Colonization

​​In 1884 King Leopold II of Belgium claimed what is now the Democratic Republic of Congo as his personal colony, the "Congo Free State." He gained control of the territory through force and the use of the DRC's vast next works of rivers. Exploitation of natural resources, mainly ivory and rubber, and brutality were hallmarks of Leopold's rule until 1908, when international pressure forced him to transfer control to the Belgium government. Although Belgium began a campaign for universal primary education, under the colonial rule of Belgium, the local people were kept from obtaining higher education or holding positions in government. This lead the an extremely small African elite who were unprepared to rule after independence.​

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​Independence

In 1960 pressure from anti-colonial sentiment forced Belgium to grant independence to the DRC. A power struggle began almost immediately between the Prime Minister, Patrice Lumumba, and the president, Joseph Kasa-Vubu. At the same time the DRC faced multiple secessionist movements across the country, Belgium was still trying to control key mines, and the US was concerned with the DRC becoming linked to the Soviet Union. Lumumba did eventually ask the Soviet Union for aid, giving the US and Belgium reason to push for his arrest. In 1961 Lumumba is captured and assassinated with Belgium complicity.

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​Mobutu Era

Joseph Mobutu comes to power through a coup in 1965 and rules the country, renamed Zaire, until 1997. During the Cold War, Mobutu's pro Western stance granted him assistance/aid and allowed Western nations to turn a blind eye to the abuses and corruption that characterized his kleptocratic regime. The corruption of Mobutu's regime greatly harmed the economy and increased poverty.

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During July 1994, after the genocide in Rwanda in which 800,000 Tutsi and moderate Hutu were slaughtered, millions of Rwanda Hutu flee into the DRC and surrounding countries. Giant refugee camps are set up in Goma and other border towns in the DRC, creating another humanitarian emergency. Within these camps radical Hutu militias begin reforming, prompting Rwandan military involvement in the DRC.

 

"If the Rwandan genocide and the exodus of the génocidaires and refugees to Zaire were the immediate causes of the Congo war, the decay of Mobutu's state and army provided the equally important context" Jason Stearns, Dancing in the Glory of Monsters ​

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​First Congo War (1996-1997)

Mobutu acted complicitly towards these rebel groups who were planning cross border attacks on Rwanda. In response a Rwandan and Ugandan backed rebel leader, Laurent Kabila, begins to march from the East towards the capital Kinshasa in 1996. Ending in the disposing of Mobutu and many civilians killed along the way.

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​Second Congo War (1998-2003)

Within a year, Laurent Kabila, alienates Rwanda by demanding that Rwandan military leave the country and removing Tutsi from positions in government. In response Rwanda and Uganda again send forces into the DRC. This time, Kabila is able to garner support from Angola, Zimbabwe, and Namibia. Leading to a brutal regional war where an estimated 5 million Congolese die mostly of disease and starvation due to the war. In 1999 the Lusaka ceasefire is signed, a UN peacekeeping mision (MONUC) is authorized in 2000, Laurent Kabila is assassinated in 2001 and succeeded by his son, Joseph Kabila. Peace negotiations result in Rwanda and Uganda withdrawling troops, yet proxy armies remain. A peace deal signed in South Africa results in a tranitional government where Joseph Kablia shares power with multiple vice presidents.