What caused the first Congo war?

The most deciding event in precipitating the war was the genocide in neighbouring Rwanda in 1994, which sparked a mass exodus of refugees known as the Great Lakes refugee crisis. During the 100-day genocide, hundreds of thousands of Tutsis and sympathizers were massacred at the hands of predominantly Hutu aggressors.

How did Congo get its independence?

Belgian colonization of DR Congo began in 1885 when King Leopold II founded and ruled the Congo Free State. However, de facto control of such a huge area took decades to achieve. After an uprising by the Congolese people, Belgium surrendered and this led to the independence of the Congo in 1960.

What did Belgium do in the Congo?

On February 5, 1885, Belgian King Leopold II established the Congo Free State by brutally seizing the African landmass as his personal possession. Rather than control the Congo as a colony, as other European powers did throughout Africa, Leopold privately owned the region.

What is the meaning of the Congo?

a republic in central Africa; achieved independence from Belgium in 1960. Congo, Congo River, Zaire Rivernoun. a major African river (one of the world’s longest); flows through Congo into the South Atlantic. Congo, Republic of the Congo, French Congonoun.

When did the Congo crisis start?

July 5, 1960 – November 25, 1965
Congo Crisis/Periods

Did you know that the Congo is split into two countries?

Not everyone is aware that the Congo is split into two entirely different countries— The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), and the Republic of Congo. The two are separated by one of the most famous natural wonders in Africa, the Great Congo River, that winds through the heart of Central Africa and spills out into the Atlantic Ocean.

What is the truth about the Congo?

This truth is that the Congo or the democratic Republic of the Congo is all these things, and a whole lot more bundled into the muggy, humid, beautiful madness of Central Africa. Not everyone is aware that the Congo is split into two entirely different countries— The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), and the Republic of Congo.

What is the difference between Congo and Zaire?

The name Congo stems from the Bakongo, a Bantu tribe that populate the area. The two countries are separated not only by different colonial roots, but by the Congo River (or Zaire River), the second-longest river in Africa.

Where is the Congo located?

The “Congo” — when you’re talking about the nations by that name — actually can refer to one of two countries that border the Congo River in central Africa. The larger of the two countries is the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the southeast, while the smaller nation is the Republic of the Congo to the northwest.