The Democratic Republic of the Congo gained independence from Belgium in 1960 as the Congo, later taking the name the Democratic Republic of the Congo in 1964. The next year, Joseph-Désiré Mobutu seized power in a coup. While in power, he led an “authenticity” campaign, during which he endeavored to emphasize the country’s cultural identity. It was under this initiative that he changed the country’s name to the Republic of Zaire in 1971. (He changed his own name to Mobutu Sese Seko in 1972.) He was deposed in May 1997, and the country’s name was changed back to the Democratic Republic of the Congo almost immediately.
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