African Kingdoms

Republic of the Congo / Congo-Leopoldville
AD 1960 - 1966

Central African States All African States All Modern States Early Africa (Intro) Egypt

Large parts of Central Africa were poorly defined within this region of Africa until the creation of colonial-era territories in the eighteenth century. Before that at least parts appear to have been virgin territory, with no recent occupation. A collection of sultanates emerged across the area which today is partially covered by Central African Republic and to its north, but prior to that there was a period of almost two centuries of gradual, increasing movement into the area.

To the south of that region, situated in the lower Congo and today's northern Angola, the Kongo kingdom was founded in the late fourteenth century. Its original home lies somewhere in the region along the lower stretches of the River Congo. According to a study of Kongo's traditions by John Thornton, that origin was in the small state of Mpemba Kasi, which is located just to the south of today's Matadi in Democratic Republic of the Congo (or DRC).

Colonial interests and interference gradually helped an already-unstable political situation in the Kongo kingdom become toxic. The capital remained at a rebuilt São Salvador (formerly M'banza-Kongo, and today the capital of Zaire province in Angola). Based on the outcome of the Conference of Berlin of 1884-1885, Kongo was mainly incorporated into Portuguese Angola and partially into the reduced 'Independent State of Congo' (or Kongo).

That state was terminated by Portugal in 1914 and would later form the basis of modern Angola. Following the Second World War and with dedicated moves being made towards colonial independence, to the immediate north of this remnant former state, in 1960 the new nation state of Congo-Leopoldville achieved independence from Belgium and its Belgian Congo colonial structure as, officially, 'Republic of the Congo'.

The former French region of Middle Congo to the north-west, which had been submerged within the encompassing colonial authority of French Equatorial Africa, also became 'Republic of the Congo', although both tended to be known by the names of their capital cities, in this case Congo-Brazzaville.

(Information by Peter Kessler and the John De Cleene Archive, with additional information from Encyclopaedia Britannica (Eleventh Edition, Cambridge (England), 1910), from The New Atlas of African History, G S P Freeman-Grenville (Israel, 1991), from The Times Atlas of World History, Geoffrey Barraclough (Ed, Hammond Inc, 1979), and from External Links: The Cambridge History of Africa, Volume 3: from c.1050 to c.1600, Roland Oliver (Cambridge University Press Collection, 1977, and available via the Internet Archive), and Barcelona Centre for International Affairs (CIDOB), and Congo (Rulers.org), and Congo (Zárate's Political Collections (ZPC)), and Democratic Republic of the Congo (Flags of the World), and BBC Country Profiles, and DR Congo (BBC World).)

1960 - 1965

President (Abako - 'Alliance des Ba-Kongo'). Deposed.

1960

To the north of colonial Angola, two states are created out of colonial Congo territories on 1 July 1960. French Equatorial Africa's Congo becomes Republic of the Congo while Belgian Congo's holdings become Congo-Leopoldville. The latter undergoes a good deal of instability while the former has a quieter birth.

The Luba Kasai of Kasai declare independence from Belgian Congo's Kasai as the 'Federal State of South Kasai', even before independence is confirmed (on 14 June 1960).

Two days later Moïse Tshombé begins a rebellion in Katanga province. Another portion of Leopoldville secedes on 17 June as North Kwilu province, which is was brought back under Leopoldville's control later in the year.

By 1919, with the conclusion of the First World War, the African colonies found themselves being exploited for their resources more intensely than ever before

Katanga officially secedes from Congo-Leopoldville on 11 July. South Kasai proclaims the autonomous 'Mining State of South Kasai' on 8 August. Congo-Leopoldville joins the United Nations on 20 September but, on 22 October, the Luba Katanga people in northern Katanga rebel against the state of Katang, proclaiming the province of North Katange.

Finally in a tumultuous year, Antoine Gizenga begins a rebellion against President Kasavubu in December. In Stanleyville he forms a rival government and claims the title of prime minister.

1961

Rival head of state in Stanleyville (Mar-Aug only).

1961

Gizenga claims in March 1961 to be head of state of Congo-Leopoldville. His rebellion ends in August 1961 but, by then, the state of Katanga has invaded and conquered its secessionist North Katanga region (on 31 March 1961).

