Factbook
Histoire de République démocratique du Congo — Chronologie
Dates clés de l'histoire de République démocratique du Congo, d'après le Factbook Magna et l'Encyclopédie universelle.
1800European prospectors in the Congo Basin invaded and splintered these kingdoms in the late 1800’s, sponsored by King LEOPOLD II of Belgium, and the kingdoms were eventually forced to grant Leopold the rights to the Congo territory as his private property.
1885From 1885 to 1908, millions of Congolese people died as a result of disease and inhumane treatment.
1960Independence: 30 June 1960 (from Belgium).
1960The Republic of the Congo gained its independence from Belgium in 1960, but its early years were marred by instability.
1960This was the first transfer of power to an opposition candidate without significant violence or a coup since 1960.
1965Joseph MOBUTU seized power and declared himself president in a 1965 coup.
1994In 1994, a massive inflow of refugees from conflict in neighboring Rwanda and Burundi sparked ethnic strife and civil war.
1997A rebellion backed by Rwanda and Uganda and fronted by Laurent KABILA toppled the MOBUTU regime in 1997.
1998In 1998, another insurrection -- again backed by Rwanda and Uganda -- challenged the KABILA regime, but troops from Angola, Chad, Namibia, Sudan, and Zimbabwe helped quell the uprising.
1999The UN Organization Stabilization Mission in the DRC (MONUSCO) has operated in the region since 1999 and is the largest and most expensive UN peacekeeping mission in the world.
2000Bantu, Sudanic, and other migrants from West and Northeastern Africa arrived in the Congo River Basin between 2000 B.C.
2001In 2001, KABILA was assassinated, and his son, Joseph KABILA, was named head of state.
2002In 2002, the new president negotiated the withdrawal of Rwandan forces occupying the eastern DRC; the remaining warring parties subsequently signed the Pretoria Accord to end the fighting and establish a government of national unity.
2006KABILA was elected as president in 2006 and 2011.
2014Languages: French (official), Lingala (a trade language), Kingwana (a dialect of Kiswahili or Swahili), Kikongo, Tshiluba Religions: Christian 93/1% (Roman Catholic 29.9%, Protestant 26.7%, other Christian 36.5%), Kimbanguist 2.8%, Muslim 1.3%, other (includes syncretic sects and indigenous beliefs) 1.2%, none 1.3%, unspecified 0.2% (2014 est.) Urban population: 47.4% of total population (2023).
2016The DRC constitution barred him from running for a third term, so in 2016, the DRC Government delayed national elections for two years.
2018The results of the 2018 elections were disputed, but opposition candidate Felix TSHISEKEDI, son of long-time opposition leader Etienne TSHISEKEDI, was announced as the election winner.
2023Generation mix — solar: 13.8% of total installed capacity (2023 est.); hydroelectricity: 86% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) Energy use: 1.305 million Btu/person (2023 est.).
2023In 2023, the DRC held its fourth electoral cycle since independence; TSHISEKEDI was proclaimed the winner despite some allegations of fraud, with his Sacred Union alliance retaining a large parliamentary majority.
2023Industries: mining (copper, cobalt, gold, diamonds, coltan, zinc, tin, tungsten), mineral processing, consumer products (textiles, plastics, footwear, cigarettes), metal products, processed foods and beverages, timber, cement, commercial ship repair Agriculture: cassava, plantains, sugarcane, maize, oil palm fruit, rice, root vegetables, bananas, sweet potatoes, groundnuts (2023) Electricity access: 21.5% (2022 est.).
2023Major urban areas: 16.316 million KINSHASA (capital), 2.892 million Mbuji-Mayi, 2.812 million Lubumbashi, 1.664 million Kananga, 1.423 million Kisangani, 1.249 million Bukavu (2023) very poor, large, natural resource-rich sub-Saharan country; possesses the world’s second largest rainforest; increasing Chinese extractive sector trade; massive decrease in government investments; increasing current account deficit and public debts Inflation: 41.5% (2017 est.).
2024Military spending: 1.2% of GDP (2024 est.).
2025Population: 119.0 million (2025 estimate).
