Patrice Lumumba was a Congolese independence leader and the first democratically elected Prime Minister of the Republic of the Congo. He played a crucial role in the country's independence movement from Belgian colonial rule.
Denis Mukwege is a Congolese gynecologist and human rights activist known for his work in treating victims of sexual violence in the Democratic Republic of Congo. He has received numerous awards for his advocacy and humanitarian efforts.
Christine Schuler Deschryver is a Congolese women's rights activist and director of the City of Joy, a rehabilitation center for female survivors of violence in Bukavu, Democratic Republic of Congo.
Joseph Kabila served as the President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo from 2001 to 2019. He took office following the assassination of his father, President Laurent-Désiré Kabila, and played a significant role in the country's political landscape.
Baron Empain was a Belgian industrialist and engineer known for his involvement in the construction of infrastructure projects in the Congo region during the colonial era, including the Matadi-Kinshasa Railway.
Laurent-Désiré Kabila was a Congolese revolutionary and politician who served as the President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo from 1997 until his assassination in 2001. He played a key role in overthrowing Mobutu Sese Seko's regime.
Mobutu Sese Seko was a Congolese politician who served as the President of Zaire (now the Democratic Republic of the Congo) from 1965 to 1997. He ruled the country as a dictator, establishing a highly centralized and authoritarian regime.
Antoine Gizenga was a Congolese politician and independence activist who served as the Prime Minister of the Democratic Republic of the Congo from 2006 to 2008. He played a significant role in the country's political landscape.
Joseph Kasavubu was a Congolese politician who served as the first President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo from 1960 to 1965. He played a crucial role in the country's transition to independence from Belgian colonial rule.
Simone Veil was a French lawyer and politician who served as the first President of the European Parliament and the first woman to hold this position. She was born in Nice, France, but her father was of Congolese descent, and she maintained a connection to her Congolese heritage throughout her life.