Democratic Republic of the Congo By ppierce Jan 1, 1885 King Leopold II of Belgium announces the establishment of the Congo Free State, headed by him. Period: Jan 1, 1892 to Jan 1, 1894 Eastern Congo wrested from the control of East African Arab and Swahili-speaking traders. Jan 1, 1908 Belgian state annexes Congo amid protests over killings and atrocities carried out on a mass scale by Leopold's agents. Jan 1, 1960 The Congo becomes independent and Patrick Lumumba becomes prime minister and Jospeh Kasavubu becomes president. Jan 1, 1961 Lumumba is murdered Jan 1, 1964 President Kasavubu appoints Tshombe as prime minister. Tshombe agreed to end Katanga's secession. Jan 1, 1965 Joseph Mobutu leads a coup that ousts Kasavubu and Tshomb. Jan 1, 1971 Mobutu renames the country Zaire Period: Jan 1, 1996 to Jan 1, 1997 DRC Tutsi rebels take over a large part of eastern Zaire while Mobutu is away for medical treatment. May 1, 1997 Tutsi rebels capture Kinshasa, and Zaire is renamed the Democratic Republic of Congo. Laurent-Desire Kabila is installed as president. Jan 1, 2001 President Laurent Kabilla is assasinated and his son Joseph Kabila replaces him as president.
