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The political scenario of Post Independence Zaire was of turmoil and unrest. On June 30, 1960, the Belgian Congo finally gained independence after a sequence of riots and unrest in the country. Parliamentary elections were held in 1960 and Patrice Lumumba was elected as the prime minister and Joseph Kasavubu as the president. The country was renamed as the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
A series of events destabilized the Democratic Republic of the Congo within the first year of independence: the army mutiny; attempt of secession by the governor of Katanga province; a UN peacekeeping force intervened to restore peace; Patrice Lumumba, the Prime Minister passed away under strange conditions; and Col. Joseph Désiré Mobutu (later Mobutu Sese Seko) acquired the rule over the government and surrender it again to President Kasavubu.
Until the year 1965 the government was plagued by unrest and rebellion. But stability was established only after Lieutenant General Mobutu, who was then commander in chief of the national army, took over the control of the country and declared himself the president for 5 years. Until 1977 and 1978 there was peace and stability in the country.
In second half of 1989 and early 1990, Mobutu faced criticism and protests from both domestic and international community. Mobutu implemented the principle of a multi-party system on April 1990. After independence the country has faced a lot of unrest.
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