This post discusses the past and present presidents of Congo, their political party, and term of office. It also includes their rank by time in office.
This is a list of presidents of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (formerly the Republic of the Congo and Zaire) since the country’s independence in 1960.
Presidents of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (1960–present)
| No. | Name (Birth–Death) |
Elected | Term of office | Political party | ||||||||||
| Took office | Left office | Time in office | ||||||||||||
| Republic of the Congo (1960–1971) | ||||||||||||||
| 1 | Joseph Kasa-Vubu (1910–1969) |
1960 | 1 July 1960 | 24 November 1965 (deposed) |
5 years, 146 days | ABAKO | ||||||||
| 2 | Joseph-Désiré Mobutu (1930–1997) |
1970 | 24 November 1965 | 27 October 1971 | 5 years, 337 days | Military / Popular Movement of the Revolution |
||||||||
| Republic of Zaire (1971–1997) | ||||||||||||||
| Mobutu Sese Seko (1930–1997) |
1977 1984 |
27 October 1971 | 16 May 1997 (deposed) |
25 years, 201 days | Popular Movement of the Revolution | |||||||||
| Democratic Republic of the Congo (1997–present) | ||||||||||||||
| 3 | Laurent-Désiré Kabila (1939–2001) |
— | 17 May 1997 | 16 January 2001 (assassinated) |
3 years, 244 days | Alliance of Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Congo / Independent |
||||||||
| 4 | Joseph Kabila (born 1971) |
2006 2011 |
26 January 2001 Acting since 17 January 2001 |
24 January 2019 | 18 years, 7 days | Independent / People’s Party for Reconstruction and Democracy |
||||||||
| 5 | Félix Tshisekedi (born 1963) |
2018 | 24 January 2019 | Incumbent | 4 years, 77 days | Union for Democracy and Social Progress | ||||||||
Read: PAST PRESIDENTS OF GHANA TILL DATE
Rank by time in office
| Rank | President | Time in office |
| 1 | Mobutu Sese Seko | 31 years, 173 days |
| 2 | Joseph Kabila | 18 years, 7 days |
| 3 | Joseph Kasa-Vubu | 5 years, 146 days |
| 4 | Félix Tshisekedi | 4 years, 77 days |
| 5 | Laurent-Désiré Kabila | 3 years, 245 days |