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[[Image:Congo.gif| | The ''Congo Democratic Republic'' - officially the '''Democratic Republic of the Congo''' (French: '''République démocratique du Congo''') - known until 1997 as [[Zaire]], is a country located in Central Africa, with a small length of [[Atlantic]] coastline. It is the third largest country (by area) in Africa. | ||
Its population is somewhat over 68 million. It is the eighteenth most populous nation in the world, and the fourth most populous nation in Africa, as well as the most populous country where French is an official language. | |||
In order to distinguish it from the neighbouring Republic of the Congo, the Democratic Republic of the Congo is often referred to as '''DR Congo''', DRC, or RDC (from its French abbreviation), '''Big Congo''', or is called '''Congo-Kinshasa''' after the capital Kinshasa (in contrast to [[Congo-Brazzaville]] for its neighbour). | |||
The Democratic Republic of the Congo was formerly, in turn, the '''Congo Free State''', '''Belgian Congo''', '''Congo-Léopoldville''', '''Congo-Kinshasa''', and Zaire (or [[Zaïre]] in French). | |||
Though it is located in the Central African UN subregion, the nation is economically and regionally affiliated with Southern Africa as a member of the [[Southern African Development Community]] (SADC). | |||
The Democratic Republic of the Congo borders the [[Central African Republic]] and [[Sudan]] on the North; [[Uganda]], [[Rwanda]], and [[Burundi]] on the East; [[Zambia]] and [[Angola]] on the South; the [[Republic of the Congo]] on the West; and is separated from [[Tanzania]] by Lake Tanganyika on the East. The country enjoys access to the ocean through a 40-kilometre (24.9 mi) stretch of Atlantic coastline at Muanda and the roughly nine-kilometre wide mouth of the Congo River which opens into the Gulf of Guinea. | |||
[[Image:Congo.gif|right|thumb|400px|Source : http://www.cia.gov]] | |||
Formerly the country was divided into eleven provinces. However, the constitution approved in 2005 divided the country into 26 fairly autonomous provinces, including the capital, Kinshasa to be formed by 18 February 2009. It seems however that the former 11 provinces are still the legal administrative entities. The country is further subdivided into 192 territories (fr. territoires, sing. territoire). | |||
The economy of the country, a nation endowed with resources of vast potential wealth, has declined drastically since the mid-1980s. The two recent conflicts (the First and Second Congo Wars), which began in 1996, have dramatically reduced national output and government revenue, have increased external debt, and have resulted in deaths of more than five million people from war, and associated famine and disease. Foreign businesses have curtailed operations due to uncertainty about the outcome of the conflict, lack of infrastructure, and the difficult operating environment. The war has intensified the impact of such basic problems as an uncertain legal framework, corruption, inflation, and lack of openness in government economic policy and financial operations. Malnutrition affects approximately two thirds of the country's population. | |||
As many as 250 ethnic groups have been identified and named. The most numerous people are the Kongo, Luba, and Mongo. About 600,000 Pygmies are the aboriginal people of the DR Congo. | |||
French is the official language of the country. It is meant to be an ethnically neutral language, to ease communication among the many different ethnic groups of the Congo. Although seven hundred local languages and dialects are spoken, the linguistic variety is bridged both by widespread use of French and intermediary languages such as Kongo, Tshiluba, Swahili, and Lingala. | |||
Christianity is the majority religion in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, followed by about 80% of the population. Sixty-two of the Protestant denominations in the country are federated under the umbrella of the Church of Christ in Congo or CCC (in French, Église du Christ au Congo or ECC). It is often simply referred to as 'The Protestant Church', since it covers most of the 20% of the population who are Protestants. Of the remaining 20% of the population, half are Muslim, and the rest follow traditional beliefs or syncretic sects. Islam was introduced and mainly spread by Arab traders/merchants. | |||
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[[Category:Africa]] | [[Category:Africa]] | ||
[Category:Sub-Saharan Africa] | [Category:Sub-Saharan Africa] | ||
[[Category: Countries in stubs]] | [[Category:French-speaking countries]][[Category: Countries in stubs]] | ||
Revision as of 21:56, 28 January 2010
The Congo Democratic Republic - officially the Democratic Republic of the Congo (French: République démocratique du Congo) - known until 1997 as Zaire, is a country located in Central Africa, with a small length of Atlantic coastline. It is the third largest country (by area) in Africa.
Its population is somewhat over 68 million. It is the eighteenth most populous nation in the world, and the fourth most populous nation in Africa, as well as the most populous country where French is an official language.
In order to distinguish it from the neighbouring Republic of the Congo, the Democratic Republic of the Congo is often referred to as DR Congo, DRC, or RDC (from its French abbreviation), Big Congo, or is called Congo-Kinshasa after the capital Kinshasa (in contrast to Congo-Brazzaville for its neighbour).
The Democratic Republic of the Congo was formerly, in turn, the Congo Free State, Belgian Congo, Congo-Léopoldville, Congo-Kinshasa, and Zaire (or Zaïre in French).
Though it is located in the Central African UN subregion, the nation is economically and regionally affiliated with Southern Africa as a member of the Southern African Development Community (SADC).
The Democratic Republic of the Congo borders the Central African Republic and Sudan on the North; Uganda, Rwanda, and Burundi on the East; Zambia and Angola on the South; the Republic of the Congo on the West; and is separated from Tanzania by Lake Tanganyika on the East. The country enjoys access to the ocean through a 40-kilometre (24.9 mi) stretch of Atlantic coastline at Muanda and the roughly nine-kilometre wide mouth of the Congo River which opens into the Gulf of Guinea.
Formerly the country was divided into eleven provinces. However, the constitution approved in 2005 divided the country into 26 fairly autonomous provinces, including the capital, Kinshasa to be formed by 18 February 2009. It seems however that the former 11 provinces are still the legal administrative entities. The country is further subdivided into 192 territories (fr. territoires, sing. territoire).
The economy of the country, a nation endowed with resources of vast potential wealth, has declined drastically since the mid-1980s. The two recent conflicts (the First and Second Congo Wars), which began in 1996, have dramatically reduced national output and government revenue, have increased external debt, and have resulted in deaths of more than five million people from war, and associated famine and disease. Foreign businesses have curtailed operations due to uncertainty about the outcome of the conflict, lack of infrastructure, and the difficult operating environment. The war has intensified the impact of such basic problems as an uncertain legal framework, corruption, inflation, and lack of openness in government economic policy and financial operations. Malnutrition affects approximately two thirds of the country's population.
As many as 250 ethnic groups have been identified and named. The most numerous people are the Kongo, Luba, and Mongo. About 600,000 Pygmies are the aboriginal people of the DR Congo.
French is the official language of the country. It is meant to be an ethnically neutral language, to ease communication among the many different ethnic groups of the Congo. Although seven hundred local languages and dialects are spoken, the linguistic variety is bridged both by widespread use of French and intermediary languages such as Kongo, Tshiluba, Swahili, and Lingala.
Christianity is the majority religion in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, followed by about 80% of the population. Sixty-two of the Protestant denominations in the country are federated under the umbrella of the Church of Christ in Congo or CCC (in French, Église du Christ au Congo or ECC). It is often simply referred to as 'The Protestant Church', since it covers most of the 20% of the population who are Protestants. Of the remaining 20% of the population, half are Muslim, and the rest follow traditional beliefs or syncretic sects. Islam was introduced and mainly spread by Arab traders/merchants.
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[Category:Sub-Saharan Africa]