Timeline: The DRC

2006-07-27 15:40

Here are the major events in the Democratic Republic of Congo's history:

1960 - The Democratic Republic of Congo declares independence from Belgium on June 30; Joseph Kasavubu becomes president and Patrice Lumumba becomes prime minister. Within months, Lumumba was assassinated by Congolese troops.

1960 - Mobutu Sese Seko, then an army colonel named Joseph Mobutu, seizes power in a coup, but returns Kasavubu to power the following year.

1965 - After years of political infighting, Mobutu seizes power in another coup, beginning a 32-year-rule.

1970 - Presidential elections are held nationwide; Mobutu is the only candidate.

1997 - Rebel leader Laurent Kabila declares himself president after being propelled to power by Rwandan-backed forces that swept across Congo. Mobutu flees into exile.

1998 - Rebel forces backed by Rwanda and Uganda rise up in east against Kabila. The war draws in half a dozen foreign armies and divides the north and east into rebel-controlled fiefdoms.

2000 - United Nations security council authorises 5 500-strong UN force to monitor 1999 cease-fire among five foreign armies and government, but fighting continues. The UN force later grows to 17 000, the largest in the world.

2001 - Laurent Kabila is killed by his bodyguard and succeeded by son, Joseph.

2002 - Peace deal signed in South Africa by warring parties brings broader war to a close, though local militia groups continue sporadic skirmishes in east. Foreign armies withdraw.

2003 - Joseph Kabila names transitional government to lead the DRC until elections. Leaders of main former rebel groups are sworn in as vice-presidents. Interim parliament is inaugurated.

December 18 2005 - Referendum on constitution that limits president to two five-year terms passes. The vote is country's first national ballot since 1970 and the first democratic vote since independence.

July 30 2006 - Democratic elections are held in the DRC. More than 25 million voters are eligible to elect a new president and parliament in the DRC's first multi-party polls in 45 years

- AP