Question: when did the democratic republic of the congo gain independence
Answer: 317 Official languages French Recognised national languages Lingala Kikongo Swahili Tshiluba Ethnic groups See Ethnic groups section below Demonym Congolese , Zairian Government Unitary semi-presidential republic President Joseph Kabila Prime Minister Bruno Tshibala Legislature Parliament Upper house Senate Lower house National Assembly Formation Colonized 17 November 1879 Congo Free State 1 July 1885 Belgian Congo 15 November 1908 Independence from Belgium 30 June 1960 Renamed to Democratic Republic of the Congo 1 August 1964 Republic of Zaire 29 October 1971 Fall of Mobutu 17 May 1997 Current constitution 18 February 2006 Area Total 2,345,409 km ( 905,567 sq mi ) ( 11th ) Water ( % ) 3.