Historical eventOctober 271971

First Congolese Republic

The Democratic Republic of the Congo is renamed Zaire.

Everything on October 27Original source

In context

When
Wednesday, October 27 197155 years ago
Category
Historical eventA dated happening — a battle, treaty, launch, discovery, disaster or decision — recorded on this calendar day.
Era
20th century · 1970s
Recorded from
Wikipedia “On this day” feed

At a glance

Dates: From 1971.

What came beforeAI-assisted

The Democratic Republic of the Congo had been independent since 1960, following Belgian colonial rule. The country experienced political instability, civil war, and economic crisis throughout the 1960s.

Catalyst / how it startedAI-assisted

President Mobutu Sese Seko, who seized power in 1965, initiated a campaign of national authenticity and Africanization called 'Zairianization.' The name change was part of his broader effort to erase colonial legacies and assert Congolese identity.

Who was involvedAI-assisted

Mobutu Sese Seko, the military ruler and president, orchestrated the renaming as a central policy of his regime. The change affected all government institutions, the military, and national identity across the country.

TimelineAI-assisted

October 27, 1971: The Democratic Republic of the Congo was officially renamed the Republic of Zaire. The name derived from the Kikongo word 'nzadi,' meaning 'river,' referring to the Congo River.

What happened

The Democratic Republic of the Congo is renamed Zaire.

October 27 through the years

Other entries on the same calendar day, in order.

  1. 1971First Congolese Republic
  2. 1999Armenian parliament shooting
  3. 1999Nairi Hunanyan
  4. 2004Boston Red Sox
  5. 2011Michael D. Higgins
  6. 2014Operation Herrick
  7. 2017Catalonia
  8. 2018Pittsburgh synagogue shooting
  9. 2018Leicester City F.C.
  10. 2019Islamic State
  11. 2019The Mocking of Christ (Cimabue)

Also in 1971

  • September 9Imagine (John Lennon album)Imagine, the second solo album by John Lennon (pictured), was released.
  • September 9Attica Prison riotThe four-day Attica Prison riot begins, eventually resulting in 39 dead, most killed by state troopers retaking the prison.
  • September 13Project 571Following a failed coup attempt, Mao Zedong's second-in-command Lin Biao died in a plane crash while attempting to flee China.
  • September 13National Guard (United States)State police and National Guardsmen storm New York's Attica Prison to quell a prison revolt, which claimed 43 lives.
  • September 13Mao ZedongChairman Mao Zedong's second in command and successor Marshal Lin Biao flees China after the failure of an alleged coup. His plane crashe…
  • September 15GreenpeaceThe first Greenpeace ship departs from Vancouver to protest against the upcoming Cannikin nuclear weapon test in Alaska.
  • May 25Killing of Joetha CollierJoetha Collier, a recent high school graduate, was killed in Drew, Mississippi, in a case that attracted widespread attention from civil…
  • August 14BahrainBahrain declares independence from Britain.

Everything we record for 1971 →

Sources

Cite this page

“First Congolese Republic”, What's On This Date, https://whatsonthisdate.com/app/event/first-congolese-republic-1971-october-27, accessed October 27, 2026.

Cite the underlying source as well — the source links above go to the record this entry is adapted from.

Questions about this entry

When did First Congolese Republic happen?

October 27 1971 — 55 years ago, on a Wednesday.

Where does this text come from?

Wikipedia “On this day” feed. Summaries are short adaptations that link back to the source, not reprints. Panels marked AI-assisted were filled where the sources left a heading empty.

How do I cite this page?

Use the ready-made citation near the sources at the bottom of the page, and follow the source link to cite the underlying record as well.

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