List of heads of state of the Democratic Republic of the Congo

This is a list of European colonial administrators responsible for the territory of the Congo Free State and Belgian Congo (today the Democratic Republic of the Congo).

International Association of the Congo
Prior to the creation of the Congo Free State, the International Association of the Congo (IAC) had signed treaties with over 300 native Congolese chiefs and in effect exercised sovereignty over a large area of the Congo Basin. The IAC was headquartered in Belgium and run by a committee under the presidency of Maximilien Strauch. Prior to the creation of the office of Administrator-General, authority on the ground in the Congo had been exercised by a Chief of Expedition, who until April 1884 was Henry Morton Stanley.

Administrators-General / Governors-General
For the list of the active colonial administrators that administered the Congo Free State from 1885 to 1908, see the List of colonial governors of the Congo Free State and Belgian Congo for further information.

Belgian Congo
On 1 July 1960, the Belgian Congo became independent as the Republic of the Congo (République du Congo).

This article lists the heads of state of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (formerly Zaire) since the country's independence in 1960.

The current head of state is President Félix Tshisekedi, since 24 January 2019.

Heads of state of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (1960–present)
(Dates in italics indicate de facto continuation of office)

{| class="wikitable" width="100%" ! colspan=8|

Republic of the Congo (1960–1964)
! colspan="2" width="1%"|№ ! colspan="2" width="50px" | Name ! width="20%" | Birth–Death ! width="20%" | Took office ! width="20%" | Left office ! width="20%" | Political Party ! style="background:#F9E99C" | ! style="text-align:center;"| 1 ! style="background:#FF0000" | ! style="text-align:center;"| 2 ! !3 ! colspan=8|
 * colspan="8" bgcolor="lightgrey" align=center| Presidents
 * colspan="8" bgcolor="lightgrey" align=center| Presidents
 * align=center | Joseph Kasa-Vubu
 * align=center | Joseph Kasa-Vubu at the Belgo-Congolese Round Table Conference.jpg
 * align=center | 1910–1969
 * align=center | 1 July 1960
 * align=center | 1 August 1961
 * align=center | ABAKO
 * align=center | Antoine Gizenga
 * align=center | Gizenga, 1961.jpg
 * align=center | 1925–2019
 * align=center |1 August 1961
 * align=center | 5 August 1961
 * align=center | Parti Solidaire Africain (Gizenga faction)
 * Joseph       Kasa                 Vubu
 * 1910–1969
 * 5 August 1961
 * 1 August 1964
 * Independent
 * Independent

Democratic Republic of the Congo (1964–1971)
! style="background:#F9E99C" | ! style="text-align:center;"| (3) ! ! style="text-align:center;"| 4 ! colspan=8|
 * colspan="8" bgcolor="lightgrey" align=center| Presidents
 * colspan="8" bgcolor="lightgrey" align=center| Presidents
 * align=center | Joseph Kasa-Vubu
 * align=center | Joseph Kasa-Vubu at the Belgo-Congolese Round Table Conference.jpg
 * align=center | 1910–1969
 * align=center | 1 August 1964
 * align=center | 24 November 1965
 * align=center | ABAKO
 * align=center | Joseph-Désiré Mobutu
 * align=center | Mobutu.jpg
 * align=center | 1930–1997
 * align=center | 24 November 1965
 * align=center | 27 October 1971
 * align=center | Military / Popular Movement of the Revolution

Republic of Zaire (1971–1997)
! ! style="text-align:center;"| (4) ! colspan=8|
 * colspan="8" bgcolor="lightgrey" align=center| President
 * colspan="8" bgcolor="lightgrey" align=center| President
 * align=center | Mobutu Sese Seko
 * align=center | Mobutu.jpg
 * align=center | 1930–1997
 * align=center | 27 October 1971
 * align=center | 16 May 1997
 * align=center | Popular Movement of the Revolution

Democratic Republic of the Congo (1997–present)
! ! style="text-align:center;"| 5 ! ! style="text-align:center;"| 6 Acting since 17 January 2001 ! ! style="text-align:center;"| 7
 * colspan="8" bgcolor="lightgrey" align=center| Presidents
 * colspan="8" bgcolor="lightgrey" align=center| Presidents
 * align=center | Laurent-Désiré Kabila
 * align=center |
 * align=center | 1939–2001
 * align=center | 17 May 1997
 * align=center | 16 January 2001 (assassinated)
 * align=center | Independent
 * align=center | Joseph Kabila
 * align=center | Joseph Kabila April 2016.jpg
 * align=center | 1971–
 * align=center | 26 January 2001
 * align=center | 24 January 2019
 * align=center | Independent / People's Party for Reconstruction and Democracy
 * align=center | Félix Tshisekedi
 * align=center | Félix Tshisekedi (september 2018) 2.jpg
 * align=center | 1963–
 * align=center | 24 January 2019
 * align=center | Incumbent
 * align=center | Union for Democracy and Social Progress
 * }

