Liberation Day is a public holiday in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and it is observed on May 17 each year. The holiday commemorates the end of the Mobutu regime and the victory of the First Congo War.
The Democratic Republic of the Congo is a country in Central Africa. On June 30, 1960, the territory gained its independence as the Republic of Congo from Belgium, and Joseph Kasavubu became the first president. However, the state was soon in a political crisis. In 1965, Joseph Mobutu led a coup and took power.
Mobutu established the single-party system and held elections periodically, with himself as the only candidate. Mobutu served as the president for almost 32 years, from 1965 to 1997.
Following the end of the Cold War in the early 1990s, Mobutu's government began to weaken after losing political and financial support from foreign powers. Destabilization in the east resulted in the rebels against Mobutu under the leadership of Laurent Kabila, and Mobutu's army almost did not resist. On May 16, 1997, Mobutu fled to Morocco. On the second day, Laurent Kabila was claimed as the president of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
The following is the list of Liberation Day in the Democratic Republic of the Congo from 2022 to 2026.
| Holiday | Date | Weekday |
|---|---|---|
| Liberation Day | May 17, 2022 | Tuesday |
| Liberation Day | May 17, 2023 | Wednesday |
| Liberation Day | May 17, 2024 | Friday |
| Liberation Day | May 17, 2025 | Saturday |
| Liberation Day | May 17, 2026 | Sunday |
Please check more public holidays in Democratic Republic of the Congo:
