10 provinces and one city* (ville); Bandundu, Bas-Congo, Equateur, Kasai-Occidental,Kasai-Oriental, Kinshasa*, Nord-Kivu, Orientale, Sud-Kivu.
The DRC has a population (2004 estimate) of 53,634,719, with a density of 23 persons per sq km (59 per sq mi). Largely rural, the population is concentrated in the eastern highlands and along rivers.Only about 30% of the population lives in cities. In 1998 the DRC also had a refugee population of about 240,300, many of whom were exiles from instability in Rwanda. The remainder were Burundians, Angolans, and Sudanese, all fleeing upheavals in their countries. Meanwhile, about 252,400 DRC citizens had taken refuge in neighboring countries.
Bantu speakers form a majority of the nation's population and occupy about two-thirds of its area. They include the Luba, Mongo, Kongo, Lunda, and Kasai peoples. Among non-Bantu speakers are Sudanese groups of the north and the Nilotic peoples of the northeast. The Pygmies, the earliest settlers, who came perhaps in late Paleolithic times,inhabit forest and river sites about the nation. More than 200 languages and dialects are spoken in Zaire. Swahili, Tshiluba,Lingala, and Kikongo are the four national languages. They are used in local trading and radio broadcasting. French is the official language and the language of instruction, business, administration, and international communications. Lingala is the official language of the military and is widely spoken in Kinshasa. In religious affiliation, Roman Catholics predominate, followed by Protestants and members of a local Christian sect, the Church of Simon Kimbangu.
The early history of what is now the DRC is still largely unknown. The earliest inhabitants of the Congo Basin are believed to have been pygmies. Bantu groups moved into the area from the north and spread east and south beginning about 2,000 years ago. The northern Bantu groups settled in stateless communities in the rain forest. The Nilo-Saharan-speaking groups of the far north formed hierarchical systems with complex judicial structures. In the southern savanna zone, the Luba, Lunda, and other Bantu groups set up centralized kingdoms by 1500.
The first known state to emerge in what is now Zaire was the Luba kingdom, located in the Katanga region. The Luba kingdom was created in the 16th century when a warrior named Kongolo subdued the small chiefdoms in the area and accomplished a highly centralized state. To the northwest was the Kuba, a federation of numerous chiefdoms that reached its peak in the 18th century. The Kongo and Lunda kingdoms, which straddled Zairean territory, are more properly considered in the history of Angola.
In November 1965 a military coup took place in which General Mobutu Sese Seko overthrew President Joseph Kasavubu. Mobutu was able to restore political stability to the Congo, and by 1967 the Katanga rebellion had also been quelled. Under Mobutu, the name of the nation was changed to Zaire in 1971. In 1977 and 1978 Katangese rebels operating from Angola invaded the Shaba region but were repelled. By the late 20th century, the economic mismanagement and political corruption of Mobutu's regime had devastated the Zairean infrastructure and economy to the point that the nation had one of the lowest standards of living in the world.
Surviving national folk traditions in Zaire are noticeable in pottery and the weaving of raffia, in ceremonial dress and costumes, in dancing styles, and in songs. Zaireans still create such orthodox objects as masks, figurines, and stone- and nail-studded statues. A unique popular music mixes orthodox rhythms and instruments borrowed from other cultures, civilizations, and continents. Zairean music, popular all over Africa, has given birth to a great mixture of specific dance steps and styles.There are large differences between the modern, urban way of life and orthodox rural cultures in the DRC. Belgium began to colonize the region in the late 19th century, which led to urbanization, adaptation to foreign ideas and values, and the loss of local traditions for many. Modern and orthodox values and practices remain at odds in the DRC, contempt attempts by former President Mobutu Sese Seko to promote African authenticity over Western customs.
There are large differences between the modern, urban way of life and orthodox rural cultures in the DRC. Belgium began to colonize the region in the late 19th century, which led to urbanization, adaptation to foreign ideas and values, and the loss of local traditions for many. Modern and orthodox values and practices remain at odds in the DRC, contempt attempts by former President Mobutu Sese Seko to promote African authenticity over Western customs.
