Belgian Congo

Belgian Congo was a Belgian colony in central Africa. It was formed in 1908. The government of Belgium took over the previously separate kingdom of Belgium's monarch Léopold II; the Congo Free State. Today it is called the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It existed between Léopold II's formal transfer of his personal control to Belgium on 15 November 1908, and Congolese independence on 30 June 1960.^[5]

Colony of the Belgian Congo Congo belge (in French) Belgisch-Congo (in Dutch)
1908–1960
Flag Coat of arms
Motto: Travail et Progrès "Work and Progress"
Anthem: National Anthem of Belgium
The Belgian Congo (dark green) shown alongside Ruanda-Urundi (light green), 1935
Status	Colony of Belgium
Capital	Boma (1908–1926) Léopoldville (1926–1960) 4°19′S 15°19′E
Common languages	French (official[1][2]) Also: Dutch,[3] Lingala · Kongo Swahili · Tshiluba
Religion	Catholicism (de facto)[4]
King
• 1908–1909	Leopold II
• 1909–1934	Albert I
• 1934–1951	Leopold III
• 1951–1960	Baudouin I
Governor-General
• 1908–1912	Théophile Wahis (first)
• 1958–1960	Hendrik Cornelis (last)
History
• Annexed by Belgium	15 November 1908
• Independence declared	30 June 1960
Area
1960	2,344,858 km2 (905,355 sq mi)
Population
• 1960	16,610,000
Currency	Belgian Congo franc
Preceded by Succeeded by Congo Free State Republic of the Congo
Today part of	DR Congo