Congo+History


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HISTORY OF THE CONGO


 * EARLY HISTORY:**
 * **Populated** as early as **10,000 years ago**.
 * Settled in the 7th and 8th centuries A.D. by **Bantus** from present-day Nigeria.
 * In **1482**, the **first European** visited the area. This navigator's name was **Diego Cao.**
 * In the mid to late 19th century, an **English journalist** named **Henry Morton Stanley** explored the area.
 * **Officially colonized in 1885**, belonged to Belgian King Leopold II, and was named the **Congo Free State.**
 * 1907, administration shifted to the **Belgian Government**, which renamed the country the **Belgian Congo**.
 * Once granted **independence on June 30, 1960**. During this year, **Patrice Lumumba** became prime minister and **Joseph Kasavubu** the president. They renamed the country the **Democratic Republic of the Congo.**


 * THE MOBUTU ERA:**


 * Events destablizing the country after independence was achieved:**
 * The **army rebelled**
 * The **governor of Katanga** province **attempted secession**.
 * UN **peacekeeping force** was **called in to restore order.**
 * Prime Minister **Lumumba** **died** under **mysterious circumstances.**
 * **Colonel Joseph Desire Mobutu** (later Mobutu Sese Seko) **took ove**r the **government** and **gave power to President Kasavubu.**

In 1965, **Mobutu declared himself president for 5 years** and enforced a one-party system of rule. He **renamed** the **country** the **Republic of Zaire** and forced citizens to **adopt African names**. Pressure on Mobutu increased as the Cold War came to a close. **Mobutu** was **weakened** in early 1990 from a series of **domestic protests**, increased **criticism** of his r**egime's human rights practices**, and a **faltering economy**. In 1990, Mobutu agreed to a **multi-party** system of government that included **elections and a constitution.**


 * Beginning in late 1994, war and **genocide** in neighboring Rwanda **spilled into Zaire**.
 * Following **failed peace talks** between Mobutu and Kabila, **Mobutu left** the **country**.
 * In May of 1997, **Laurent-Desire Kabila** marched into Kinshasa and **declared himself president.**
 * Laurent-Desire Kabila renamed the country the **Democratic Republic of the Congo**
 * In July 1998, Kabila **ordered** all **foreign troops to leave** the Democratic Republic of the Congo and fighting erupted.

After much dispute, the Democratic Republic of the Congo was divided into three segments. One was controlled by Laurent Kabila, one by Rwanda, and one by Uganda. These parties had finally reached a military deadlock. A cease-fire was signed by the end of August 1999.


 * On January 16, 2001, **Laurent Kabila** was **assassinated**.
 * By the **end of 2002**, all **Rwandan troops withdrew** from the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
 * **Ugandan** **troops** withdrew in **May 2003**.

A GLIMPSE OF THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO TO DAY


 * Today, **60 million inhabitants** are mainly **rural**. The **30 percen**t who live in **urban areas** have been the most open to **Western influences.**
 * The culture of **hundreds of ethnic groups** and their diversity is reflected throughout the country.
 * **250 languages are spoken** within the country and there may be a similar number of ethnic groups who reside there as well.
 * **There are four main population groups:**
 * Pygmies
 * Bantus
 * East Africans
 * Groups who originally came from Darfur in the southern parts of Sudan and Ethiopia


 * Only 11.5 percent of the Congolese exclusively follow indigenous beliefs
 * Traditional beliefs are combined with forms of Christianity and are practiced by the majority.


 * There is currently no reliable public transportation system in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
 * There has been a recent outbreak of Wild Polio virus in neighboring countries.
 * Kinshasa remains a critical crime threat area- U.S. citizens are commonly victims of serious crime, including robbery.


 * Resources:**

Background Note: Democratic Republic of the Congo. (n.d.).//U.S. Department of State//. Retrieved December 12, 2010, from http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/2823.htm

Culture of the Democratic Republic of the Congo - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. (n.d.). //Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia//. Retrieved December 13, 2010, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_the_Democratic_Republic_of_the_Congo

Democratic Republic of the Congo. (n.d.). //Fact Monster//. Retrieved December 12, 2010, from http://www.factmonster.com/country/profiles/congo-(kinshasa).html