The central government itself captures the northern part of Katanga, in November 1961. Then it takes South Katanga on 30 December, while South Kasai is reincorporated into the province of Kasai.

Joseph Kasavubu became the first president of the newly-independent state of Congo-Leopoldville in 1960 but, having outlasted various rivals and rebels, five years later he was deposed during a military coup

1962

Kivu's administration is taken back under central control on 10 May 1962. The independence of North Katanga is proclaimed again on 11 July while, on 27 July, the 'East' province is controlled again from Leopoldville.

Part of the 'East' province is separated on 14 August into the new provinces of Kibali Ituri and Uele. On the same day various other important administrative changes are made which include two parts of Equateur being separated into the provinces of Cuvette Centrale and Ubangi.

Kasai is divided into five new provinces, those of Lomami, Luluabourg, Sankuru, South Kasai, and Unité Kasïenne, two provinces of Maniema and North Kivu are detached from Kivu, and the province of Leopoldville is divided into the four new provinces of Central, Congo, Kwango, Kwilu, and Mai Ndombe.

The Kongo kingdom had its early tribal origins in the lower stretches of the River Congo, but today the river forms much of the border between Republic of the Congo to its west and Democratic Republic of the Congo to its east

1963

The central government conquers the remainder of Katanga on 12 January 1963. Equater is reorganised as the autonomous province of Middle Congo on February 3. The remainder of 'East' province is reorganised as the province of Upper Congo on 27 March 1963.

The remaining parts of Kivu are reorganised into the autonomous province of Central Kivu on 18 May 1963. A portion of the remainder of Katanga is reorganised as the province of Lualaba on 30 June 1963 while, on 8 July, the remainder of Katanga becomes the new province of East Katanga.

1964

Rebel leader (Jan).

1964

Pierre Mulele begins a rebellion in south-western Congo-Leopoldville in January 1964. He takes control of the administration of much of Kwilu province. The central government assumes direct control of the loyalist remainder of the province.

Katanga remains at times a beautiful tourist destination but, like many other areas of Congo-Leopoldville during the early 1960s, it endured some troubled periods too

Another rebellion begins in Stanleyville on 21 July 1964, with the rebel government titling itself the 'People's Republic of the Congo (Leopoldville)'. It immediately reconstitutes Upper Congo into 'East' province.

1964

Rival head of the provisional government (Jul-Sep only).

1964

A new federal constitution on 1 August 1964 confirms the fragmentation of Congo-Leopoldville. The authority of the rebel 'People's Republic of the Congo' over 'East' province appears to come to an end in November 1964.

1964 - 1965

Rival president (Sep-May only).

1965

Rival president, Congo revolution (May-Aug only).

1965

Chairman of the executive Council (Aug).

1965

The rebellion itself ends at a point after 6 August 1965 although, by then, the central government has reconquered the rebel parts of Kwilu province (in June 1965). Having faced down the rebel movement, President Kasavubu is deposed by General Joseph Mobutu in November 1965 and the general consolidates his own power in Congo.

Joseph Mobutu seized power in Congo-Leopoldville, ruling as a military dictator when he renamed the country's capital to Kinshasa and formed today's 'Democratic Republic of Congo'

1965 - 1966

Military dictator of Congo (Leopoldville & Kinshasa).

1966

Following six years of political instability and internecine strife, change comes in a rolling wave across the last months of the year, starting with a reorganisation and stabilisation of the provinces and following on with a presidential decree which is signed on 31 October 1966.

The decree puts an end to what remains of provincial autonomy in Bandundo, Central Congo, East Kasai, Equater, Kibali Ituri, North Katanga, South Katanga, Uele, Upper Congo, and West Kasai. The central government assumes administrative control of North Katanga and South Katanga on 5 November.

Kibali Ituri, Uele, and Upper Congo are reunited on 28 December 1966 into 'East Province'. North Katanga and South Katanga are reunited into the province of Katanga. North Kivi and South Kivu are reunited into Kivu. The capital city is renamed, and the state officially becomes Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Kinshasa, largest city and capital of 'Democratic Republic of the Congo', lies about 515km from the Atlantic Ocean on the south bank of the Congo