what was the name of drc before

DRC was formerly called Zaire. It was renamed the Democratic Republic of the Congo in 1997, after previously being the Republic of Zaire from 1971 to 1997.

Quick Scoop

• Current name: Democratic Republic of the Congo.

• Former name: Zaire.

• Earlier colonial-era names also included Belgian Congo and Congo-Léopoldville.

In short, if you mean the country’s most recent previous name, it was Zaire.