from
CIA World Factbook 2006
Congo
Introduction, Republic of the
Background: Upon independence in 1960, the former French region of
Middle Congo became the Republic of the Congo. A
quarter century of experimentation with Marxism was
abandoned in 1990 and a democratically elected
government took office in 1992. A brief civil war in
1997 restored former Marxist President Denis
SASSOU-NGUESSO, and ushered in a period of ethnic and
political unrest. Southern-based rebel groups agreed to
a final peace accord in March 2003, but the calm is
tenuous and refugees continue to present a humanitarian
crisis. The Republic of Congo was once one of Africa's
largest petroleum producers, but with declining
production it will need to hope for new offshore oil
finds to sustain its oil earnings over the long term.
Geography, Republic of the
Location: Western Africa, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean,
between Angola and Gabon
Geographic 1 00 S, 15 00 E
coordinates:
Map Africa
references:
Area: total: 342,000 sq km
land: 341,500 sq km
water: 500 sq km
Area - slightly smaller than Montana
comparative:
Land total: 5,504 km
boundaries: border countries: Angola 201 km, Cameroon 523 km,
Central African Republic 467 km, Democratic Republic of
the Congo 2,410 km, Gabon 1,903 km
Coastline: 169 km
Maritime territorial sea: 200 nm
claims:
Climate: tropical; rainy season (March to June); dry season
(June to October); persistent high temperatures and
humidity; particularly enervating climate astride the
Equator
Terrain: coastal plain, southern basin, central plateau,
northern basin
Elevation lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
extremes: highest point: Mount Berongou 903 m
Natural petroleum, timber, potash, lead, zinc, uranium, copper,
resources: phosphates, gold, magnesium, natural gas, hydropower
Land use: arable land: 1.45%
permanent crops: 0.15%
other: 98.4% (2005)
Irrigated 20 sq km (2003)
land:
Natural seasonal flooding
hazards:
Environment - air pollution from vehicle emissions; water pollution
current from the dumping of raw sewage; tap water is not
issues: potable; deforestation
Environment - party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change,
international Desertification, Endangered Species, Ozone Layer
agreements: Protection, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94,
Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea
Geography - about 70% of the population lives in Brazzaville,
note: Pointe-Noire, or along the railroad between them
People, Republic of the
Population: 3,702,314
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 2006
est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 46.4% (male 864,407/female 853,728)
15-64 years: 50.7% (male 930,390/female 945,545)
65 years and over: 2.9% (male 44,430/female 63,814)
(2006 est.)
Median age: total: 16.6 years
male: 16.4 years
female: 16.9 years (2006 est.)
Population 2.6% (2006 est.)
growth rate:
Birth rate: 42.57 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate: 12.93 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Net migration -3.62 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)
rate:
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.7 male(s)/female
total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Infant total: 85.29 deaths/1,000 live births
mortality male: 91 deaths/1,000 live births
rate: female: 79.41 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life total population: 52.8 years
expectancy at male: 51.65 years
birth: female: 53.98 years (2006 est.)
Total 6.07 children born/woman (2006 est.)
fertility
rate:
HIV/AIDS - 4.9% (2003 est.)
adult
prevalence
rate:
HIV/AIDS - 90,000 (2003 est.)
people living
with HIV/AIDS:
HIV/AIDS - 9,700 (2003 est.)
deaths:
Major degree of risk: very high
infectious food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea,
diseases: hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne disease: malaria (2005)
Nationality: noun: Congolese (singular and plural)
adjective: Congolese or Congo
Ethnic groups: Kongo 48%, Sangha 20%, M'Bochi 12%, Teke 17%, Europeans
and other 3%
Religions: Christian 50%, animist 48%, Muslim 2%
Languages: French (official), Lingala and Monokutuba (lingua
franca trade languages), many local languages and
dialects (of which Kikongo is the most widespread)
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 83.8%
male: 89.6%
female: 78.4% (2003 est.)