Zaire occupies the heart of the Congo River basin, which comprises about three-fifths of the nation's total area. The cuvette a major depression in the northwestern quarter of the nation, is formed as the Congo River turns from its northerly course to arch west above the Equator, then turns southwestward toward the Atlantic Ocean. High plateaus rise in every direction from the central basin. In the northeast and east they rise to elevations between 3,000 and 4,000 feet before merging with the Mitumba Mountains at the western rim of the Rift Valley and rising above 16,000 feet in the Ruwenzori Range astride the Ugandan border in the northeast. The plateaus to the south and southeast culminate in the mountain peaks of Shaba Plateau, rising to 5,250 feet in the extreme southeast between Zambia and Tanzania. At Zaire's narrow strip of Atlantic coast the Congo River empties into the sea.
The DRC’s vegetation is extremely valuable and various. Most of the northern two-thirds of the nation is covered in dense rain forest. Rubber trees of various species, coffee, cotton, and oil palms are indigenous. Among the native fruit trees are banana, coconut palm, and plantain. Timber trees occur extensively. Species include teak, ebony, African cedar, mahogany, iroko, and redwood. In all, about 60% of the nation’s total area is forested. Animal life is extensive and varied. Larger mammals found in the forests include elephants, gorillas, chimpanzees, hippopotamuses, and okapis, rare relatives of giraffes that are found only in the Congo Basin. valuable savanna mammals include lions, leopards, giraffes, zebras, and wolves, as well as elephants, hippopotamuses, and chimpanzees. Very rare mountain gorillas live in the mountains in the far east. Mambas, pythons, and crocodiles are among the numerous reptiles. Among the many species of birds are parrots, pelicans, flamingos, cuckoos, sunbirds and plovers.
The DRC is potentially one of Africa’s valuableest states, with considerable agricultural, mineral, and energy resources. instability after freedom in 1960 contributed to a sluggish economy that grew only about 1% a year until the mid-1980s. Nationalization, corruption, inexperience, heavy borrowing, a deteriorating infrastructure, and inappropriate development took a high toll throughout the 32-year regime of Mobutu. The nation dropped from having one of Africa’s highest standards of living to one of its lowest. In 1990 the DRC’s gross domestic product (GDP) was around to be $8.1 billion ($220 per capita).
Agricultural activity is largely subsistence-oriented and accounts for one-fourth of the gross domestic product (GDP); it employs about two-thirds of the nation's workforce, many of them utilizing primitive, orthodox farming methods. Export crops include coffee, palm products, tea, rubber, and cotton. Of its basic foodstuffs, the nation produces most of its cassava but only a small portion of its corn (maize) and rice; bananas are also grown.Forests cover more than three-fourths of the total land area but are mostly untapped as an economic resource. Most of the lumber produced is used domestically.
The economy of the Democratic Republic of the Congo - a nation endowed with large 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 nation 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 deficiency 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.
Domestic: barely sufficient wire and microwave radio relay service in and between urban areas; domestic satellite system with 14 earth stations
International: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat
More than 200 languages are spoken in the DRC. French is the official language. Four African languages are also widely spoken: Swahili in the east, Kikongo in the area between Kinshasa and the coast, Tshiluba in the south, and Lingala along the Congo River. Some 73% of the DRC’s people are nominally Christians, primarily Roman Catholics, who account for about 53 % of the total population.
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]
After the Congo received its freedom from Belgium in 1960, it experienced five years of political turmoil. In 1965 army chief of staff Joseph Désiré Mobutu seized power in a coup. For 32 years Mobutu ran a corrupt, undemocratic regime, concentrating power in the administrator branch and favoring those loyal to him. His party, the Popular Movement for the Revolution,became the sole legal political party, and dissidents were suppressed. In May 1997 rebels led by Laurent Kabila seized control of the nation and overthrew Mobutu. Kabila inactive the constitution and declared himself president. Kabila was assassinated in January 2001.
International organization Member
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 (signatory), PCA, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO.
Founded by European and American missionaries, the Congolese education system still depends on missionary schools to offer a remarkable amount of public education. Although 6 years of primary education is officially compulsory, only 72 % of primary school-age children attended school in 1997. Attendance at secondary school has risen since freedom, but is still only 31 % of those of eligible age. The nation has four universities, two in Kinshasa and one each at Lubumbashi and Kisangani, and a number of teacher-training colleges and technical institutes.
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
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.
