<th width="25%">Term
<th width="30%">Incumbent
<th width="30%" align=left>Notes
| 24 June 1960 to 1 July 1960 | Patrice Lumumba, Prime Minister
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| Independent Republic of the Congo
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| 1 July 1960 to 5 September 1960 | Patrice Lumumba, Prime Minister
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| 5 September 1960 to 20 September 1960 | Joseph Iléo , Prime Minister | 1st Term
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| 20 September 1960 to 3 October 1960 | Albert Ndele, Chairman of the Board of Commissioners-General
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| 4 October 1960 to 9 February 1961 | Justin Marie Bomboko, Chairman of the Board of Commissioners-General
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| 13 December 1960 to 5 August 1961 | Antoine Gizenga, Prime Minister | In rebellion (at Stanleyville)
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| 9 February 1961 to 2 August 1961 | Joseph Iléo, Prime Minister | 2nd Term
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| 2 August 1961 to 30 June 1964 | Cyrille Adoula, Prime Minister
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| 10 July 1964 to 13 October 1965 | Moise Tshombe, Prime Minister
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| 18 October 1965 to 14 November 1965 | Évariste Kimba, Prime Minister
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| 28 November 1965 to 1 July 1966 | Léonard Mulamba, Prime Minister
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| Democratic Republic of the Congo
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| 1 July 1966 to 26 October 1966 | Léonard Mulamba, Prime Minister
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| 1 July 1966 to 27 October 1971
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| Republic of Zaire
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| 27 October 1971 to 6 July 1977
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| 6 July 1977 to 6 March 1979 | Mpinga Kasenda, First State Commissioner
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| 6 March 1979 to 27 August 1980 | Bo-Boliko Lokonga Monse Mihambo, First State Commissioner
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| 27 August 1980 to 23 April 1981 | Nguza Karl-I-Bond , First State Commissioner | 1st Term
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| 23 April 1981 to 5 November 1982 | N'singa Udjuu Ongwabeki Untubu, First State Commissioner
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| 5 November 1982 to 31 October 1986 | Kengo Wa Dondo , First State Commissioner | 1st Term
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| 22 January 1987 to 7 March 1988 | Mabi Mulumba, First State Commissioner
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| 7 March 1988 to 26 November 1988 | Sambwa Pida Nbagui, First State Commissioner
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| 26 November 1988 to 4 May 1990 | Kengo Wa Dondo, First State Commissioner | 2nd Term
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| 4 May 1990 to 1 April 1991 | Lunda Bululu, First State Commissioner
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| 1 April 1991 to 29 September 1991 | Mulumba Lukoji, First State Commissioner
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| 29 September 1991 to 1 November 1991 | Étienne Tshisekedi , First State Commissioner | 1st Term
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| 1 November 1991 to 25 November 1991 | Bernardin Mungul Diaka, First State Commissioner
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| 25 November 1991 to 15 August 1992 | Nguza Karl-I-Bond , First State Commissioner | 2nd Term
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| 15 August 1992 to 18 March 1993 | Étienne Tshisekedi, First State Commissioner | 2nd Term
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| 18 March 1993 to 14 January 1994 | Faustin Birindwa, First State Commissioner
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| 6 July 1994 to 2 April 1997 | Kengo Wa Dondo, First State Commissioner | 3rd Term
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| 2 April 1997 to 9 April 1997 | Étienne Tshisekedi, First State Commissioner | 3rd Term
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| 9 April 1997 to 16 May 1997 | Likulia Bolongo, First State Commissioner
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| Democratic Republic of the Congo
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| 17 May 1997 to present
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