the democratic republic of the congo has been independent since it was settled
the territory of the dr congo was first settled by humans around 90000 years ago
leopold formally acquired rights to the congo territory at the conference of berlin in 1885 and made the land his private property
during the free state the colonial military unit  the force publique  forced the local population into producing rubber  and from 1885 to 1908 millions of congolese died as a consequence of disease and exploitation
in 1908 belgium  despite initial reluctance  formally annexed the free state from leopold  which became the belgian congo
the belgian congo achieved independence on 30 june 1960 under the name republic of the congo lrb lopoldville rrb