DRC: Political overview

The political history of the DRC has been periodized as follows:

• Pre-colonial Congo
• Congo Free State: 1878 - 1908
• Belgian colonialism: 1908 - 1960
• First Republic: 1960 - 1965
• Second Republic: 1965 - 1990
• Third Republic: 1990 - 1997
• Civil war: 1997 - 2002
• Peace process: 2002 - May 2006
• Transition to Democracy: June - December 2006