Government, Republic of the
Country name: conventional long form: Republic of the Congo
conventional short form: Congo (Brazzaville)
local long form: Republique du Congo
local short form: none
former: Middle Congo, Congo/Brazzaville, Congo
Government republic
type:
Capital: name: Brazzaville
geographic coordinates: 4 16 S, 15 17 E
time difference: UTC+1 (six hours ahead of Washington,
DC during Standard Time)
Administrative 10 regions (regions, singular - region) and 1 commune*;
divisions: Bouenza, Brazzaville*, Cuvette, Cuvette-Ouest, Kouilou,
Lekoumou, Likouala, Niari, Plateaux, Pool, Sangha
Independence: 15 August 1960 (from France)
National Independence Day, 15 August (1960)
holiday:
Constitution: approved by referendum 20 January 2002
Legal system: based on French civil law system and customary law
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive chief of state: President Denis SASSOU-NGUESSO (since
branch: 25 October 1997, following the civil war in which he
toppled elected president Pascal LISSOUBA); note - the
president is both the chief of state and head of
government
head of government: President Denis SASSOU-NGUESSO
(since 25 October 1997, following the civil war in
which he toppled elected president Pascal LISSOUBA);
note - the president is both the chief of state and
head of government
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the
president
elections: president elected by popular vote for a
seven-year term (eligible for a second term); election
last held 10 March 2002 (next to be held in 2009)
election results: Denis SASSOU-NGUESSO reelected
president; percent of vote - Denis SASSOU-NGUESSO
89.4%, Joseph Kignoumbi Kia MBOUNGOU 2.7%
Legislative bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate (66 seats;
branch: members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year
terms) and the National Assembly (137 seats; members
are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: Senate - last held 11 July 2002 (next to be
held July 2007); National Assembly - last held 27 May
and 26 June 2002 (next to be held by May 2007)
election results: Senate - percent of vote by party -
NA; seats by party - FDP 56, other 10; National
Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by
party - FDP 83, UDR 6, UPADS 3, other 45
Judicial Supreme Court or Cour Supreme
branch:
Political the most important of the many parties are the
parties and Democratic and Patriotic Forces or FDP [Denis
leaders: SASSOU-NGUESSO, president] (an alliance of Convention
for Alternative Democracy, Congolese Labor Party or
PCT, Liberal Republican Party, National Union for
Democracy and Progress, Patriotic Union for the
National Reconstruction, and Union for the National
Renewal); Congolese Movement for Democracy and Integral
Development or MCDDI [Michel MAMPOUYA]; Pan-African
Union for Social Development or UPADS [Martin MBERI];
Rally for Democracy and Social Progress or RDPS
[Jean-Pierre Thystere TCHICAYA, president]; Rally for
Democracy and the Republic or RDR [Raymond Damasge
NGOLLO]; Union for Democracy and Republic or UDR; Union
of Democratic Forces or UFD [Sebastian EBAO]
Political Congolese Trade Union Congress or CSC; General Union of
pressure Congolese Pupils and Students or UGEEC; Revolutionary
groups and Union of Congolese Women or URFC; Union of Congolese
leaders: Socialist Youth or UJSC
International ACCT, ACP, AfDB, AU, BDEAC, CEMAC, FAO, FZ, G-77, IBRD,
organization ICAO, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO,
participation: IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ITU, MIGA, NAM, OIF,
OPCW (signatory), UN, UN Security Council (temporary),
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO,
WMO, WToO, WTO
Diplomatic chief of mission: Ambassador Serge MOMBOULI
representation chancery: 4891 Colorado Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20011
in the US: telephone: [1] (202) 726-5500
FAX: [1] (202) 726-1860
Diplomatic chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge
representation d'Affaires Mark BIEDLINGMAIER
from the US: embassy: NA
mailing address: NA
telephone: [243] (88) 43608
note: the embassy is temporarily collocated with the US
Embassy in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (US
Embassy Kinshasa, 310 Avenue des Aviateurs, Kinshasa)
Flag divided diagonally from the lower hoist side by a
description: yellow band; the upper triangle (hoist side) is green
and the lower triangle is red; uses the popular
pan-African colors of Ethiopia
Economy, Republic of the
Economy - The economy is a mixture of village agriculture and
overview: handicrafts, an industrial sector based largely on oil,
support services, and a government characterized by
budget problems and overstaffing. Oil has supplanted
forestry as the mainstay of the economy, providing a
major share of government revenues and exports. In the
early 1980s, rapidly rising oil revenues enabled the
government to finance large-scale development projects
with GDP growth averaging 5% annually, one of the
highest rates in Africa. The government has mortgaged a
substantial portion of its oil earnings through
oil-backed loans that have contributed to a growing
debt burden and chronic revenue shortfalls. Economic
reform efforts have been undertaken with the support of
international organizations, notably the World Bank and
the IMF. However, the reform program came to a halt in
June 1997 when civil war erupted. Denis SASSOU-NGUESSO,
who returned to power when the war ended in October
1997, publicly expressed interest in moving forward on
economic reforms and privatization and in renewing
cooperation with international financial institutions.