The Vice-Presidents were

 * Azarias Ruberwa (RCD): Policy, Defense and Security Commission. He represents one of the 2 major former rebel groups.
 * Arthur Z'ahidi Ngoma: Representing civil society
 * Abdoulaye Yerodia Ndombasi (PPRD): Reconstruction and Development Commission. He represents the pre-peace agreement government.
 * Jean-Pierre Bemba (MLC): Economic and Financial Commission. He represents one of the 2 major former rebel groups.

Under the 2006 constitution, which was promulgated in February 2006, the position of Vice-President becomes obsolete, after the inauguration of the first President of the DRC, elected democratically by direct universal suffrage. This inauguration occurred on December 6, 2006. Since then, the President of the Senate is designated to step in as interim president.

president of the Senate
The president of the Senate of the Democratic Republic of the Congo is the presiding officer in the Senate of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Below is a list of office-holders:

List of officeholders
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" ! rowspan="2" | No. ! rowspan="2" width="90px" | Portrait ! rowspan="2" | Name (Birth–Death) ! rowspan="2" | Election ! colspan="3" | Term of office ! rowspan="2" | Political party ! rowspan="2" colspan="2" | President(s) (Term) ! Took office ! Left office ! Time in office ! colspan="10" |

Republic of the Congo (1960–1971)
! style="background:;" | 1 (1925–1961) (appointed) (dismissed) (Lumumba faction) ! rowspan="9" style="background:;"| ! rowspan="9" style="font-weight:normal" |Joseph Kasa-Vubu (1960–1965) ! style="background:;" | 2 (1921–1994) (Kalonji faction) ! style="background:;" | 3 (1930–2023) ! style="background:;" | 4 (1928–2014) ! style="background:;" | — (1925–2019) (disputed) (Gizenga faction) ! style="background:;" | (2) (1921–1994) (Kalonji faction) ! style="background:;" | 5 (1921–1978) ! style="background:#FFC000;" | 6 (1919–1969) ! style="background:#FF8C00;" | 7 (1926–1966) ! style="background:;" | 8 (1928–1986) ! rowspan="1" style="background:;"| ! rowspan="1" style="font-weight:normal" |Joseph-Désiré Mobutu (1965–1997) ! colspan="10" |
 * Patrice Lumumba, 1960.jpg
 * Patrice Lumumba
 * 1960
 * 24 June 1960
 * 5 September 1960
 * 73 days
 * Mouvement National Congolais
 * Joseph Iléo, 1960.jpg
 * Joseph Iléo
 * 5 September 1960
 * 20 September 1960
 * 15 days
 * Mouvement National Congolais
 * Mouvement National Congolais
 * Albert Ndele.jpg
 * Albert Ndele
 * 20 September 1960
 * 3 October 1960
 * 13 days
 * Independent
 * Independent
 * [[File:Aankomst op Schiphol van Justin Bomboko minister in reg Ileo op doorreis naar P, Bestanddeelnr 911-6367.jpg|90px]]
 * Justin Bomboko
 * 3 October 1960
 * 9 February 1961
 * 129 days
 * Independent
 * Independent
 * Gizenga, 1961.jpg
 * Antoine Gizenga
 * 13 December 1960
 * 5 August 1961
 * 235 days
 * Parti Solidaire Africain
 * Parti Solidaire Africain
 * Joseph Iléo, 1960.jpg
 * Joseph Iléo
 * 9 February 1961
 * 2 August 1961
 * 173 days
 * Mouvement National Congolais
 * Mouvement National Congolais
 * Cyrille Adoula 1963.jpg
 * Cyrille Adoula
 * 2 August 1961
 * 30 June 1964
 * 2 years, 333 days
 * Mouvement National Congolais
 * Mouvement National Congolais
 * 26.2.63. Moïse Tshombe arrive à Toulouse (1963) - 53Fi5440 (cropped).jpg
 * Moïse Tshombe
 * 1965
 * 10 July 1964
 * 13 October 1965
 * 1 year, 94 days
 * CONACO
 * No image.svg
 * Évariste Kimba
 * 13 October 1965
 * 25 November 1965
 * 43 days
 * CONAKAT
 * CONAKAT
 * Léonard Mulamba.jpg
 * Léonard Mulamba
 * 25 November 1965
 * 26 October 1966
 * 335 days
 * Military
 * Military
 * colspan="10" | Post abolished (26 October 1966 – 27 October 1971)
 * colspan="10" | Post abolished (26 October 1966 – 27 October 1971)

