As the various European powers vied for control of the African continent in the late 19th century, the Congo came under the gaze of King Leopold II of Belgium.
Leopold personally acquired the \’rights\’ to the Congo territory at the Conference of Berlin in 1885 and named the land the Congo Free State.
After years of abuse of the local population, the Belgian parliament took control of the free state in 1908, creating the Belgian Congo.
This name CONGO proved more than a bit confusing as the French colony of Middle Congo was also called the Republic of Congo.
To make a distinction, the two countries were more commonly known as Congo-Léopoldville (ex-Belgian) and Congo-Brazzaville (ex-French), after their capital cities. In 1971, Congo-Léopoldville was named Zaire.
But after popular rebellion in Zaire in 1996, led to the country adopting its current name of DR Congo in 1997. Also it is a period of reminder of the conflict that has riven the country since independence and a time to place wreaths on the gravesites of loved ones who have died in civil wars and fighting.