Economic progress was badly hurt by slumping oil prices
and the resumption of armed conflict in December 1998,
which worsened the republic's budget deficit. The
current administration presides over an uneasy internal
peace and faces difficult economic challenges of
stimulating recovery and reducing poverty. Recovery of
oil prices has boosted the economy's GDP and near-term
prospects. The Republic of Congo may be eligible for an
IMF-World Bank heavily indebted poor countries (HIPC)
initiative in early 2006, provided it meets the strict
fiscal and monetary targets set out for it under a new
three-year Poverty Reduction and Growth Facility (PRGF)
with the IMF.
GDP $4.585 billion (2005 est.)
(purchasing
power parity):
GDP (official $4.694 billion (2005 est.)
exchange
rate):
GDP - real 8.2% (2005 est.)
growth rate:
GDP - per $1,300 (2005 est.)
capita (PPP):
GDP - agriculture: 6.2%
composition by industry: 57%
sector: services: 36.9% (2005 est.)
Labor force: NA
Unemployment NA%
rate:
Population NA%
below poverty
line:
Household lowest 10%: NA%
income or highest 10%: NA%
consumption by
percentage
share:
Inflation rate 2.2% (2005 est.)
(consumer
prices):
Investment 21.5% of GDP (2005 est.)
(gross fixed):
Budget: revenues: $1.328 billion
expenditures: $1.065 billion; including capital
expenditures of $NA (2005 est.)
Agriculture - cassava (tapioca), sugar, rice, corn, peanuts,
products: vegetables, coffee, cocoa; forest products
Industries: petroleum extraction, cement, lumber, brewing, sugar,
palm oil, soap, flour, cigarettes
Industrial 0% (2002 est.)
production
growth rate:
Electricity - 343 million kWh (2003)
production:
Electricity - fossil fuel: 0.3%
production by hydro: 99.7%
source: nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
Electricity - 619 million kWh (2003)
consumption:
Electricity - 0 kWh (2003)
exports:
Electricity - 300 million kWh (2003)
imports:
Oil - 267,100 bbl/day (2005 est.)
production:
Oil - 5,200 bbl/day (2003 est.)
consumption:
Oil - exports: NA bbl/day
Oil - imports: NA bbl/day
Oil - proved 93.5 million bbl (1 January 2002)
reserves:
Natural gas - 0 cu m (2003 est.)
production:
Natural gas - 0 cu m (2003 est.)
consumption:
Natural gas - 0 cu m
exports:
Natural gas - 0 cu m
imports:
Natural gas - 90.61 billion cu m (1 January 2002)
proved
reserves:
Current $493 million (2005 est.)
account
balance:
Exports: $2.209 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)
Exports - petroleum, lumber, plywood, sugar, cocoa, coffee,
commodities: diamonds
Exports - China 38.9%, US 29%, Taiwan 11.8%, South Korea 7.2%
partners: (2005)
Imports: $806.5 million f.o.b. (2005 est.)
