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List of heads of state of the Democratic Republic of the Congo

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This is a list of European colonial administrators responsible for the territory of the Congo Free State and Belgian Congo (today the Democratic Republic of the Congo).

International Association of the Congo

Prior to the creation of the Congo Free State, the International Association of the Congo (IAC) had signed treaties with over 300 native Congolese chiefs and in effect exercised sovereignty over a large area of the Congo Basin. The IAC was headquartered in Belgium and run by a committee under the presidency of Maximilien Strauch. Prior to the creation of the office of Administrator-General, authority on the ground in the Congo had been exercised by a Chief of Expedition, who until April 1884 was Henry Morton Stanley.

Portrait Name
(Birth–Death) 		Position Term of office Notes
Took office Left office Time in office
Francis de Winton
(1835–1901) 		Administrator-General 22 April 1884 1 July 1885 1 year, 70 days

Congo Free State

Monarch (Sovereign of the Congo Free State)

Portrait Name Position
Reign start Reign ended
Leopold II of Belgium
(1835–1909) 		Sovereign 1 July 1885 15 November 1908

Administrators-General / Governors-General

For the list of the active colonial administrators that administered the Congo Free State from 1885 to 1908, see the List of colonial governors of the Congo Free State and Belgian Congo for further information.

Belgian Congo

Portrait Name
(Birth–Death) 		Position Term of office Notes
Took office Left office Time in office
Théophile Wahis
(1844–1921) 		Governor-General 15 November 1908 20 May 1912 3 years, 187 days
Félix Fuchs
(1858–1928) 		20 May 1912 5 January 1916 3 years, 230 days
Eugène Henry
(1862–1930) 		5 January 1916 30 January 1921 5 years, 25 days
Maurice Lippens
(1875–1956) 		30 January 1921 24 January 1923 1 year, 359 days
Martin Rutten
(1876–1944) 		24 January 1923 27 December 1927 4 years, 337 days
Auguste Tilkens
(1869–1949) 		27 December 1927 14 September 1934 6 years, 261 days
Pierre Ryckmans
(1891–1959) 		14 September 1934 31 December 1946 12 years, 108 days
Eugène Jungers
(1888–1958) 		31 December 1946 1 January 1952 5 years, 1 day
Léo Pétillon
(1903–1996) 		1 January 1952 12 July 1958 6 years, 192 days
Hendrik Cornelis
(1910–1999) 		12 July 1958 30 June 1960 1 year, 354 days

On 1 July 1960, the Belgian Congo became independent as the Republic of the Congo (République du Congo).

This article lists the heads of state of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (formerly Zaire) since the country's independence in 1960.

The current head of state is President Félix Tshisekedi, since 24 January 2019.

Heads of state of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (1960–present)

(Dates in italics indicate de facto continuation of office)

Republic of the Congo (1960–1964)

№ Name Birth–Death Took office Left office Political Party
Presidents
1 Joseph Kasa-Vubu 1910–1969 1 July 1960 1 August 1961 ABAKO
2 Antoine Gizenga 1925–2019 1 August 1961 5 August 1961 Parti Solidaire Africain
(Gizenga faction)
3 Joseph Kasa Vubu 1910–1969 5 August 1961 1 August 1964 Independent

Democratic Republic of the Congo (1964–1971)

Presidents
(3) Joseph Kasa-Vubu 1910–1969 1 August 1964 24 November 1965 ABAKO
4 Joseph-Désiré Mobutu 1930–1997 24 November 1965 27 October 1971 Military /
Popular Movement of the Revolution

Republic of Zaire (1971–1997)

President
(4) Mobutu Sese Seko 1930–1997 27 October 1971 16 May 1997 Popular Movement of the Revolution

Democratic Republic of the Congo (1997–present)

Presidents
5 Laurent-Désiré Kabila 1939–2001 17 May 1997 16 January 2001
(assassinated) 		Independent
6 Joseph Kabila 1971– 26 January 2001
Acting since 17 January 2001 		24 January 2019 Independent /
People's Party for Reconstruction and Democracy
7 Félix Tshisekedi 1963– 24 January 2019 Incumbent Union for Democracy and Social Progress

The Vice-Presidents were

Under the 2006 constitution, which was promulgated in February 2006, the position of Vice-President becomes obsolete, after the inauguration of the first President of the DRC, elected democratically by direct universal suffrage. This inauguration occurred on December 6, 2006. Since then, the President of the Senate is designated to step in as interim president.

president of the Senate

The president of the Senate of the Democratic Republic of the Congo is the presiding officer in the Senate of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Below is a list of office-holders:

