| COUNTRY FACTS: CONGO, D.R. of | |
|---|---|
| Name(official): | Democratic Republic of the Congo, République Démocratique du Congo |
| Name(short): | None |
| Capital City: | Kinshasa |
| Location: | Central Africa, North East of Angola. |
| Coordinate: | 0 00 N, 25 00 E |
| Independence: | (From Belgium) June 30th; 1960 |
| President: | Joseph Kabila (since 17 January 2001); note: following the assassination of his father Laurent KABILA, Joseph KABILA succeeded to the presidency which he retained through the 2003-2006 transition; he was subsequently elected president in October 2006. Antoine GIZENGA, Prime Minister and head of government (since 30 December 2006); |
| Type of Government: | Republic |
| Total Area: | 2 345 410sq.km. |
| Population: | 65 751 512 (July 2007 est.) |
| People: | Over 200 ethnic groups, majority are of the Bantu, Mangbetu-Azande(Hamitic) groups. |
| Religion: | Christians 70%, kimbanguist 10%, muslims 10%, others and indigenous beliefs 10%. |
| Languages: | French(official), Lingala(lingua franca for trade), Kingwala(a dialect of Swahili), kikongo, Tshiluba. |
| Literacy: | 65.5%total, 76.2%male, 55.1%female (2003 est.) |
| Currency: | Congolese franc (CDF), 1 CDF = 100 centimes |
| GDP(per capita): | $700 (2006 est.) |
| Arable Land: | 2.86% |
| Agriculture: | coffee, sugar, palm oil, rubber, tea, quinine, cassava (tapioca), palm oil, bananas, root crops, corn, fruits; wood products. |
| Natural resources: | cobalt, copper, niobium, tantalum, petroleum, industrial and gem diamonds, gold, silver, zinc, manganese, tin, uranium, coal, hydropower, timber. |
| Embassy in Japan: | Embassy of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Chancery: 1-2F, 5-8-5, Asakusabashi, Taito-ku. Post Code: 111-0053 Tel. 03-5820-1580/1 |
| General Info: | |
| International Phone Code: | +243 |
ECONOMY: BUSINESS, TRADE AND INVESTMENT
- Tourism:
MAJOR CITIES
Kinshasa, Lumumbashi, Mbuji-Mayi, Kananga, Kisangani, Bukavu, Kolwezi.
NEWS
- Congolite
- L’ Avenir - Daily, Bilingual
- L’Observateur - Daily Fr
- Le Potentiel - Daily Fr.
- Agence Congolaise de Presse(ACP)
- Congo Times - Bilingual Fr/Eng.
INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS:
- United Nations
- African Union
- COMESA
- ECCAS
- SADC
- NEPAD
GOVERNMENT: ADMINISTRATIVE UNITS
10 provinces (provinces, singular - province) and 1 city* (ville); Bandundu, Bas-Congo, Equateur, Kasai-Occidental, Kasai-Oriental, Katanga, Kinshasa*, Maniema, Nord-Kivu, Orientale, Sud-Kivu.