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List of presidents of the Democratic Republic of the Congo

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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

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Political parties and other affiliations

Symbols

§ Elected unopposed

Status

  Denotes acting heads of state
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 in a coup)
5 years, 146 days ABAKO
2 Joseph-Désiré Mobutu
(1930–1997)
1970[§] 24 November 1965 27 October 1971[2] 5 years, 337 days Military
(until 1967)

MPR
Republic of Zaire (1971–1997)
Mobutu Sese Seko
(1930–1997)[a]
1977[§]

1984[§]

27 October 1971[2] 16 May 1997
(Deposed in a civil war)[3]
25 years, 201 days MPR
Democratic Republic of the Congo (1997–present)
3 Laurent-Désiré Kabila
(1939–2001)
17 May 1997 16 January 2001
(Assassinated)
3 years, 244 days Independent
member of the
AFDL
Joseph Kabila
(born 1971)
17 January 2001 26 January 2001 9 days Independent
(until 2002)
4 2006
2011
17 January 2001 24 January 2019 18 years, 7 days PPRD
5 Félix Tshisekedi
(born 1963)
2018
2023
24 January 2019 Incumbent 5 years, 284 days UDPS

Timeline

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Félix TshisekediJoseph KabilaLaurent-Désiré KabilaMobutu Sese SekoJoseph Kasa-Vubu

Rank by time in office

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Rank President Time in office
1 Mobutu Sese Seko 31 years, 173 days
2 Joseph Kabila 18 years, 7 days
3 Félix Tshisekedi 5 years, 284 days
4 Joseph Kasa-Vubu 5 years, 146 days
5 Laurent-Désiré Kabila 3 years, 245 days

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ Previously named Joseph-Désiré Mobutu; changed name on 10 January 1972 due to the policy of Zairianisation.

References

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  1. ^ Makumeno, Emery (31 December 2023). "DR Congo election: President Felix Tshisekedi declared landslide winner". BBC. Retrieved 31 December 2023.
  2. ^ a b "Congo Changes Name To the Zaire Republic". New York Times. Reuters. 28 October 1971. Retrieved 15 April 2022.
  3. ^ Howard W. French (17 May 1997). "MOBUTU GIVES UP, LEAVING KINSHASA AND CEDING POWER". New York Times. Retrieved 10 October 2022.
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