June 30 is Independence Day in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. This is a public holiday that commemorates the day when the country gained independence from Belgium in 1960.
The first Europeans to arrive in the area now known as DR Congo were the Portuguese. Until their arrival in the late 15th century, the Kingdom of Kongo was one of the dominant forces in the region. From the 14th to the mid-19th century, it was mostly an independent state.
After Belgium received its independence from the Netherlands in 1830, King Leopold I tentatively supported several proposals to acquire overseas territories. His successor, King Leopold II, was in favor of colonial expansion because he thought that it would be beneficial for his nation’s international power and prestige. When the Belgian government refused to support his ambitions, Leopold decided to create a state in the Congo Basin under his own personal rule.
