National arms of Congo: Difference between revisions

|align="center"|[[File:Congo.kohl.jpg|center|300 px|Arms of the Independent State of Congo]] <br/>The arms of a postcard +/- 1905

The Belgian Congo still used the old arms, with or without the small shield of Saxony.  

|align="center"|[[File:be-cruc1.jpg|center|450 px|Arms of Belgian Congo]] <br/>The arms on a coin

|align="center"|[[File:isc1.jpg|center|300 px|Arms of the Independent State of Congo]] <br/>The small arms

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|align="center"|[[File:Congo.kohl.jpg|center|300 px|Arms of the Independent State of Congo]] <br/>The arms of a postcard +/- 1905

[[File:congo2003.jpg|center|Arms of {{PAGENAME}}/Blason de {{PAGENAME}}]]

This emblem showed a lion's head above three human arms.  

Democratic Republic of Congo (1966-1971)<br/>

Zaire (1971-1997)</font>

In a general way, the armorial of Congo - civic or private - will remain hardly influenced by this first flag. In particular, the successive national coats of arms will be rather directly inspired by the national flags chosen in the various times of its animated history.  

After the transfer of the Independent State of Congo to Belgium, the Belgian law of 18/10/1908 clarified that Belgian Congo could continue to make use of the seal and the flag which had used the Independent State of Congo. The arms thus officially were never modified until the independence of Congo in 1960.<br/>

They nevertheless were simplified. The small shield of Saxony officially remained part of the arms, although it was often removed, in spite of the fact that the royal house stopped using it and officially disappeared from the royal coat of arms after the 2nd world war. The reason is there that this small shield on the lion is the personal mark of Leopold II, of whom it calls back the colonising initiative, and not of Belgium, nor even the dynasty. <br/>

Similarly the wavy bar was often transformed into a regular bar, and thus the arms below, although unofficial, were widely used.

In 1960 the Belgian Congo became the independent republic of Congo (first as Congo-Léopoldville, later as -Kinshasa). Some months before date fixed for the Independence of Belgian Congo, a new coat of arms appeared in the title wrapper of the Official Bulletin (below left). I do not have further information about the official use of this coat of arm, which seems to have little served besides. It was rather quickly replaced by the present national arms (see on top of this page) which is only the copy of the national flag adopted by the State of Congo-Léopoldville immediately after its access to the independence, on June 30, 1960.  

[[congo4.jpg]]

In the arms elements of the flag of the AIA still remain - the colour azure (blue) and the golden star - 6 small stars representing the 6 provinces of the country (Equateur, Kasaï, Katanga, Kivu, Léopoldville and Oriental). On the other hand, the reference to Leopold II disappears (the small shield with the lion), as well as the symbolisation of the river Congo. <br/>

On July 1, 1963, when the government decided to increase the number of provinces from 6 to 20, a new flag and a new coat of arms were adopted. The arms were clearly based on the flag. The reason and meaning of the design are not known. These arms remained in use until November 21, 1971.

[[congo5.jpg]]

In 1969 (probably at the beginning of the year) a new state logo appeared where the leopard, chosen as national animal since 1963, occupies the central position (see below left). That logo symbolised the regime of the President Mobutu and is associated to the period when Congo was called "Zaire", a name which had been given to the country on October 27, 1971. It was used up to Mobutu's resignation, in May, 1997.  After the resign of Mobutu the logo was slightly changed by the new president, Kabila. The leopard was replaced by a lion and the motto by a simple rock. This national symbol has been in use since 2006.  <h6>[[zaire1.jpg]][[cd-nat.png|center]]

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