Republic of Zaire (1971–1997)
! style="background:;" | 9 (1937–1994) ! rowspan="19" style="background:;"| ! rowspan="19" style="font-weight:normal" |Mobutu Sese Seko (1965–1997) ! style="background:;" | 10 (1934–2018) ! style="background:;" | 11 (1938–2003) ! style="background:;" | 12 (1934–2021) ! style="background:;" | 13 (born 1935) ! style="background:;" | 14 (born 1941) ! style="background:;" | 15 (1940–1998) ! style="background:;" | (13) (born 1935) ! style="background:;" | 16 (born 1942) ! style="background:;" | 17 (1943–1997) ! style="background:;" | 18 (1932–2017) ! style="background:#156CC4;" | 19 (1933–1999) ! style="background:#556627;" | (11) (1938–2003) ! style="background:;" | (18) (1932–2017) ! style="background:;" | 20 (1943–1999) ! style="background:#008000;" | (13) (born 1935) ! style="background:;" | (18) (1932–2017) ! style="background:;" | 21 (born 1939) ! colspan="10" |
 * colspan="10" | Post abolished (27 October 1971 – 6 July 1977)
 * colspan="10" | Post abolished (27 October 1971 – 6 July 1977)
 * No image.svg
 * Mpinga Kasenda
 * 1977
 * 6 July 1977
 * 6 March 1979
 * 1 year, 243 days
 * Popular Movement of the Revolution
 * André Boboliko.jpg
 * Bo-Boliko Lokonga
 * 6 March 1979
 * 27 August 1980
 * 1 year, 174 days
 * Popular Movement of the Revolution
 * Popular Movement of the Revolution
 * Jean Nguza Karl-i-Bond (cropped).jpg
 * Jean Nguza Karl-i-Bond
 * 27 August 1980
 * 18 April 1981
 * 234 days
 * Popular Movement of the Revolution
 * Popular Movement of the Revolution
 * No image.svg
 * N'Singa Udjuu
 * 1982
 * 23 April 1981
 * 5 November 1982
 * 1 year, 196 days
 * Popular Movement of the Revolution
 * Léon Kengo Senate of Poland 01.JPG
 * Léon Kengo wa Dondo
 * 5 November 1982
 * 31 October 1986
 * 3 years
 * Popular Movement of the Revolution
 * colspan="8" | Post vacant (31 October 1986 – 22 January 1987)
 * colspan="8" | Post vacant (31 October 1986 – 22 January 1987)
 * colspan="8" | Post vacant (31 October 1986 – 22 January 1987)
 * No image.svg
 * Mabi Mulumba
 * 1987
 * 22 January 1987
 * 7 March 1988
 * 1 year, 45 days
 * Popular Movement of the Revolution
 * No image.svg
 * Sambwa Pida Nbagui
 * 7 March 1988
 * 26 November 1988
 * 263 days
 * Popular Movement of the Revolution
 * Popular Movement of the Revolution
 * Léon Kengo Senate of Poland 01.JPG
 * Léon Kengo wa Dondo
 * 26 November 1988
 * 4 May 1990
 * 1 year, 159 days
 * Popular Movement of the Revolution
 * Popular Movement of the Revolution
 * No image.svg
 * Lunda Bululu
 * 4 May 1990
 * 1 April 1991
 * 332 days
 * Popular Movement of the Revolution
 * Popular Movement of the Revolution
 * No image.svg
 * Mulumba Lukoji
 * 1 April 1991
 * 29 September 1991
 * Popular Movement of the Revolution
 * Popular Movement of the Revolution
 * Popular Movement of the Revolution
 * Etienne Tshisekedi (5811619100) (cropped).jpg
 * Étienne Tshisekedi
 * 29 September 1991
 * 1 November 1991
 * 33 days
 * Union for Democracy and Social Progress
 * Union for Democracy and Social Progress
 * No image.svg
 * Bernardin Mungul Diaka
 * 1 November 1991
 * 25 November 1991
 * 23 days
 * Democratic Assembly for the Republic
 * Democratic Assembly for the Republic
 * Jean Nguza Karl-i-Bond (cropped).jpg
 * Jean Nguza Karl-i-Bond
 * 25 November 1991
 * 15 August 1992
 * 264 days
 * Union of Federalists and Independent Republicans
 * Union of Federalists and Independent Republicans
 * Etienne Tshisekedi (5811619100) (cropped).jpg
 * Étienne Tshisekedi
 * 15 August 1992
 * 18 March 1993
 * 215 days
 * Union for Democracy and Social Progress
 * Union for Democracy and Social Progress
 * F. Birindwa.jpg
 * Faustin Birindwa
 * 18 March 1993
 * 14 January 1994
 * 302 days
 * Union for Democracy and Social Progress
 * Union for Democracy and Social Progress
 * Léon Kengo Senate of Poland 01.JPG
 * Léon Kengo wa Dondo
 * 6 July 1994
 * 2 April 1997
 * 2 years, 271 days
 * Union of Independent Democrats
 * Union of Independent Democrats
 * Etienne Tshisekedi (5811619100) (cropped).jpg
 * Étienne Tshisekedi
 * 2 April 1997
 * 9 April 1997
 * 7 days
 * Union for Democracy and Social Progress
 * Union for Democracy and Social Progress
 * No image.svg
 * Likulia Bolongo
 * 9 April 1997
 * 16 May 1997
 * 37 days
 * Military
 * Military

