| 23 Feb 1885 | sovereign status of the International Association of the Congo recognized by Berlin Conference | Leaders |
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| 1 Jul 1885 | Independent State of the Congo ("Congo Free State") | Leaders |
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| 15 Nov 1908 | annexation by Belgium (Belgian Congo) | Leaders |
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| 30 Jun 1960 | independence (Republic of the Congo) | Leaders |
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| 1 Aug 1964 | Democratic Republic of the Congo | Leaders |
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| 27 Oct 1971 | Republic of Zaire | Leaders |
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| 17 May 1997 | Democratic Republic of the Congo | Leaders |
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| 23 Feb 1885 - 1 Jul 1885 | Maximilien Strauch | President of the International Association of the Congo |
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| 1 Jul 1885 - 1886 | Sir Francis Walter de Winton | Administrators-general |
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| 1886 - 1887 | Camille Janssen | Administrators-general |
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| 1887 - 1890 | Camille Janssen | Governors-general |
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| 1 Dec 1890 - 24 Mar 1891 | Camille Coquilhat (acting) | Governors-general |
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| 1891 - 1892 | Félix Fuchs (1st time) (acting) | Governors-general |
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| 1 Jul 1892 - 1896 | Théophile Wahis (1st time) | Governors-general |
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| 1896 - 1900 | Émile Wangermée (acting) | Governors-general |
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| 1900 - 1912 | Théophile, baron Wahis (2nd time) | Governors-general |
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| 20 May 1912 - 5 Jan 1916 | Félix Fuchs (2nd time) | Governors-general |
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| 5 Jan 1916 - 30 Jan 1921 | Eugène Henry | Governors-general |
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| 30 Jan 1921 - 24 Jan 1923 | Maurice Lippens | Governors-general |
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| 24 Jan 1923 - 27 Dec 1927 | Martin Rutten | Governors-general |
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| 27 Dec 1927 - 14 Sep 1934 | Auguste Tilkens | Governors-general |
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| 1929 - 1930 | Charles Duchesne | Governors-general |
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| 14 Sep 1934 - Jul 1946 | Pierre Ryckmans | Governors-general |
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| 31 Dec 1946 - 1 Jan 1952 | Eugène Jungers | Governors-general |
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| 1 Jan 1952 - 12 Jul 1958 | Léon Pétillon | Governors-general |
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| 12 Jul 1958 - 30 Jun 1960 | Henri Cornelis | Governors-general |
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| 30 Jun 1960 - 25 Nov 1965 | Joseph Kasavubu | Presidents |
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| 31 Mar 1961 - 5 Aug 1961 | Antoine Gizenga | Presidents |
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| 25 Nov 1965 - 16 May 1997 | Joseph-Désiré Mobutu (from 10 Jan 1972, Mobutu Sese Seko) (b. 1930 - d. 1997) | Presidents |
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| 17 May 1997 - 16 Jan 2001 | Laurent Kabila | Presidents |
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| 17 Jan 2001 - | Joseph Kabila | Presidents |
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| 24 Jun 1960 - 5 Sep 1960¹ | Patrice Lumumba | Prime ministers |
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| 5 Sep 1960 - 20 Sep 1960 | Joseph Iléo (1st time) | Prime ministers |
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| 20 Sep 1960 - 3 Oct 1960 | Albert Ndele | Chairmen of the board of commissioners-general |
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| 4 Oct 1960 - 9 Feb 1961 | Justin Marie Bomboko | Chairmen of the board of commissioners-general |
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| 13 Dec 1960 - 5 Aug 1961 | Antoine Gizenga | Prime ministers |
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| 9 Feb 1961 - 2 Aug 1961 | Joseph Iléo (2nd time) | Prime ministers |
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| 2 Aug 1961 - 30 Jun 1964 | Cyrille Adoula | Prime ministers |
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| 10 Jul 1964 - 13 Oct 1965 | Moise Tshombe | Prime ministers |
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| 18 Oct 1965 - 14 Nov 1965 | Évariste Kimba | Prime ministers |
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| 28 Nov 1965 - 26 Oct 1966 | Léonard Mulamba | Prime ministers |
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| 6 Jul 1977 - 6 Mar 1979 | Mpinga Kasenda | First state commissioners (prime ministers) |
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| 6 Mar 1979 - 27 Aug 1980 | Bo-Boliko Lokonga Monse Mihambo | First state commissioners (prime ministers) |
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| 27 Aug 1980 - 23 Apr 1981 | Nguza Karl-I-Bond (1st time) | First state commissioners (prime ministers) |
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| 23 Apr 1981 - 5 Nov 1982 | N'singa Udjuu Ongwankebi Untube | First state commissioners (prime ministers) |
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| 5 Nov 1982 - 31 Oct 1986 | Kengo Wa Dondo (1st time) | First state commissioners (prime ministers) |
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| 22 Jan 1987 - 7 Mar 1988 | Mabi Mulumba | First state commissioners (prime ministers) |
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| 7 Mar 1988 - 26 Nov 1988 | Sambwa Pida Nbagui | First state commissioners (prime ministers) |
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| 26 Nov 1988 - 4 May 1990 | Kengo Wa Dondo (2nd time) | First state commissioners (prime ministers) |
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| 4 May 1990 - 1 Apr 1991 | Lunda Bululu | First state commissioners (prime ministers) |
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| 1 Apr 1991 - 29 Sep 1991 | Mulumba Lukoji | First state commissioners (prime ministers) |
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| 29 Sep 1991 - 1 Nov 1991 | Étienne Tshisekedi (1st time) | First state commissioners (prime ministers) |
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| 1 Nov 1991 - 25 Nov 1991 | Bernardin Mungul Diaka | First state commissioners (prime ministers) |
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| 25 Nov 1991 - 15 Aug 1992 | Nguza Karl-I-Bond (2nd time) | First state commissioners (prime ministers) |
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| 15 Aug 1992 - 18 Mar 1993² | Étienne Tshisekedi (2nd time) | First state commissioners (prime ministers) |
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| 18 Mar 1993 - 14 Jan 1994 | Faustin Birindwa | First state commissioners (prime ministers) |
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| 6 Jul 1994 - 2 Apr 1997 | Kengo Wa Dondo (3rd time) | First state commissioners (prime ministers) |
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| 2 Apr 1997 - 9 Apr 1997 | Étienne Tshisekedi (3rd time) | First state commissioners (prime ministers) |
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| 9 Apr 1997 - 16 May 1997 | Likulia Bolongo | First state commissioners (prime ministers) |
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| 30 Dec 2006 - | Antoine Gizenga | Prime minister |
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