attempted to resolve the political crisis by applying
sanctions and a naval blockade on Anjouan, but in March 2008, AU and
Comoran soldiers seized the island. The move was generally welcomed
by the island's inhabitants.
Congo, Democratic Republic of the
Established as a Belgian colony in
1908, the Republic of the Congo gained its independence in 1960, but
its early years were marred by political and social instability.
Col. Joseph MOBUTU seized power and declared himself president in a
November 1965 coup. He subsequently changed his name - to MOBUTU
Sese Seko - as well as that of the country - to Zaire. MOBUTU
retained his position for 32 years through several sham elections,
as well as through the use of brutal force. Ethnic strife and civil
war, touched off by a massive inflow of refugees in 1994 from
fighting in Rwanda and Burundi, led in May 1997 to the toppling of
the MOBUTU regime by a rebellion backed by Rwanda and Uganda and
fronted by Laurent KABILA. He renamed the country the Democratic
Republic of the Congo (DRC), but in August 1998 his regime was
itself challenged by a second insurrection again backed by Rwanda
and Uganda. Troops from Angola, Chad, Namibia, Sudan, and Zimbabwe
intervened to support KABILA's regime. A cease-fire was signed in
July 1999 by the DRC, Congolese armed rebel groups, Angola, Namibia,
Rwanda, Uganda, and Zimbabwe but sporadic fighting continued.
Laurent KABILA was assassinated in January 2001 and his son, Joseph
KABILA, was named head of state. In October 2002, the new president
was successful in negotiating the withdrawal of Rwandan forces
occupying eastern Congo; two months later, the Pretoria Accord was
signed by all remaining warring parties to end the fighting and
establish a government of national unity. A transitional government
was set up in July 2003. Joseph KABILA as president and four vice
presidents represented the former government, former rebel groups,
the political opposition, and civil society. The transitional
government held a successful constitutional referendum in December
2005 and elections for the presidency, National Assembly, and
provincial legislatures in 2006. KABILA was inaugurated president in
December 2006. The National Assembly was installed in September
2006. Its president, Vital KAMERHE, was chosen in December.
Provincial assemblies were constituted in early 2007, and elected
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