Imports - capital equipment, construction materials, foodstuffs
commodities:
Imports - France 25.6%, China 11.3%, US 8.1%, India 8%, Italy
partners: 7.5%, Belgium 5.1%, Netherlands 4.2% (2005)
Reserves of $273 million (2005 est.)
foreign
exchange and
gold:
Debt - $5 billion (2000 est.)
external:
Economic aid - $159.1 million (1995)
recipient:
Currency Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (XAF); note -
(code): responsible authority is the Bank of the Central
African States
Currency code: XAF
Exchange Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XAF) per US
rates: dollar - 527.47 (2005), 528.29 (2004), 581.2 (2003),
696.99 (2002), 733.04 (2001)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications, Republic of the
Telephones - 13,800 (2004)
main lines in
use:
Telephones - 490,000 (2005)
mobile
cellular:
Telephone general assessment: services barely adequate for
system: government use; key exchanges are in Brazzaville,
Pointe-Noire, and Loubomo; intercity lines frequently
out of order
domestic: primary network consists of microwave radio
relay and coaxial cable
international: country code - 242; satellite earth
station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio AM 1, FM 5, shortwave 3 (2001)
broadcast
stations:
Radios: 341,000 (1997)
Television 1 (2002)
broadcast
stations:
Televisions: 33,000 (1997)
Internet .cg
country code:
Internet 46 (2004)
hosts:
Internet 1 (2000)
Service
Providers
(ISPs):
Internet 36,000 (2005)
users:
Transportation, Republic of the
Airports: 32 (2006)
Airports - total: 4
with paved over 3,047 m: 1
runways: 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 (2006)
Airports - total: 28
with unpaved 1,524 to 2,437 m: 6
runways: 914 to 1,523 m: 11
under 914 m: 11 (2006)
Pipelines: gas 89 km; liquid petroleum gas 4 km; oil 744 km (2006)
Railways: total: 894 km
narrow gauge: 894 km 1.067-m gauge (2005)
Roadways: total: 12,800 km
paved: 1,242 km
unpaved: 11,558 km (1999)
Waterways: 4,385 km (on Congo and Oubanqui rivers) (2005)
Merchant registered in other countries: 1 (Congo, Democratic
marine: Republic of the 1) (2006)
Ports and Brazzaville, Djeno, Impfondo, Ouesso, Oyo, Pointe-Noire
terminals:
Military, Republic of the
Military Congolese Armed Forces (FAC): Army, Air Force (Armee de
branches: l'Air Congolaise), Navy, Gendarmerie, Republican Guard
(2005)
Military 18 years of age for voluntary military service (2001)
service age
and
obligation:
Manpower males age 18-49: 688,628
available for females age 18-49: 685,388 (2005 est.)
military
service:
Manpower fit males age 18-49: 406,016
for military females age 18-49: 394,745 (2005 est.)
service:
Manpower males age 18-49: 38,464
reaching females age 18-49: 38,082 (2005 est.)
military
service age
annually:
Military $85.22 million (2005 est.)
expenditures -
dollar figure:
Military 1.4% (2005 est.)
expenditures -
percent of
GDP:
Transnational, Republic of the
Issues
Disputes - about 7,000 Congolese refugees fleeing internal civil
international: conflicts since the mid-1990s still reside in the
Democratic Republic of the Congo; the location of the
boundary in the broad Congo River with the Democratic
Republic of the Congo is indefinite except in the Pool
Malebo/Stanley Pool area
Refugees and refugees (country of origin): 53,834 (Democratic
internally Republic of Congo)
displaced IDPs: 60,000 (multiple civil wars since 1992; most IDPs
persons: are ethnic Lari) (2005)
from
CIA World Factbook 2006
Congo
Introduction, Democratic Republic of the
Background: Established as a Belgian colony in 1908, the Republic
of the Congo gained its independence in 1960, but its
early years were marred by political and social
instability. Col. Joseph MOBUTU seized power and
declared himself president in a November 1965 coup. He
subsequently changed his name - to MOBUTU Sese Seko -
as well as that of the country - to Zaire. MOBUTU
retained his position for 32 years through several
subsequent sham elections, as well as through the use
of brutal force. Ethnic strife and civil war, touched
off by a massive inflow of refugees in 1994 from
fighting in Rwanda and Burundi, led in May 1997 to the
toppling of the MOBUTU regime by a rebellion led by
Laurent KABILA. He renamed the country the Democratic
Republic of the Congo (DRC), but in August 1998 his
regime was itself challenged by an insurrection backed
by Rwanda and Uganda. Troops from Angola, Chad,
Namibia, Sudan, and Zimbabwe intervened to support the
Kinshasa regime. A cease-fire was signed in July 1999
by the DRC, Congolese armed rebel groups, Angola,
Namibia, Rwanda, Uganda, and Zimbabwe but sporadic
fighting continued. Laurent KABILA was assassinated in
January 2001 and his son, Joseph KABILA, was named head
of state. In October 2002, the new president was
successful in negotiating the withdrawal of Rwandan
forces occupying eastern Congo; two months later, the
Pretoria Accord was signed by all remaining warring
parties to end the fighting and establish a government
of national unity. A transitional government was set up
in July 2003; Joseph KABILA remains as president and is
joined by four vice presidents representing the former
government, former rebel groups, and the political
opposition. The transitional government held a
successful constitutional referendum in December 2005,
and plans to hold a series of elections in 2006 to
determine the presidency and National Assembly seats.
