The stamps of the Democratic Republic of Congo reflect the political upheaval that resulted from decolonization. In 1960, the Republic of the Congo was established after independence from Belgium. The first stamp of the new Republic celebrates this sovereignty. That same year the provinces of Katanga and South Kasai seceded and began producing their own stamps, first overprints of Congo stamps followed by new stamps in 1961. These breakaway movements were reintegrated in 1963. In 1965, Joseph-Desiré Mobutu seized control of the Republic, eventually renaming it Zaire and putting his portrait on the stamps.