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Guide
Introduction
| |
| Background: |
Since 1994 the Democratic
Republic of the Congo (DROC; formerly called Zaire) has been rent by
ethnic strife and civil war, touched off by a massive inflow of refugees
from the fighting in Rwanda and Burundi. The government of former
president MOBUTU Sese Seko was toppled by a rebellion led by Laurent
KABILA in May 1997; his regime was subsequently challenged by a Rwanda-
and Uganda-backed rebellion in August 1998. Troops from Zimbabwe,
Angola, Namibia, Chad, and Sudan intervened to support the Kinshasa
regime. A cease-fire was signed on 10 July 1999, but sporadic fighting
continued. KABILA was assassinated in January 2001 and his son Joseph
KABILA was named head of state. The new president quickly began
overtures to end the war. |
| Location: |
Central Africa, northeast of
Angola |
| Geographic
coordinates: |
0 00 N, 25 00 E |
| Area: |
total: 2,345,410
sq km
land: 2,267,600 sq km
water: 77,810 sq km |
| Area
- comparative: |
slightly less than one-fourth
the size of the US |
| Land
boundaries: |
total: 10,744 km
border countries: Angola 2,511 km, Burundi 233 km, Central
African Republic 1,577 km, Republic of the Congo 2,410 km, Rwanda 217
km, Sudan 628 km, Tanzania 473 km, Uganda 765 km, Zambia 1,930 km |
| Maritime
claims: |
exclusive economic zone:
boundaries with neighbors
territorial sea: 12 NM |
| Climate: |
tropical; hot and humid in
equatorial river basin; cooler and drier in southern highlands; cooler
and wetter in eastern highlands; north of Equator - wet season April to
October, dry season December to February; south of Equator - wet season
November to March, dry season April to October |
| Terrain: |
vast central basin is a
low-lying plateau; mountains in east |
| Elevation
extremes: |
lowest point:
Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Pic Marguerite on Mont Ngaliema (Mount
Stanley) 5,110 m |
| Natural
resources: |
cobalt, copper, cadmium,
petroleum, industrial and gem diamonds, gold, silver, zinc, manganese,
tin, germanium, uranium, radium, bauxite, iron ore, coal, hydropower,
timber |
| Land
use: |
arable land: 3%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 7%
forests and woodland: 77%
other: 13% (1993 est.) |
| Irrigated
land: |
100 sq km (1993 est.) |
| Natural
hazards: |
periodic droughts in south;
volcanic activity |
| Environment
- current issues: |
poaching threatens wildlife
populations; water pollution; deforestation; refugees who arrived in
mid-1994 were responsible for significant deforestation, soil erosion,
and wildlife poaching in the eastern part of the country (most of those
refugees were repatriated in November and December 1996) |
| Environment
- international agreements: |
party to:
Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species,
Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban,
Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification |
| Geography
- note: |
straddles Equator; very
narrow strip of land that controls the lower Congo river and is only
outlet to South Atlantic Ocean; dense tropical rain forest in central
river basin and eastern highlands |
| Population: |
53,624,718
note: estimates for this country explicitly take into
account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in
lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, lower
population and growth rates, and changes in the distribution of
population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2001
est.) |
| Age
structure: |
0-14 years:
48.24% (male 12,988,488; female 12,878,232)
15-64 years: 49.21% (male 12,931,886; female 13,459,109)
65 years and over: 2.55% (male 575,113; female 791,890)
(2001 est.) |
| Population
growth rate: |
3.1% (2001 est.) |
| Birth
rate: |
46.02 births/1,000 population
(2001 est.) |
| Death
rate: |
15.15 deaths/1,000 population
(2001 est.) |
| Net
migration rate: |
0.14 migrant(s)/1,000
population (2001 est.)