Democratic Republic of the Congo (1997–present)
! style="background:;" | 22 (1925–2019) ! rowspan="6" style="background:;"| ! rowspan="6" style="font-weight:normal" |Joseph Kabila (2001–2019) ! style="background:;" | 23 (born 1957) ! style="background:;" | — (1947–2014) Acting ! style="background:;" | 24 (born 1964) ! style="background:;" | 25 (born 1962) ! rowspan=2 style="background:;" | 26 (born 1956) ! rowspan="3" style="background:;" | ! rowspan="3" style="font-weight:normal" |Félix Tshisekedi (2019–present) ! style="background:" | 27 (born 1947) ! style="background:#A884C7;" | 28 (born 1977)
 * colspan="10" | Post abolished (16 May 1997 – 30 December 2006)
 * colspan="10" | Post abolished (16 May 1997 – 30 December 2006)
 * Antoine Gizenga.jpg
 * Antoine Gizenga
 * 2006
 * 30 December 2006
 * 10 October 2008
 * 1 year, 285 days
 * Unified Lumumbist Party
 * Adolphe Muzito - 2009.jpg
 * Adolphe Muzito
 * 2011
 * 10 October 2008
 * 6 March 2012
 * 3 years, 148 days
 * Unified Lumumbist Party
 * No image.svg
 * Louis Alphonse Koyagialo
 * 6 March 2012
 * 18 April 2012
 * 42 days
 * Unified Lumumbist Party
 * Unified Lumumbist Party
 * Matata Ponyo Mapon.jpg
 * Matata Ponyo Mapon
 * 18 April 2012
 * 17 November 2016
 * 4 years, 213 days
 * People's Party for Reconstruction and Democracy
 * People's Party for Reconstruction and Democracy
 * Samy Badibanga 2016 (cropped).jpg
 * Samy Badibanga
 * 17 November 2016
 * 18 May 2017
 * 182 days
 * Union for Democracy and Social Progress
 * Union for Democracy and Social Progress
 * rowspan=2|Bruno Tshibala.jpg
 * rowspan=2|Bruno Tshibala
 * rowspan=2|18 May 2017
 * rowspan=2|7 September 2019
 * rowspan=2|2 years, 112 days
 * rowspan=2|Union for Democracy and Social Progress
 * 2018
 * 2018
 * 2018
 * No image.svg
 * Sylvestre Ilunga
 * 7 September 2019
 * 27 April 2021
 * 1 year, 233 days
 * People's Party for Reconstruction and Democracy
 * People's Party for Reconstruction and Democracy
 * Jean-Michel Sama Lukonde, premier ministre de la RDC (cropped).png
 * Sama Lukonde
 * 27 April 2021
 * Incumbent
 * 3 years, 64 days
 * Future of Congo
 * }
 * }

(Dates in italics indicate de facto continuation of office)

Congo
In 1960 the State of Katanga declared independence from the Democratic Republic of the Congo. United Nations troops crushed it in Operation Grand Slam.