Capture of Kisangani
Sees AFDL forces capture Kisangani, opening the route toward western Zaire.
Permanent historical records · Updated 2026-11-03
1997 in Democratic Republic of the Congo
Explore 15 historical events and records for Democratic Republic of the Congo in 1997.
Historical records for Democratic Republic of the Congo in 1997
Sorted by month and day. Records with no month are shown last. Showing 15 of 15 unique records.
15Unique records
1 of 1Page
15Named events on this page
4Named people on this page
6Places on this page
March
April
Final Appointment as Prime Minister
Mobutu briefly reappoints Tshisekedi as rebel forces advance toward the capital.
Appointment as Prime Minister
Mobutu appoints General Likulia to organise the government's final resistance.
Capture of Lubumbashi
Takes control of Lubumbashi as AFDL advances collapse Mobutu's authority across the country.
May
Outeniqua Talks with Kabila
Meets Laurent Kabila aboard the South African ship Outeniqua during Nelson Mandela's unsuccessful mediation effort.
Departure from Kinshasa
Mobutu leaves the capital as Laurent Kabila's forces approach.
Flight from Zaire
Leaves the country as AFDL forces approach Kinshasa and his thirty-two-year rule collapses.
Capture of Kinshasa
Kabila's alliance enters Kinshasa and ends Mobutu's rule.
Restoration of Country Name
Kabila restores the name Democratic Republic of the Congo after taking power.
Constitutional Decree
Kabila issues a decree concentrating legislative and executive authority in the presidency.
Presidential Investiture
Kabila takes the presidential oath and establishes a new central government.
AFDL Government Appointed
Forms a new government dominated by the victorious AFDL after the fall of Mobutu.
Political Parties Suspended
Suspends political party activity after taking power and concentrates authority in the new presidency.
September
Death of Mobutu
Dies in exile in Morocco several months after being driven from power by the First Congo War.
Other events (month unknown)
State Institutions Reorganized
Begins reorganizing national institutions under presidential decrees following the restoration of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
How these records were prepared
Generated from the World History Database historical_events table. Identical display records are collapsed; descriptions otherwise retain the stored text. Coverage and source quality vary. Check primary and specialist sources before citing individual historical claims.