Congo-Kinshasa: Difference between revisions
imported>Caesar Schinas m (Bot: Update image code) |
imported>Andrew Fan No edit summary |
||
| Line 3: | Line 3: | ||
'''Congo-Kinshasa''', officially the ''' Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC)''', is a country in Central [[Africa]]. It was originally a colony of [[Belgium]], when it was known as the Belgian Congo, after which it became for a while 'Zaïre'. Its capital is [[Kinshasa]]. | '''Congo-Kinshasa''', officially the ''' Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC)''', is a country in Central [[Africa]]. It was originally a colony of [[Belgium]], when it was known as the Belgian Congo, after which it became for a while 'Zaïre'. Its capital is [[Kinshasa]]. | ||
==History== | |||
The Congo Free State was formed in 1885 as a Belgian holding under the personal control of King Leopold. Leopold sought to benefit personally from the rubber and other resources in the territory, which contributed to treatment of the native workers, including forced labor and working conditions that led to thousands of deaths, that was widely condemned when discovered by the international community. The resulting outcry led Leopold to cede control of the region to the Belgian government in 1908. | |||
Renamed the Belgian Congo, the colony remained in Belgian hands until 1960. | |||
==Population== | |||
Revision as of 22:51, 28 June 2009
Congo-Kinshasa, officially the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), is a country in Central Africa. It was originally a colony of Belgium, when it was known as the Belgian Congo, after which it became for a while 'Zaïre'. Its capital is Kinshasa.
History
The Congo Free State was formed in 1885 as a Belgian holding under the personal control of King Leopold. Leopold sought to benefit personally from the rubber and other resources in the territory, which contributed to treatment of the native workers, including forced labor and working conditions that led to thousands of deaths, that was widely condemned when discovered by the international community. The resulting outcry led Leopold to cede control of the region to the Belgian government in 1908.
Renamed the Belgian Congo, the colony remained in Belgian hands until 1960.