Congo: The Land of Natural Resources

Democratic Republic of the Congo, country located in central Africa. Officially known as the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the country has a 25-mile (40-km) coastline on the Atlantic Ocean but is otherwise landlocked. It is the second largest country on the continent; only Algeria is larger. The capital, Kinshasa, is located on the Congo River about 320 miles (515 km) from its mouth. The largest city in central Africa, it serves as the country’s official administrative, economic, and cultural centre.

The country is often referred to by its acronym, the DRC, or called Congo (Kinshasa), with the capital added parenthetically, to distinguish it from the other Congo republic, which is officially called the Republic of the Congo and is often referred to as Congo (Brazzaville).

Zongo waterfalls is 180 kms from Kinshasa. It is the bucket list destination for most travelers to Democratic Republic of Congo. The waterfall is provides for a picturesque and serene view, amidst clouds and the rainbows formed due to water splashing from a great height. Image source: https://www.traveltourxp.com/10-things-to-do-in-democratic-republic-of-congo/

Congo is rich in natural resources. It boasts vast deposits of industrial diamonds, cobalt, and copper; one of the largest forest reserves in Africa; and about half of the hydroelectric potential of the continent.

Formation
Capital and largest city	Kinshasa 4°19′S 15°19′E
Other Cities: Official languages	Bandundu,Bukavu, Goma Kananga, Kindu, Kisangani, Lubumbashi, Matadi, Mbandaka, Mbuji-Mayi.French
Recognised national languages	Kikongo^[a] Lingala Swahili Tshiluba
Religion (2015)^[1]	94.9% Christianity —55.8% Roman Catholic —39.1% Other Christian 2.5% Traditional faiths 0.5% No religion 2.1% Others
Demonym(s)	Congolese

• President	Félix Tshisekedi
• Prime Minister	Jean-Michel Sama Lukonde^[2]
• President of the Senate	Modeste Bahati Lukwebo
• President of the National Assembly	Christophe Mboso N’Kodia Pwanga
• President of the Constitutional Court	Dieudonné Kaluba Dibwa
Legislature	Parliament
• Upper house	Senate
• Lower house	National Assembly

• Colonised	17 November 1879
• Congo Free State	1 July 1885
• Belgian Congo	15 November 1908
• Independence from Belgium	30 June 1960^[3]
• Admitted to the United Nations	20 September 1960
• Renamed Democratic Republic of Congo	1 August 1964
• Republic of Zaire	29 October 1971
• First Congo War	17 May 1997
• Current constitution	18 February 2006
Area
• Total	2,345,409 km² (905,567 sq mi) (11th)
• Water (%)	3.32
Population
• 2021 estimate	105,044,646^[4] (15th

Government:
Type: Republic; transitional regime highly centralized with executive power vested in the president.
Independence: 30 June 1960 (from Belgium).
Constitution: 18 February 2006

Geography:
Location: Central Africa, northeast of Angola

Area: 2,344,858 km² (905 000 sq. mi)
Terrain: Varies from tropical rainforests to mountainous terraces, plateau, savannas, dense grasslands, and mountains.

Highest point: Pic Marguerite 5 110 m on Rwenzori Range’s Mont Ngaliema (Mount Stanley).Climate: Equatorial; ranges from tropical rainforest in the Congo River basin, hot and humid in much of the north and west, cooler and drier in the south central area and the east.People:
Nationality: Congolese
Population: 71 million (2015)
Ethnic groups: More than 200 African ethnic groups; the Luba, Kongo, and Anamongo are some of the larger groupings of tribes.
Literacy: 64%

Natural resources: Cobalt, copper, Columbite-tantalite (coltan) refined, coltan becomes tantalum, niobium, petroleum, industrial and gem diamonds, gold, silver, zinc, manganese, tin, uranium, coal, hydropower, timber.

Agriculture products: Coffee, sugar, palm oil, rubber, tea, quinine, cassava (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.

Exports partners: China 43.5%, Zambia 25%, South Korea 4.9%, Belgium 4.8% (2015)

Imports partners: China 20.6%, South Africa 17.7%, Zambia 12.3%, Belgium 6.9%, Zimbabwe 5.1%, India 4.7% (2015)

Currency: Congolese Franc (CDF)

Background:
According to CIA World Fact Book 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.

Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo Skyline view of Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo. mtcurado/iStockphoto.com — *Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo*
*Skyline view of Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo.*
*mtcurado/iStockphoto.com*

KABILA renamed the country the Democratic Republic of the Congo, but in August 1998 his regime was itself challenged by an insurrection backed by Rwanda and Uganda. Troops from Zimbabwe, Angola, Namibia, Chad, and Sudan intervened to support the Kinshasa regime. A cease-fire was signed in July 1999 by the DROC, Zimbabwe, Angola, Uganda, Namibia, Rwanda, and Congolese armed rebel groups, 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.

Culture

The Democratic Republic of Congo is one of the countries that brings out the uniqueness of Africa with its extremely diverse culture, beliefs, food.

1st image: The Congo River formerly known as the Zaire River, is the second longest river in Africa, shorter only than the Nile, as well as the second largest river in the world by discharge volume, following only the Amazon.