Name Entered office Left office
Joseph Iléo June 1960 September 1960
Victor Koumorico July 1961 November 1962
Isaac Kalonji November 1962 October 1965
Sylvestre Mudingayi October 1965 24 June 1967
Senate abolished 24 June 1967 7 April 2002
Pierre Marini Bodho 7 April 2002 11 May 2007
Léon Kengo Wa Dondo 11 May 2007 5 April 2019
Léon Mamboleo 5 April 2019 27 July 2019
Alexis Thambwe Mwamba 27 July 2019 5 February 2021
Modeste Bahati Lukwebo 2 March 2021

List of officeholders

No. Portrait Name
(Birth–Death) 		Election Term of office Political party President(s)
(Term)
Took office Left office Time in office

Republic of the Congo (1960–1971)

1 Patrice Lumumba
(1925–1961) 		1960 24 June 1960
(appointed) 		5 September 1960
(dismissed) 		73 days Mouvement National Congolais
(Lumumba faction) 		Joseph Kasa-Vubu

(1960–1965)
2 Joseph Iléo
(1921–1994) 		— 5 September 1960 20 September 1960 15 days Mouvement National Congolais
(Kalonji faction)
3 Albert Ndele
(1930–2023) 		— 20 September 1960 3 October 1960 13 days Independent
4 Justin Bomboko
(1928–2014) 		— 3 October 1960 9 February 1961 129 days Independent
— Antoine Gizenga
(1925–2019)
(disputed) 		— 13 December 1960 5 August 1961 235 days Parti Solidaire Africain
(Gizenga faction)
(2) Joseph Iléo
(1921–1994) 		— 9 February 1961 2 August 1961 174 days Mouvement National Congolais
(Kalonji faction)
5 Cyrille Adoula
(1921–1978) 		— 2 August 1961 30 June 1964 2 years, 333 days Mouvement National Congolais
6 Moïse Tshombe
(1919–1969) 		1965 10 July 1964 13 October 1965 1 year, 95 days CONACO
7 Évariste Kimba
(1926–1966) 		— 13 October 1965 25 November 1965 43 days CONAKAT
8 Léonard Mulamba
(1928–1986) 		— 25 November 1965 26 October 1966 335 days Military Joseph-Désiré Mobutu

(1965–1997)
Post abolished (26 October 1966 – 27 October 1971)

Republic of Zaire (1971–1997)

Post abolished (27 October 1971 – 6 July 1977)
9 Mpinga Kasenda
(1937–1994) 		1977 6 July 1977 6 March 1979 1 year, 243 days Popular Movement of the Revolution Mobutu Sese Seko

(1965–1997)
10 Bo-Boliko Lokonga
(1934–2018) 		— 6 March 1979 27 August 1980 1 year, 174 days Popular Movement of the Revolution
11 Jean Nguza Karl-i-Bond
(1938–2003) 		— 27 August 1980 18 April 1981 234 days Popular Movement of the Revolution
12 N'Singa Udjuu
(1934–2021) 		1982 23 April 1981 5 November 1982 1 year, 196 days Popular Movement of the Revolution
13 Léon Kengo wa Dondo
(born 1935) 		— 5 November 1982 31 October 1986 3 years, 360 days Popular Movement of the Revolution
Post vacant (31 October 1986 – 22 January 1987)
14 Mabi Mulumba
(born 1941) 		1987 22 January 1987 7 March 1988 1 year, 45 days Popular Movement of the Revolution
15 Sambwa Pida Nbagui
(1940–1998) 		— 7 March 1988 26 November 1988 264 days Popular Movement of the Revolution
(13) Léon Kengo wa Dondo
(born 1935) 		— 26 November 1988 4 May 1990 1 year, 159 days Popular Movement of the Revolution
16 Lunda Bululu
(born 1942) 		— 4 May 1990 1 April 1991 332 days Popular Movement of the Revolution
17 Mulumba Lukoji
(1943–1997) 		— 1 April 1991 29 September 1991 181 days Popular Movement of the Revolution
18 Étienne Tshisekedi
(1932–2017) 		— 29 September 1991 1 November 1991 33 days Union for Democracy and Social Progress
19 Bernardin Mungul Diaka
(1933–1999) 		— 1 November 1991 25 November 1991 24 days Democratic Assembly for the Republic
(11) Jean Nguza Karl-i-Bond
(1938–2003) 		— 25 November 1991 15 August 1992 264 days Union of Federalists and Independent Republicans
(18) Étienne Tshisekedi
(1932–2017) 		— 15 August 1992 18 March 1993 215 days Union for Democracy and Social Progress
20 Faustin Birindwa
(1943–1999) 		— 18 March 1993 14 January 1994 302 days Union for Democracy and Social Progress
(13) Léon Kengo wa Dondo
(born 1935) 		— 6 July 1994 2 April 1997 2 years, 270 days Union of Independent Democrats
(18) Étienne Tshisekedi
(1932–2017) 		— 2 April 1997 9 April 1997 7 days Union for Democracy and Social Progress
21 Likulia Bolongo
(born 1939) 		— 9 April 1997 16 May 1997 37 days Military

