The following lists events that happened during 1997 in Zaire and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Incumbents

name changed from Zaire to Democratic Republic of the Congo on 17 May 1997 President - Mobutu Sese Seko, President of Zaire (1965–1997) Laurent-Désiré Kabila, President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (1997–2001) Head of Government - Kengo Wa Dondo, First State Commissioner of Zaire (1994–1997) Étienne Tshisekedi, First State Commissioner of Zaire (1997) Likulia Bolongo, First State Commissioner of Zaire (1997)

Events

Date event Sizarail is dissolved and all operations are taken over by the Société nationale des chemins de fer du Congo (SNCC).18 February United Nations Security Council Resolution 1097 is adopted unanimously, in which the Council endorsed a five-point peace plan to address the situation in eastern Zaire. 29 March Société Minière et Industrielle du Kivu (Sominki) is put into liquidation. 16 May Donatien Mahele Lieko Bokungu, army chief of staff, is killed by Mobutu loyalists. 16 May First Congo War concludes when forces under Laurent-Désiré Kabila enter Kinshasa 17 May Zaire is renamed Democratic Republic of the Congo. Bank of Zaire becomes Central Bank of the Congo 16 May First Congo War concludes when forces under Laurent-Désiré Kabila enter Kinshasa 17 May Zaire is renamed Democratic Republic of the Congo. Bank of Zaire becomes Central Bank of the Congo 27 May Decree Law No. 3 defines a structure with a president, government, courts and tribunals. 29 May Kabila announces schedule for the transition to democracy. Elections are to be held in May 1999. 1 July Ismail Tutu'emoto and Bunia Luminangulu disappear. They had returned from exile to support the Alliance of Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Congo (AFDL), but had criticized Kabila, which seems to have led to their arrest. 28 October Professor Kalele Ka Bila and Jean-Francois Kabanda are arrested for calling on citizens to overthrow the "Tutsi invaders". Both were supporters of the Union for Democracy and Social Progress (UDPS).

See also

First Congo War History of the Democratic Republic of the Congo Zaire

References

Sources