1960- First free elections in the DRC after its independence from Belgium, Patrice Lumumba was elected as Prime Minister. He was executed ten weeks later, some believe with the support of the United States.
1974- Mobutu nationalizes Zaire’s mining and resources, which forces all foreign companies to leave the country. This angered some countries and large companies.
1990- Mobutu changes the government from a one party system to and transitional government, meaning that the government was going to prepare for a new permanent government, but Mobutu held on the most of his power. He was saying that he would begin to give power to his citizens by changing the government, but he kept most of the power despite that.
1997- Rebels fighting Mobutu and his reign with the help of Rwanda capture Kinshasa, the capital, and make Laurent Kabila President. This frees the people of the DRC from Mobutu’s rule.
2004- The International Criminal Court (ICC) starts investigating individuals in the DRC, with many of them being charged with “using children of the age of fifteen to take active part in the hostilities” and “sexual slavery.”
2006- Free elections that make Kabila president again, these are the first free elections in 40 or more years, the international community is pleased by the free elections taking place.
2009- The ICC orders past vice president Jean-Pierre Bemba to stand trail for the war crimes committed by his troops in 2002 and 2003.
1965- Mobutu Sese Seko comes to power with the support of the United States because of his dislike of communism. He made a one party government in which he was the only option to vote for. He also renamed the country Zaire.
1989- Zaire fails to pay back loans from Belgium which ruins Zaire’s economy. This has lead to poverty in the DRC today.
1991- Mobutu allows a coalition government, which is a parliamentary government where multiple parties will work together in the government, but Mobutu again keeps control of the army and some government departments.
2000- The UN creates MONUC which is tasked with watching a ceasefire, but now helps to keep peace between the parties fighters.
2001- President Kabila was assassinated, and replaced by his son Joseph Kabila eight days later. 135 people were tried by a military tribunal after his assassination. Colonel Eddy Kapend was suspected of being in charge of the group responsible.
2006- General Laurent Nkunda’s rebel forces and UN Peace keepers fight in North Kivu province, sending about 50,000 people fleeing the area. There are many people displaced from their homes when there are fights like this.
2008- The UN increase the number of troops for MONUC to help with peace efforts.
2010- Mass rapes are reported in North Kivu Province. The UN peace keeping force has appeared to fail the victims, estimated to be above 500 women. This happened less than 20 miles from a UN base.