Independence Day is a public holiday in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and it is observed on June 30 each year. The holiday commemorates when the Democratic Republic of the Congo gained independence in 1960.
The Democratic Republic of the Congo is a country in Central Africa. The archaeological evidence found people inhabited the territory for thousands of years. King Leopold II of Belgium explored the territory in the 1870s and acquired it as his private property in 1885. Leopold named the territory Free State to Belgium. Millions of people died due to the disease and exploitation after 1885, which made Leopold cede the land to the Belgian parliament in 1908. The same year, the Belgian parliament named it the Belgian Congo and annexed it as a Belgian colony.
On June 30, 1960, the Belgian Congo gained independence as the Republic of Congo, and Joseph Kasavubu became the first president. Because the Middle Congo also chose the name of the Republic of Congo, people commonly add the capital cities after the name: Congo-Léopoldville and Congo-Brazzaville. In 1965, the country's official name was changed to the Democratic Republic of the Congo after a referendum.
The following is the list of Independence Day in the Democratic Republic of the Congo from 2022 to 2026.
| Holiday | Date | Weekday |
|---|---|---|
| Independence Day | Jun 30, 2022 | Thursday |
| Independence Day | Jun 30, 2023 | Friday |
| Independence Day | Jun 30, 2024 | Sunday |
| Independence Day | Jun 30, 2025 | Monday |
| Independence Day | Jun 30, 2026 | Tuesday |
Please check more public holidays in Democratic Republic of the Congo:
