Congo's+Post-Independance+Conflict


 * The Congo's post independent success was nothing but instability**.


 * Congo becomes independent of Belgum in 1960.
 * Elections are held to find out who will lead the country.
 * Out of 9 parties noone is elected.
 * Two opposing candidates agree to share the power.
 * Patrice Lumumba becomes Prime Minister and Joseph Kasavubu becomes President.
 * Only five days after gaining thier independence Congolese army troops revolted against Belgian officers.
 * Many officers then fled the country.
 * Two of Congo's wealthiest areas suceded from the new nation and themselves independent.
 * Katanga Province- copper producing area
 * Province of Kasai- diamond producing area
 * In September 1960, Kasavubu dismisses Lumumba as Prime Minister.
 * By December Lumumba is imprisoned
 * By February 1961 Lumumba is assassinated.
 * Fights started to breakout between the rival groups in Congo.
 * In August 1961, the rivals reached a compromise that united the country except for Katanga Province.
 * The new Prime Minister was Cyrille Adoula
 * UN troops finally ended the Katanga secession in 1963
 * Moise Tshombe who led the Katanga secession, became Prime Minister of the united country.
 * The National elections were held in March 1965.
 * Tshombe won the election
 * By November, Congolese army took over the government.
 * The new president became, General Joseph Desire Mobutu.
 * In 1971, the country's name was changed to Zaire.
 * The government also made all Africans in the country who had European names to adopt African ones.
 * In 1972, the president also changed his name from Joseph Desire Mobutu, to Mobutu Sese Seko
 * Dislike for Zaire came in 1980 because of severe economic problems and a lack of political freedom.
 * In 1991 Mobutu agrees to give up his monopoly on power because of rioting civillians.
 * The power will now be shared between a Prime Minister, and a cabinet.
 * In 1992 Etienne Tshisekedi is apointed Prime Minister.
 * The cabinet has also appointed a legislature.
 * In 1993 Mobutu dismissed Tshisekidi and appointed a new Prime Minister.
 * Monbutu dismissed the new Prime Minister and yet again appointed a new one in 1994.
 * In 1996 Tutsi rebels capture much of eastern Zaire.