List of heads of state of the Democratic Republic of the Congo
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United Nations Mission |
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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
[edit]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.[1]
Portrait | Name (Birth–Death) |
Position | Term of office | Notes | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Took office | Left office | Time in office | ||||
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Francis de Winton (1835–1901) |
Administrator-General | 22 April 1884 | 1 July 1885 | 1 year, 70 days |
Congo Free State
[edit]Monarch (Sovereign of the Congo Free State)
[edit]Portrait | Name | Position | ||
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Reign start | Reign ended | |||
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Leopold II of Belgium (1835–1909) |
Sovereign | 1 July 1885 | 15 November 1908 |
Administrators-General / Governors-General
[edit]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
[edit]Portrait | Name (Birth–Death) |
Position | Term of office | Notes | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Took office | Left office | Time in office | ||||
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Théophile Wahis (1844–1921) |
Governor-General | 15 November 1908 | 20 May 1912 | 3 years, 187 days | |
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Félix Fuchs (1858–1928) |
20 May 1912 | 5 January 1916 | 3 years, 230 days | ||
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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 | |||
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Martin Rutten (1876–1944) |
24 January 1923 | 27 December 1927 | 4 years, 337 days | ||
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Auguste Tilkens (1869–1949) |
27 December 1927 | 14 September 1934 | 6 years, 261 days | ||
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Pierre Ryckmans (1891–1959) |
14 September 1934 | 31 December 1946 | 12 years, 108 days | ||
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Eugène Jungers (1888–1958) |
31 December 1946 | 1 January 1952 | 5 years, 1 day | ||
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Léo Pétillon (1903–1996) |
1 January 1952 | 12 July 1958 | 6 years, 192 days | ||
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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)
[edit](Dates in italics indicate de facto continuation of office)
Republic of the Congo (1960–1964)[edit] | |||||||
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№ | 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)[edit] | |||||||
Presidents | |||||||
(3) | Joseph Kasa-Vubu | ![]() |
1910–1969 | 1 August 1964 | 24 November 1965[a] | ABAKO | |
4 | Joseph-Désiré Mobutu | ![]() |
1930–1997 | 24 November 1965 | 27 October 1971 | Military / Popular Movement of the Revolution | |
Republic of Zaire (1971–1997)[edit] | |||||||
President | |||||||
(4) | Mobutu Sese Seko[b] | ![]() |
1930–1997 | 27 October 1971 | 16 May 1997[c] | Popular Movement of the Revolution | |
Democratic Republic of the Congo (1997–present)[edit] | |||||||
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
[edit]- Azarias Ruberwa (RCD): Policy, Defense and Security Commission. He represents one of the 2 major former rebel groups.
- Arthur Z'ahidi Ngoma: Representing civil society
- Abdoulaye Yerodia Ndombasi (PPRD): Reconstruction and Development Commission. He represents the pre-peace agreement government.
- Jean-Pierre Bemba (MLC): Economic and Financial Commission. He represents one of the 2 major former rebel groups.
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
[edit]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
[edit]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)[edit] | |||||||||
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)[d] |
— | 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)[e] |
— | 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)[edit] | |||||||||
Post abolished (27 October 1971 – 6 July 1977) | |||||||||
9 | ![]() |
Mpinga Kasenda (1937–1994) |
1977 | 6 July 1977[3] | 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[f] | 234 days | Popular Movement of the Revolution | ||
12 | ![]() |
N'Singa Udjuu (1934–2021) |
1982 | 23 April 1981[5] | 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[g] | 181 days | Popular Movement of the Revolution | ||
18 | ![]() |
Étienne Tshisekedi (1932–2017) |
— | 29 September 1991[8] | 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[9] | 16 May 1997[h] | 37 days | Military | ||
Democratic Republic of the Congo (1997–present)[edit] | |||||||||
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, 113 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
[edit]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
[edit]- ^ Deposed in the 1965 coup d'état.
- ^ Previously named Joseph-Désiré Mobutu; changed name on 10 January 1972 due to the policy of Zairianisation.
- ^ Deposed in the First Congo War.
- ^ Prime Minister of the Free Republic of the Congo, in rebellion at Stanleyville, during the Congo Crisis.[2]
- ^ 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)
- ^ Fled into exile while on a private visit to Belgium.[4]
- ^ Resigned after the military riots in Kinshasa, during the 1991 Zaire unrest.[6][7]
- ^ Deposed in the First Congo War.
See also
[edit]- List of prime ministers of Belgium
- List of Belgian monarchs
- Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Zaire
- Lists of Incumbents
References
[edit]- ^ Boulger 1898, pp. 258–59.
- ^ James, Alan (1996). Britain and the Congo Crisis, 1960–63 (illustrated ed.). Springer. pp. xix. ISBN 9781349245284.
- ^ "Mobutu Appoints a Prime Minister". New York Times. Reuters. 7 July 1977. Retrieved 15 April 2022.
- ^ "Around the World; Zaire's Premier Resigns; Party Calls Him 'Cowardly'". New York Times. UPI. 18 April 1981. Retrieved 25 October 2022.
- ^ "AROUND THE WORLD; Ex-Official Is Appointed Prime Minister of Zaire". New York Times. Reuters. 24 April 1981. Retrieved 15 April 2022.
- ^ "Thousands of Troops on Rampage Of Looting and Violence in Zaire". New York Times. Associated Press. 24 September 1991. Retrieved 1 October 2021.
- ^ Rone Tempest and Scott Kraft (27 September 1991). "Riots, Anarchy in Zaire Bring Devastation". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 15 April 2022.
- ^ Kenneth B. Noble (30 September 1991). "Zaire's Dictator Agrees to Share Power With Foe". New York Times. Retrieved 25 October 2022.
- ^ Howard W. French (10 April 1997). "Mobutu Imposes Military Rule in Zaire". New York Times. Retrieved 15 April 2022.
Sources
[edit]- Boulger, Demetrius Charles (1898). The Congo State: Or, The Growth of Civilisation in Central Africa. London: W. Thacker & Co.
- Janssens, Édouard; Cateaux, Albert (1908). Les Belges au Congo: notices biographiques. Antwerp: J. van Hille-De Backer.