This is a list of presidents of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (formerly the Republic of the Congo and Zaire) since the country's independence in 1960.
The current President is Félix Tshisekedi, since 24 January 2019.[1]
List of officeholders
edit(Dates in italics indicate de facto continuation of office)
No. | Portrait | Name (Birth–Death) |
Elected | Term of office | Political party | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Took office | Left office | Time in office | |||||
Republic of the Congo (1960–1971) | |||||||
1 | Joseph Kasa-Vubu (1910–1969) |
1960 | 1 July 1960 | 24 November 1965 (deposed) |
5 years, 146 days | ABAKO | |
2 | Joseph-Désiré Mobutu (1930–1997) |
1970 | 24 November 1965 | 27 October 1971[2] | 5 years, 337 days | Military / Popular Movement of the Revolution | |
Republic of Zaire (1971–1997) | |||||||
(2) | Mobutu Sese Seko (1930–1997)[a] |
1977 1984 |
27 October 1971[2] | 16 May 1997 (deposed)[3] |
25 years, 201 days | Popular Movement of the Revolution | |
Democratic Republic of the Congo (1997–present) | |||||||
3 | Laurent-Désiré Kabila (1939–2001) |
— | 17 May 1997 | 16 January 2001 (assassinated) |
3 years, 244 days | Alliance of Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Congo / Independent | |
— | Joseph Kabila (born 1971) |
— | 17 January 2001 | 26 January 2001 | 9 days | Independent / People's Party for Reconstruction and Democracy | |
4 | 2006 2011 |
17 January 2001 | 24 January 2019 | 18 years, 7 days | |||
5 | Félix Tshisekedi (born 1963) |
2018 2023 |
24 January 2019 | Incumbent | 5 years, 252 days | Union for Democracy and Social Progress |
Timeline
editRank by time in office
editRank | President | Time in office |
---|---|---|
1 | Mobutu Sese Seko | 31 years, 173 days |
2 | Joseph Kabila | 18 years, 7 days |
3 | Félix Tshisekedi | 5 years, 252 days |
4 | Joseph Kasa-Vubu | 5 years, 146 days |
5 | Laurent-Désiré Kabila | 3 years, 245 days |
See also
editNotes
edit- ^ Previously named Joseph-Désiré Mobutu; changed name on 10 January 1972 due to the policy of Zairianisation.
References
edit- ^ Makumeno, Emery (31 December 2023). "DR Congo election: President Felix Tshisekedi declared landslide winner". BBC. Retrieved 31 December 2023.
- ^ a b "Congo Changes Name To the Zaire Republic". New York Times. Reuters. 28 October 1971. Retrieved 15 April 2022.
- ^ Howard W. French (17 May 1997). "MOBUTU GIVES UP, LEAVING KINSHASA AND CEDING POWER". New York Times. Retrieved 10 October 2022.