Republic of Congo Independence Day

This day marks the country’s independence from France in 1960. The Portuguese intially controlled the country in 1484, but in 1880 the French explorer Pierre Savorgnan de Brazza negotiated an agreement with the Bateke tribe to establish a French protectorate over the north bank of the Congo river. The French formally proclaimed the colony of French Congo in 1891. After World War 2, the French Republic led Congo increasingly close to statehood without the need for the country to be dragged into the bloodshed of a ware for independence as was the case in neighbouring countries. In 1958 the Conogolese voted for autonomy within the French Community and gained its independence two years later with Fulbert Youlou becoming president.