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Republic of Congo (Congo-Leopoldville) 1960 - 1963

by Zeljko Heimer, 23 May 2004

Republic of Congo (Congo-Léopoldville) 1960 - 1963

See also:

Democratic Republic of Congo

Republic of Congo (Congo-Léopoldville) 1960 - 1963

In 1960, the Belgian Congo became independent. The flag was adapted by the addition of six gold stars in the hoist to represent the six provinces of the new state. The state was usually called Congo-Kinshasa (Kinshasa being the capital) to distinguish it from the former French Congo to the north, which was known as Congo-Brazzaville. After the failure of the Katanganese seccession, more provinces were created. Rather than add these to the flag, US-style, a new flag was adopted in 1963.
Stuart Notholt, 10 Mar 1996

Most sources show this flag as light blue, even if the dark blue were reported in use, too. The current flag, that is basically the same, has the blue shade defined by Pantone scale, and that definition makes it darker, even if today the light flags are to be seen occasionally, even in official events. [Abbreviated discussion from the mailling list. Ed.]

People's Republic of Congo 1964-1965, i.e. the rival government in Stanleyville continued to use this flag.

It is not correct to use the name Congo-Kinshasa for the periods 1960-1963 and 1963-1966 as you do on your page, because the country was then referred to as Congo-Léopoldville (not Congo-Kinshasa).
Léopoldville became Kinshasa only in 1966!
Serge Didelot, 21 Jan 2004

Léopoldville (or Leopoldstad in Dutch... but only French was official) was founded in 1881 and did not become capital of the
Belgian Congo until 1926.
(See also 'Kinshasa city (DR Congo)'.
I believe the name 'Léo-Kin' was used in colonial days, indicating a part of town which later gave its name to the whole.
Jan Mertens, 22 Jan 2004

There is a statement about the 1960 flag by the AFDL (Alliance des Forces Democratique Congolais pour la Liberation du Congo), Goma, 4 January 1997, which reads as follows:

Chapter XIII; The National Anthem and Emblems.
Considering that the political movement of the AFDL resulted in the Congolese democratic process being interrupted by the establishment of a neo-colonial regime in 1960, culminating in the imposition of a military dictatorship in 1965, the re-democratisation process is conceived by the AFDL as being the continuation of the work (of Congolese democracy) initiated by the independence of the Congo. It is resolved by the AFDL (therefore) to adopt:

1. The national anthem of independence is named "La Congolais"
2.. The flag of independence depicted as being blue (sky blue) with 6 Yellow stars vertically aligned on the extreme left part and a relatively large yellow star in the centre.
Christopher Southworth, 23 May 2004

Here is regif of the 1960 flag, abandoned 1966, reintroduced 1997. The construction details of this flag are still somewhat vague. I used the 1/7 "module" for the small stars here. I disregard the shades of blue as an entirely different question (not
resolved anyway - so the FOTW Blue is appropriate anyway). However, I shall gladly follow the instructions how to deal with it.
Zeljko Heimer, 23 May 2004