Geography, Democratic Republic of the
Location: Central Africa, northeast of Angola
Geographic 0 00 N, 25 00 E
coordinates:
Map Africa
references:
Area: total: 2,345,410 sq km
land: 2,267,600 sq km
water: 77,810 sq km
Area - slightly less than one-fourth the size of the US
comparative:
Land total: 10,730 km
boundaries: border countries: Angola 2,511 km (of which 225 km is
the boundary of Angola's discontiguous Cabinda
Province), Burundi 233 km, Central African Republic
1,577 km, Republic of the Congo 2,410 km, Rwanda 217
km, Sudan 628 km, Tanzania 459 km, Uganda 765 km,
Zambia 1,930 km
Coastline: 37 km
Maritime territorial sea: 12 nm
claims: exclusive economic zone: boundaries with neighbors
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 lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
extremes: highest point: Pic Marguerite on Mont Ngaliema (Mount
Stanley) 5,110 m
Natural cobalt, copper, niobium, tantalum, petroleum,
resources: industrial and gem diamonds, gold, silver, zinc,
manganese, tin, uranium, coal, hydropower, timber
Land use: arable land: 2.86%
permanent crops: 0.47%
other: 96.67% (2005)
Irrigated 110 sq km (2003)
land:
Natural periodic droughts in south; Congo River floods
hazards: (seasonal); in the east, in the Great Rift Valley,
there are active volcanoes
Environment - poaching threatens wildlife populations; water
current pollution; deforestation; refugees responsible for
issues: significant deforestation, soil erosion, and wildlife
poaching; mining of minerals (coltan - a mineral used
in creating capacitors, diamonds, and gold) causing
environmental damage
Environment - party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change,
international Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes,
agreements: Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection,
Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification
Geography - straddles equator; has very narrow strip of land that
note: controls the lower Congo River and is only outlet to
South Atlantic Ocean; dense tropical rain forest in
central river basin and eastern highlands
People, Democratic Republic of the
Population: 62,660,551
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 2006
est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 47.4% (male 14,906,488/female 14,798,210)
15-64 years: 50.1% (male 15,597,353/female 15,793,350)
65 years and over: 2.5% (male 632,143/female 933,007)
(2006 est.)
Median age: total: 16.2 years
male: 16 years
female: 16.4 years (2006 est.)
Population 3.07% (2006 est.)
growth rate:
Birth rate: 43.69 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate: 13.27 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Net migration 0.23 migrant(s)/1,000 population
rate: note: fighting between the Congolese Government and
Uganda- and Rwanda-backed Congolese rebels spawned a
regional war in DRC in August 1998, which left 2.33
million Congolese internally displaced and caused
412,000 Congolese refugees to flee to surrounding
countries (2006 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.68 male(s)/female
total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Infant total: 88.62 deaths/1,000 live births
mortality male: 96.9 deaths/1,000 live births
rate: female: 80.1 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life total population: 51.46 years
expectancy at male: 50.01 years
birth: female: 52.94 years (2006 est.)