note: one million refugees fled into Zaire (now called the
Democratic Republic of the Congo or DROC) in 1994 to escape the fighting
between the Hutus and the Tutsis; fighting in the DROC between rebels
and government forces in October 1996 caused 875,000 refugees to return
to Rwanda in late 1996 and early 1997; an additional 173,000 Rwandan
refugees disappeared in early 1997 and are assumed to have been killed
by Zairian forces; fighting between the Congolese government and Uganda-
and Rwanda-backed Congolese rebels spawned a regional war in DROC in
August 1998, which left 1.8 million Congolese displaced in DROC and
caused 300,000 Congolese refugees to flee to surrounding countries |
| Sex
ratio: |
at birth: 1.03
male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.73 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2001 est.) |
| Infant
mortality rate: |
99.88 deaths/1,000 live
births (2001 est.) |
| Life
expectancy at birth: |
total population:
48.94 years
male: 46.96 years
female: 50.98 years (2001 est.) |
| Total
fertility rate: |
6.84 children born/woman
(2001 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS
- adult prevalence rate: |
5.07% (1999 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS
- people living with HIV/AIDS: |
1.1 million (1999 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS
- deaths: |
95,000 (1999 est.) |
| Nationality: |
noun: Congolese
(singular and plural)
adjective: Congolese or Congo |
| Ethnic
groups: |
over 200 African ethnic
groups of which the majority are Bantu; the four largest tribes - Mongo,
Luba, Kongo (all Bantu), and the Mangbetu-Azande (Hamitic) make up about
45% of the population |
| Religions: |
Roman Catholic 50%,
Protestant 20%, Kimbanguist 10%, Muslim 10%, other syncretic sects and
indigenous beliefs 10% |
| Languages: |
French (official), Lingala (a
lingua franca trade language), Kingwana (a dialect of Kiswahili or
Swahili), Kikongo, Tshiluba |
| Literacy: |
definition: age
15 and over can read and write French, Lingala, Kingwana, or Tshiluba
total population: 77.3%
male: 86.6%
female: 67.7% (1995 est.) |
| Country
name: |
conventional long form:
Democratic Republic of the Congo
conventional short form: none
local long form: Republique Democratique du Congo
local short form: none
former: Congo Free State, Belgian Congo,
Congo/Leopoldville, Congo/Kinshasa, Zaire
abbreviation: DROC |
| Government
type: |
dictatorship; presumably
undergoing a transition to representative government |
| Administrative
divisions: |
10 provinces (provinces,
singular - province) and one city* (ville); Bandundu, Bas-Congo,
Equateur, Kasai-Occidental, Kasai-Oriental, Katanga, Kinshasa*, Maniema,
Nord-Kivu, Orientale, Sud-Kivu |
| Independence: |
30 June 1960 (from Belgium) |
| National
holiday: |
Independence Day, 30 June
(1960) |
| Constitution: |
24 June 1967, amended August
1974, revised 15 February 1978, amended April 1990; transitional
constitution promulgated in April 1994; in November 1998, a draft
constitution was approved by former President Laurent KABILA but it has
not been ratified by a national referendum |
| Legal
system: |
based on Belgian civil law
system and tribal law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction |
| Suffrage: |
18 years of age; universal
and compulsory |
| Executive
branch: |
chief of state:
Joseph KABILA (since 26 January 2001); note - the president succeeded
his father Laurent Desire KABILA after his assassination on 16 January
2001; as president he is both chief of state and head of government
head of government: Joseph KABILA (since 26 January 2001);
note - the president succeeded his father Laurent Desire KABILA after
his assassination on 16 January 2001; as president he is both chief of
state and head of government
cabinet: National Executive Council, appointed by the
president
elections: before Laurent Desire KABILA seized power, the
president was elected by popular vote for a seven-year term; election
last held 29 July 1984 (next was scheduled to be held in May 1997);
formerly, the prime minister was elected by the High Council of the
