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Republic of Congo (Léopoldville)

Republic of the Congo
(1960–1964)
République du Congo

Democratic Republic of the Congo
(1964–1971)
République démocratique du Congo
1960–1971
Flag Coat of arms
Motto
"Justice – Paix – Travail" (French)
"Justice – Peace – Work"
Anthem
Debout Congolais (French)
Arise, Congolese

Capital Léopoldville (renamed Kinshasa in 1966)
Languages French (official)
Lingala · Kikongo · Kiswahili
Tshiluba (national)
Government Parliamentary republic
President
 •  1960–1965 Joseph Kasa-Vubu
 •  1965–1971 Joseph-Desiré Mobutu
Prime Minister
 •  1960 Patrice Lumumba
 •  1961–1964 Cyrille Adoula
 •  1965 Évariste Kimba
Historical era Cold War
 •  Independence 30 June 1960
 •  Kasai defeated 30 December 1961
 •  Katanga defeated 15 January 1963
 •  Country renamed DRC 1 August 1964
 •  Coup d'état 25 November 1965
 •  Name changed to Zaire 27 October 1971
Area 2,345,410 km² (905,568 sq mi)
Currency Congolese franc
Preceded by
Succeeded by
Belgian Congo
South Kasai
State of Katanga
Zaire
Today part of  Democratic Republic of Congo

The Republic of the Congo (French: République du Congo) was a sovereign state in Central Africa that was created with the independence of the Belgian Congo in 1960. The country was often known as Congo-Léopoldville (after its capital) in order to distinguish it from its north-western neighbour, also called the Republic of the Congo or Congo-Brazzaville. On 1 August 1964, the state was re-named the Democratic Republic of the Congo. In 1971, the state's name changed to Zaire.

The period between 1960 and 1965 is referred to as the First Congolese Republic, and the current Democratic Republic of the Congo is the Third Republic.

Unrest and rebellion continued to plague the government until 1965, when Lieutenant General Joseph Désiré Mobutu, now commander-in-chief of the national army, seized control of the country. Mobutu changed the country's name to Zaire in 1971 and remained its president until 1997.

Conditions in the Congo improved following the Belgian government's takeover in 1908 of the Congo Free State, which had been a personal possession of the Belgian king. Some Bantu languages were taught in primary schools, a rare occurrence in colonial education. Colonial doctors greatly reduced the spread of African trypanosomiasis, commonly known as sleeping sickness.

During World War II, the small Congolese army achieved several victories against the Italians in East Africa. The Belgian Congo, which was also rich in uranium deposits, supplied the uranium that was used by the United States to build the atomic weapons that were used in the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in August 1945.


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