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What was the name of the country before Laurent-Désiré Kabila changed it back to the Democratic Republic of the Congo?

  • Republic of Zaire

  • People's Republic of Congo

  • Kingdom of Congo

  • Zaire

Answer

The country was previously called Zaire. This name change occurred when Mobutu Sese Seko, the former president of Congo-Kinshasa, renamed the nation in 1971 as part of his Africanization campaign, which aimed to remove colonial influences and promote national pride. Mobutu believed that the name "Zaire" better represented the country's historical and cultural heritage compared to the colonial name "Congo."
Test Your Knowledge: The Legacy of Laurent-Désiré Kabila, President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo

Test Your Knowledge: The Legacy of Laurent-Désiré Kabila, President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo

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