Democratic Republic of the Congo
Central African nation · 1960–present · Central Africa, capital Kinshasa
Democratic Republic of the Congo is a Central African nation that gained independence from Belgium in 1960 and endured decades of dictatorship.
The kit
- Independence — Democratic Republic of the Congo gained independence from Belgium in 1960 and immediately fought secessionist movements in Katanga and South Kasai.
- Lumumba crisis — Democratic Republic of the Congo saw its first prime minister Patrice Lumumba captured and executed by Belgian officers after the Katanga Civil War outbreak.
- Mobutu dictatorship — Democratic Republic of the Congo was renamed Zaire under dictator Mobutu Sese Seko, who ruled brutally until Laurent Kabila succeeded him in 1997.
- Colonial legacy — Democratic Republic of the Congo's colonial predecessor saw the Force Publique sever hands of people during Belgian rule under Leopold II.
Runs with
Mobutu Sese Seko
Patrice Lumumba
Belgium
The ladder · 15 clues
A mine in this country, the Shinkolobwe, provided much of the uranium for the Manhattan Project.
This country was the site of Operation Dragon Rouge, where foreign special forces had to be deployed to rescue hostages during the Simba Uprising.
The European Union deployed peacekeeping troops to the eastern portion of this country in the Ituri War.
Mines in this modern country supplied most of the uranium for the Manhattan Project; that mining industry was centered on this country’s city of Elisabethville, now known as Lubumbashi, the capital of its Katanga Province.
Mark Twain wrote a satirical “soliloquy” skewering the ruler of a colony in this modern-day nation.
Evening newscasts of a leader of this country opened with him descending through clouds like a god.
One conflict in this nation led to the death of Dag Hammarskjold.
Peace negotiations in this country were thwarted when Dag Hammarskjold, the UN Secretary-General, died in a plane crash.
After the outbreak of the Katanga Civil War in this country, its prime minister Patrice Lumumba was captured and executed by Belgian officers.
Katanga is a region in the south of this country, which saw the brutal rule of Mobutu Sese Seko until 1997. Mobutu was succeded by Laurent Kabila in this African nation.
Baudouin oversaw the independence of this country and former Belgian colony, which was renamed Zaire temporarily while ruled by Mobutu Sese Soko.
An Adam Hochschild book titled for a king’s ghost documents crimes in this country’s colonial predecessor, which was also the subject of the Casement Report.
The CIA assisted in the overthrow of Patrice Lumumba in this country, where Mobutu Sese Seko served as a dictator.
Joseph Kasa-Vubu and Patrice Lumumba led this country that was known as Zaire under Mobutu Sese Seko.
The Force Publique severed the hands of people in this modern-day country during Belgian colonization. name this African country governed from Kinshasa.
10 more clues from the record
As part of Operation Black Dragon, foreigners were evacuated from Isiro during a rebellion that was led by the Maoist leaders of the African Solidarity Party; that was the Simba Rebellion.
After its 1960 independence, this country fought secessionist movements in its regions of South Kasai and Katanga.
This nation gained independence from Belgium in 1960. :What African country changed the name of its capital from Leopoldville to Kinshasa in 1966?
Until 2015, the Katanga province was one of the eleven provinces of this nation. :Name this modern day nation with its capital at Kinshasa.
Irish troops with a UN contingent in this country were captured by local fighters after resisting a five-day siege at Jadotville.
The UN’s Operation Morthor was launched in this country, which also saw the USSR support Antoine Gizenga’s rival government.
One political party in this country is named Rally for Democracy, and this country's ADFLC was led by Laurent-Desire Kabila [[loh-RAHNT deh-sih-REH kah-BEE- lah]].
Another leader of this country was executed by a firing squad commanded by Moises Tshombe; that ruler was deposed after calling in Soviet aid to suppress the secession of its Katanga provinces.
The first prime minister of this nation worked with Belgian minister Walter Ganshiof and wrote an impromptu speech praising the “end to the humiliating slavery” that began under Leopold II.
In this nation, child-soldiers known as kadogos hatched a successful plot known as Operation Mbongo Zero to kill President Laurent-Désiré Kabila.