Total 6.45 children born/woman (2006 est.)
fertility
rate:
HIV/AIDS - 4.2% (2003 est.)
adult
prevalence
rate:
HIV/AIDS - 1.1 million (2003 est.)
people living
with HIV/AIDS:
HIV/AIDS - 100,000 (2003 est.)
deaths:
Major degree of risk: very high
infectious food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal
diseases: diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases: malaria, plague, and African
trypanosomiasis (sleeping sickness) are high risks in
some locations
water contact disease: schistosomiasis (2005)
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: 65.5%
male: 76.2%
female: 55.1% (2003 est.)
Government, Democratic Republic of the
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: DRC
Government transitional government
type:
Capital: name: Kinshasa
geographic coordinates: 4 18 S, 15 18 E
time difference: UTC+1 (six hours ahead of Washington,
DC during Standard Time)
Administrative 10 provinces (provinces, singular - province) and 1
divisions: 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 Independence Day, 30 June (1960)
holiday:
Constitution: 18 February 2006
Legal system: a new constitution was adopted by referendum 18
December 2005; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction,
with reservations
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal and compulsory
Executive chief of state: President Joseph KABILA (since 26
branch: January 2001); note - following the assassination of
his father, Laurent Desire KABILA, on 16 January 2001,
Joseph KABILA succeeded to the presidency; the
president is both the chief of state and head of
government
head of government: President Joseph KABILA (since 26
January 2001); note - following the assassination of
his father, Laurent Desire KABILA, on 16 January 2001,
Joseph KABILA succeeded to the presidency; the
president is both the chief of state and head of
government
cabinet: National Executive Council appointed by the
president
elections: under the new constitution the president is
elected by popular vote to a five-year term (eligible
for a second term); elections last held 30 July 2006
with a second round held on 29 October 2006 (next to be
held in 2011)
election results: results of 29 October 2006 elections
(second round); Joseph KABILA 58%, Jean-Pierre BEMBA
Gombo 42%
note: Joseph KABILA succeeded his father, Laurent
Desire KABILA, following the latter's assassination in
January 2001; negotiations with rebel leaders led to
the establishment of a transitional government in July
2003 with free elections held on 30 July 2006 and 29
October 2006 where the poplar vote confirmed Joseph
KABILA as president
Legislative bicameral legislature consists of a National Assembly
branch: (500 seats; 60 elected by majority vote and 440 by open
list proportional representation; members serve 5-year
terms) and a Senate (120 seats; members elected by
indirect vote to serve 5-year terms)
elections: NA; members of the National Assembly were
appointed by leaders in the factions integrated into
the new government; elections scheduled for 30 July
2006 will establish a new legislature under the
February 2006 constitution
Judicial Supreme Court or Cour Supreme
branch:
Political Democratic Social Christian Party or PDSC [Andre
parties and BO-BOLIKO]; Forces for Renovation for Union and
leaders: Solidarity or FONUS [Joseph OLENGHANKOY]; National
Congolese Lumumbist Movement or MNC [Francois LUMUMBA];
Popular Movement of the Revolution or MPR (three
factions: MPR-Fait Prive [Catherine NZUZI wa Mbombo];
MPR/Vunduawe [Felix VUNDUAWE]; MPR/Mananga [MANANGA
Dintoka Mpholo]); 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
(two factions: UFERI [Lokambo OMOKOKO]; UFERI/OR
[Adolph Kishwe MAYA])
Political NA
pressure
groups and
leaders:
International ACCT, ACP, AfDB, AU, CEPGL, COMESA, FAO, G-24, G-77,
organization IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC,
participation: IFRCS, IHO (suspended), ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC,
IOM, IPU, ISO, ITU, MIGA, NAM, OIF, OPCW, PCA, SADC,
UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU,
WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO
Diplomatic chief of mission: Ambassador Faida MITIFU
representation chancery: 1800 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC
in the US: 20009: note - Consular Office at 1726 M Street, NW,
Washington, DC, 20036
telephone: [1] (202) 234-7690, 7691
FAX: [1] (202) 234-2609
Diplomatic chief of mission: Ambassador Roger MEECE
representation embassy: 310 Avenue des Aviateurs, Kinshasa
from the US: mailing address: Unit 31550, APO AE 09828
telephone: [243] (88) 43608
FAX: [243] (88) 43467
Flag sky blue field divided diagonally from the lower hoist
description: corner to upper fly corner by a red stripe bordered by
two narrow yellow stripes; a yellow, five-pointed star
appears in the upper hoist corner
Economy, Democratic Republic of the
Economy - The economy of the Democratic Republic of the Congo - a
overview: nation endowed with vast potential wealth - has
declined drastically since the mid-1980s. The war,
which began in August 1998, dramatically reduced
national output and government revenue, increased
external debt, and resulted in the deaths of perhaps
3.5 million people from violence, famine, and disease.
