Republic of the Congo (Léopoldville)

The Republic of the Congo or Congo-Léopoldville was a state founded after independence was granted to the former Belgian Congo in 1960. The country's post-independence name remained until 1 August 1964, when it was changed to Democratic Republic of the Congo to distinguish it from the neighboring Republic of the Congo (Congo-Brazzaville), formerly the French Congo. The period between 1960 and 1965 is referred to as the First Congolese Republic while the current Democratic Republic of the Congo is the Third Republic.