New spirits : Central Africa draws the attention of East and West : 1870-1885 -- Diabolical filth : Congo under Leopold : 1885-1908 -- The Belgians set us free : the early years of the Colonial Regime : 1908-1921 -- In the stranglehold of fear : growing unrest and mutual suspicion in peacetime : 1921-1940 -- The red hour of the kickoff : the war and the deceptive calm that followed : 1940-1955 -- Soon to be ours : a belated decolonization, a sudden independence : 1955-1960 -- A Thursday in June -- The struggle for the throne : the turbulent years of the first republic : 1960-1965 -- The electric years : Mobutu gets down to business : 1965-1975 -- Toujours servir : a marshal's madness : 1975-1990 -- The death throes : democratic opposition and military confrontation : 1990-1997 -- Compassion, what is that? : the great war of Africa : 1997-2002 -- La BiÃre et la PriÃre (Suds and sanctity) : new players in a wasted land : 2002-2006 -- The recess : hope and despair in a newborn democracy : 2006-2010.