Foreign businesses curtailed operations due to
uncertainty about the outcome of the conflict, lack of
infrastructure, and the difficult operating
environment. Conditions improved in late 2002 with the
withdrawal of a large portion of the invading foreign
troops. The transitional government has reopened
relations with international financial institutions and
international donors, and President KABILA has begun
implementing reforms. Much economic activity lies
outside the GDP data. Economic stability improved in
2003-05, although an uncertain legal framework,
corruption, and a lack of openness in government policy
continues to hamper growth. In 2005, renewed activity
in the mining sector, the source of most exports,
boosted Kinshasa's fiscal position and GDP growth.
Business and economic prospects are expected to improve
once a new government is installed after elections.
GDP $40.67 billion (2005 est.)
(purchasing
power parity):
GDP (official $7.328 billion (2005 est.)
exchange
rate):
GDP - real 7.1% (2005 est.)
growth rate:
GDP - per $700 (2005 est.)
capita (PPP):
GDP - agriculture: 55%
composition by industry: 11%
sector: services: 34% (2000 est.)
Labor force: 14.51 million
Labor force - agriculture: NA%
by occupation: industry: NA%
services: NA%
Unemployment NA%
rate:
Population NA%
below poverty
line:
Household lowest 10%: NA%
income or highest 10%: NA%
consumption by
percentage
share:
Inflation rate 9% (2004 est.)
(consumer
prices):
Budget: revenues: $700 million
expenditures: $750 million; including capital
expenditures of $24 million (2004 est.)
Agriculture - coffee, sugar, palm oil, rubber, tea, quinine, cassava
products: (tapioca), palm oil, bananas, root crops, corn, fruits;
wood products
Industries: mining (diamonds, copper, zinc), mineral processing,
consumer products (including textiles, footwear,
cigarettes, processed foods and beverages), cement,
commercial ship repair
Industrial NA%
production
growth rate:
Electricity - 6.036 billion kWh (2003)
production:
Electricity - fossil fuel: 1.8%
production by hydro: 98.2%
source: nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
Electricity - 4.324 billion kWh (2003)
consumption:
Electricity - 1.3 billion kWh (2003)
exports:
Electricity - 10 million kWh (2003)
imports:
Oil - 22,000 bbl/day (2003)
production:
Oil - 8,300 bbl/day (2003 est.)
consumption:
Oil - exports: NA bbl/day
Oil - imports: NA bbl/day
Oil - proved 1.538 billion bbl (1 January 2002)
reserves:
Natural gas - 0 cu m (2003 est.)
production:
Natural gas - 0 cu m (2003 est.)
consumption:
Natural gas - 991.1 million cu m (1 January 2002)
proved
reserves:
Exports: $1.108 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Exports - diamonds, copper, crude oil, coffee, cobalt
commodities:
Exports - Belgium 38.2%, US 17.9%, China 11.7%, France 8%,
partners: Finland 7.8%, Chile 4.3% (2005)
Imports: $1.319 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Imports - foodstuffs, mining and other machinery, transport
commodities: equipment, fuels
Imports - South Africa 16.5%, Belgium 16.1%, France 9.1%, Zambia
partners: 6.9%, Kenya 5.7%, Germany 4.6%, US 4.5%, Cote d'Ivoire
4.3%, Netherlands 4.1% (2005)
Debt - $10.6 billion (2003 est.)