Democratic Republic of the Congo (1997–present)

Post abolished (16 May 1997 – 30 December 2006)
22 Antoine Gizenga
(1925–2019) 		2006 30 December 2006 10 October 2008 1 year, 285 days Unified Lumumbist Party Joseph Kabila

(2001–2019)
23 Adolphe Muzito
(born 1957) 		2011 10 October 2008 6 March 2012 3 years, 148 days Unified Lumumbist Party
— Louis Alphonse Koyagialo
(1947–2014)
Acting 		— 6 March 2012 18 April 2012 43 days Unified Lumumbist Party
24 Matata Ponyo Mapon
(born 1964) 		— 18 April 2012 17 November 2016 4 years, 213 days People's Party for Reconstruction and Democracy
25 Samy Badibanga
(born 1962) 		— 17 November 2016 18 May 2017 182 days Union for Democracy and Social Progress
26 Bruno Tshibala
(born 1956) 		— 18 May 2017 7 September 2019 2 years, 112 days Union for Democracy and Social Progress
2018 Félix Tshisekedi

(2019–present)
27 Sylvestre Ilunga
(born 1947) 		— 7 September 2019 27 April 2021 1 year, 232 days People's Party for Reconstruction and Democracy
28 Sama Lukonde
(born 1977) 		— 27 April 2021 Incumbent 3 years, 278 days Future of Congo

(Dates in italics indicate de facto continuation of office)

No. Portrait Name
(Birth–Death) 		Election Term of office Political party President(s)
(Term)
Took office Left office Time in office
26 Vital Kamerhe 1955– 7 April 2019 20 May 2019 Independent

Congo

In 1960 the State of Katanga declared independence from the Democratic Republic of the Congo. United Nations troops crushed it in Operation Grand Slam.

Notes

  1. Deposed in the 1965 coup d'état.
  2. Previously named Joseph-Désiré Mobutu; changed name on 10 January 1972 due to the policy of Zairianisation.
  3. Deposed in the First Congo War.
  4. Prime Minister of the Free Republic of the Congo, in rebellion at Stanleyville, during the Congo Crisis.
  5. Chief of Staff since October 1964, until named Prime Minister after coup of 25 November 1965. Removed from premiership 26 October 1966, following pressure from army high command. Mobutu became head of government as well as head of state. Born Kasaï 1930, Joined Force publique 1949, Sergeant Major by 1960, quickly became an officer. 1962 assigned to command the 3rd Groupement at Kisangani. 'Gained international fame for.. defence of Bukavu and for conducting one of the most decisive battles of the 1964 north-east revolution. When Kisangani was recaptured from rebel forces in 1964 he was named military governor of the entire northeastern region.' 'General Mulamba has always enjoyed great popularity with the troops. He is known for his straightforward approach to problems. He has a sizeable farm outside Kinshasa to which, he has said, he would like to retire some day.' (Sydney Taylor, The New Africans, 1967, p.102)
  6. Fled into exile while on a private visit to Belgium.
  7. Resigned after the military riots in Kinshasa, during the 1991 Zaire unrest.
  8. Deposed in the First Congo War.

See also

References

  1. Boulger 1898, pp. 258–59.
  2. James, Alan (1996). Britain and the Congo Crisis, 1960–63 (illustrated ed.). Springer. pp. xix. ISBN 9781349245284.
  3. "Mobutu Appoints a Prime Minister". New York Times. Reuters. 7 July 1977. Retrieved 15 April 2022.
  4. "Around the World; Zaire's Premier Resigns; Party Calls Him 'Cowardly'". New York Times. UPI. 18 April 1981. Retrieved 25 October 2022.
  5. "AROUND THE WORLD; Ex-Official Is Appointed Prime Minister of Zaire". New York Times. Reuters. 24 April 1981. Retrieved 15 April 2022.
  6. "Thousands of Troops on Rampage Of Looting and Violence in Zaire". New York Times. Associated Press. 24 September 1991. Retrieved 1 October 2021.
  7. Rone Tempest and Scott Kraft (27 September 1991). "Riots, Anarchy in Zaire Bring Devastation". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 15 April 2022.
  8. Kenneth B. Noble (30 September 1991). "Zaire's Dictator Agrees to Share Power With Foe". New York Times. Retrieved 25 October 2022.
  9. Howard W. French (10 April 1997). "Mobutu Imposes Military Rule in Zaire". New York Times. Retrieved 15 April 2022.

Sources

President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (list)
Republic of the Congo (1960–1971)
Republic of Zaire (1971–1997)
Democratic Republic of the Congo
(1997–present)
Years in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
Congo Free State
Belgian Congo
Republic of Congo
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Zaire
DR Congo
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