1491★★★★★
King of Kongo is baptized
King Nzinga a Nkuwu of the Kingdom of Kongo was baptized as João I, beginning Kongo's long relationship with Portugal and the Catholic Church.
ReligionPolitics· Angola, DR Congo, Portugal
Timeline
5 events15th century
19th century
- 1885 – 1908★★★★★
Leopold II's Congo Free State
King Leopold II of Belgium ruled the Congo as a personal possession; its forced-labour rubber regime caused mass deaths until Belgium annexed the territory in 1908.
PoliticsEconomy· DR Congo, Belgium
20th century
- 1960★★★★★
"Year of Africa": 17 nations gain independence
In 1960, seventeen African countries gained independence, most of them former French colonies along with Nigeria, Somalia and the Congo.
Politics· Nigeria, DR Congo, Senegal, Mali, Ivory Coast, Cameroon, Madagascar, Somalia, Niger, Chad - June 30, 1960 – 1965★★★★★
Congo Crisis
Immediately after independence from Belgium, the Congo descended into secession, foreign intervention and civil war, ending when Mobutu Sese Seko seized power in 1965.
WarPolitics· DR Congo, Belgium - January 17, 1961★★★★★
Execution of Patrice Lumumba
Patrice Lumumba, the first prime minister of independent Congo, was deposed, captured and executed in Katanga, with the involvement of Katangan secessionist authorities and Belgian officials.
DeathPolitics· DR Congo, Belgium