external:
Economic aid - $2.2 billion (FY03/04)
recipient:
Currency Congolese franc (CDF)
(code):
Currency code: CDF
Exchange Congolese francs per US dollar - 437.86 (2005), 401.04
rates: (2004), 405.34 (2003), 346.49 (2002), 206.62 (2001)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications, Democratic Republic of the
Telephones - 10,600 (2005)
main lines in
use:
Telephones - 2.746 million (2005)
mobile
cellular:
Telephone general assessment: poor
system: domestic: barely adequate wire and microwave radio
relay service in and between urban areas; domestic
satellite system with 14 earth stations
international: country code - 243; satellite earth
station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio AM 3, FM 11, shortwave 2 (2001)
broadcast
stations:
Radios: 18.03 million (1997)
Television 4 (2001)
broadcast
stations:
Televisions: 6.478 million (1997)
Internet .cd
country code:
Internet 1,778 (2006)
hosts:
Internet 1 (2001)
Service
Providers
(ISPs):
Internet 140,600 (2005)
users:
Transportation, Democratic Republic of the
Airports: 234 (2006)
Airports - total: 25
with paved over 3,047 m: 4
runways: 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 16
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 1 (2006)
Airports - total: 209
with unpaved 1,524 to 2,437 m: 18
runways: 914 to 1,523 m: 94
under 914 m: 97 (2006)
Pipelines: gas 54 km; oil 78 km (2006)
Railways: total: 5,138 km
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 (2005)
Roadways: total: 157,000 km (including 30 km of expressways)
(1999)
Waterways: 15,000 km (2005)
Merchant total: 1 ship (1000 GRT or over) 1,004 GRT/1,640 DWT
marine: by type: petroleum tanker 1
foreign-owned: 1 (Congo, Republic of the 1) (2006)
Ports and Banana, Boma, Bukavu, Bumba, Goma, Kalemie, Kindu,
terminals: Kinshasa, Kisangani, Matadi, Mbandaka
Military, Democratic Republic of the
Military Army, Navy, Air Force
branches:
Military 18-45 years of age for military service
service age
and
obligation:
Manpower males age 18-49: 11,365,610 (2005 est.)
available for
military
service:
Manpower fit males age 18-49: 6,464,223 (2005 est.)
for military
service:
Military $103.7 million (2005 est.)
expenditures -
dollar figure:
Military 1.5% (2005 est.)
expenditures -
percent of
GDP:
Transnational, Democratic Republic of the
Issues
Disputes - heads of the Great Lakes states and UN pledge to end
international: conflict but unchecked tribal, rebel, and militia
fighting continues unabated in the northeastern region
of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, drawing in the
neighboring states of Burundi, Rwanda and Uganda; the
UN Organization Mission in the Democratic Republic of
the Congo (MONUC) has maintained over 14,000
peacekeepers in the region since 1999; thousands of
Ituri refugees from the Congo continue to flee the
fighting primarily into Uganda; 90,000 Angolan refugees
were repatriated by 2004 with the remainder in the DRC
expected to return in 2005; in 2005, DRC and Rwanda
established a border verification mechanism to address
accusations of Rwandan military supporting Congolese
rebels and the DRC providing rebel Rwandan "Interhamwe"
forces the means and bases to attack Rwandan forces;
the location of the boundary in the broad Congo River
with the Republic of the Congo is indefinite except in
the Pool Malebo/Stanley Pool area
Refugees and refugees (country of origin): 5,277 (Republic of Congo)
internally 11,816 (Rwanda) 18,953 (Uganda) 19,400 (Burundi) 45,226
displaced (Sudan) 98,383 (Angola)
persons: IDPs: 2.33 million (fighting between government forces
and rebels since mid-1990s; most IDPs are in eastern
provinces) (2005)
Illicit drugs: illicit producer of cannabis, mostly for domestic
consumption; while rampant corruption and inadequate
supervision leaves the banking system vulnerable to
money laundering, the lack of a well-developed
financial system limits the country's utility as a
money-laundering center