Republic; note - elections were not held in 1991 as called for by the
constitution
election results: results of the last election were: MOBUTU
Sese Seko Kuku Ngbendu wa Za Banga reelected president in 1984 without
opposition
note: Marshal MOBUTU Sese Seko Kuku Ngbendu wa Za Banga was
president from 24 November 1965 until forced into exile on 16 May 1997
when his government was overthrown militarily by Laurent Desire KABILA,
who immediately assumed governing authority; KABILA pledged to hold
elections by April 1999, but in December 1998 announced that elections
would be postponed until all foreign military forces attempting to
topple the government had withdrawn from the country; KABILA was
assassinated in January 2001 and was succeeded by his son Joseph KABILA |
| Legislative
branch: |
a 300-member Transitional
Constituent Assembly established in August 2000
elections: NA; members of the Transitional Constituent
Assembly were appointed by former President KABILA |
| Judicial
branch: |
Supreme Court or Cour Supreme |
| Political
parties and leaders: |
Democratic Social Christian
Party or PDSC [Andre BO-BOLIKO]; Popular Movement of the Revolution or
MPR [leader NA]; Unified Lumumbast Party or PALU [Antoine GIZENGA];
Union for Democracy and Social Progress or UDPS [Etienne TSHISEKEDI wa
Mulumba]; Union of Federalists and Independent Republicans or UFERI [Kouyoumba
MUCHULI Mulembe] |
| Political
pressure groups and leaders: |
NA |
| International
organization participation: |
ACCT, ACP, AfDB, CCC, CEEAC,
CEPGL, ECA, FAO, G-19, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA,
IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM
(observer), ISO (correspondent), ITU, NAM, OAU, OPCW, PCA, SADC, UN,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO |
| Diplomatic
representation in the US: |
chief of mission:
Ambassador Faida MITIFU
chancery: 1800 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC
20009
telephone: [1] (202) 234-7690, 7691
FAX: [1] (202) 234-2609 |
| Diplomatic
representation from the US: |
chief of mission:
Ambassador William Lacy SWING
embassy: 310 Avenue des Aviateurs, Kinshasa
mailing address: Unit 31550, APO AE 09828
telephone: [243] (12) 21804, 21807
FAX: [243] (88) 43805 |
| Flag
description: |
light blue with a large
yellow five-pointed star in the center and a columnar arrangement of six
small yellow five-pointed stars along the hoist side |
| Economy
- overview: |
The economy of the Democratic
Republic of the Congo - a nation endowed with vast potential wealth -
has declined drastically since the mid-1980s. The new government
instituted a tight fiscal policy that initially curbed inflation and
currency depreciation, but these small gains were quickly reversed when
the foreign-backed rebellion in the eastern part of the country began in
August 1998. The war has dramatically reduced national output and
government revenue and has increased external debt. Foreign businesses
have curtailed operations due to uncertainty about the outcome of the
conflict and because of increased government harassment and
restrictions. The war has intensified the impact of such basic problems
as an uncertain legal framework, corruption, raging inflation, and lack
of openness in government economic policy and financial operations. A
number of IMF and World Bank missions have met with the government to
help it develop a coherent economic plan but associated reforms are on
hold. |
| GDP: |
purchasing power parity - $31
billion (2000 est.) |
| GDP
- real growth rate: |
-15% (2000 est.) |
| GDP
- per capita: |
purchasing power parity -
$600 (2000 est.) |
| GDP
- composition by sector: |
agriculture: 58%
industry: 17%
services: 25% (1997 est.) |
| Population
below poverty line: |
NA% |
| Household
income or consumption by percentage share: |
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA% |
| Inflation
rate (consumer prices): |
540% (2000 est.) |
| Labor
force: |
14.51 million (1993 est.) |
| Labor
force - by occupation: |
agriculture 65%, industry
16%, services 19% (1991 est.) |
| Budget: |
revenues: $269
million
expenditures: $244 million, including capital expenditures
