2003.Representatives of 11 African countries
sign an accord in Ethiopia pledging to
help end the conflict in DR Congo.M23 rebel group signs peace deal
with government after army captures
last of strongholds in east.Congolese and Rwandan troops clash
on the border of their two countries.A political deal signed between
President Kabila's ruling coalition
and the opposition to delay the
presidential election until 2018 sees
Prime Minister.UN says some 2,000 people have been killed
in ethnically-inspired violence in recent
months in Kasai province, where
numerous mass graves have been found.
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