of $24 million (1996 est.) |
| Industries: |
mining (diamonds, copper,
zinc), mineral processing, consumer products (including textiles,
footwear, cigarettes, processed foods and beverages), cement |
| Industrial
production growth rate: |
NA% |
| Electricity
- production: |
5.268 billion kWh (1999) |
| Electricity
- production by source: |
fossil fuel:
2.05%
hydro: 97.95%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1999) |
| Electricity
- consumption: |
4.55 billion kWh (1999) |
| Electricity
- exports: |
404 million kWh (1999) |
| Electricity
- imports: |
55 million kWh (1999) |
| Agriculture
- products: |
coffee, sugar, palm oil,
rubber, tea, quinine, cassava (tapioca), palm oil, bananas, root crops,
corn, fruits; wood products |
| Exports: |
$960 million (f.o.b., 2000
est.) |
| Exports
- commodities: |
diamonds, copper, coffee,
cobalt, crude oil |
| Exports
- partners: |
Benelux 62%, US 18%, South
Africa, Finland, Italy (1999) |
| Imports: |
$660 million (c.i.f., 2000
est.) |
| Imports
- commodities: |
foodstuffs, mining and other
machinery, transport equipment, fuels |
| Imports
- partners: |
South Africa 28%, Benelux
14%, Nigeria 9%, Kenya 7%, China (1999) |
| Debt
- external: |
$13 billion (1998 est.) |
| Economic
aid - recipient: |
$195.3 million (1995) |
| Currency: |
Congolese franc (CDF) |
| Exchange
rates: |
Congolese francs per US
dollar - 50 (January 2001), 4.5 (January 2000), 4.02 (1999), 1.61
(1998), 1.31 (1997), 0.50 (1996)
note: on 30 June 1998 the Congolese franc was introduced,
replacing the new zaire |
| Fiscal
year: |
calendar year |
| Telephones
- main lines in use: |
21,000 (1997) |
| Telephones
- mobile cellular: |
8,900 (1997) |
| Telephone
system: |
general assessment:
NA
domestic: barely adequate wire and microwave radio relay
service in and between urban areas; domestic satellite system with 14
earth stations
international: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat
(Atlantic Ocean) |
| Radio
broadcast stations: |
AM 3, FM 12, shortwave 1
(1999) |
| Radios: |
18.03 million (1997) |
| Television
broadcast stations: |
20 (1999) |
| Televisions: |
6.478 million (1997) |
| Internet
country code: |
.cd |
| Internet
Service Providers (ISPs): |
2 (2000) |
| Internet
users: |
1,500 (1999) |
| Railways: |
total: 5,138 km
(1995)
note: severely reduced route-distance in use because of
damage to facilities by civil strife
narrow gauge: 3,987 km 1.067-m gauge (858 km electrified);
125 km 1.000-m gauge; 1,026 km 0.600-m gauge (2000) |
| Highways: |
total: 157,000
km (including 30 km of expressways)(1996)
paved: NA km
unpaved: NA km |
| Waterways: |
15,000 km (including the
Congo and its tributaries, and unconnected lakes) |
| Pipelines: |
petroleum products 390 km |
| Ports
and harbors: |
Banana, Boma, Bukavu, Bumba,
Goma, Kalemie, Kindu, Kinshasa, Kisangani, Matadi, Mbandaka |
| Merchant
marine: |
none (2000 est.) |
| Airports: |
232 (2000 est.) |
| Airports
- with paved runways: |
total: 24
over 3,047 m: 4
2,438 to 3,047 m: 3
1,524 to 2,437 m: 15
914 to 1,523 m: 2 (2000 est.) |
| Airports
- with unpaved runways: |
total: 208
1,524 to 2,437 m: 20
914 to 1,523 m: 96
under 914 m: 92 (2000 est.) |
| Military
branches: |
Army, Navy, Air Force,
Special Presidential Security Group |
| Military
manpower - availability: |
males age 15-49:
11,615,554 (2001 est.) |
| Military
manpower - fit for military service: |
males age 15-49:
5,915,251 (2001 est.) |
| Military
expenditures - dollar figure: |
$250 million (FY97) |
| Military
expenditures - percent of GDP: |
4.6% (FY97) |
| Disputes
- international: |
the Democratic Republic of
the Congo is in the grip of a civil war that has drawn in military
forces from neighboring states, with Uganda and Rwanda supporting the
rebel movements that occupy much of the eastern portion of the state;
most of the Congo river boundary with the Republic of the Congo is
indefinite (no agreement has been reached on the division of the river
or its islands, except in the Pool Malebo/Stanley Pool area) |
| Illicit
drugs: |
illicit producer of cannabis,
mostly for domestic consumption |
|
