Democratic Republic of the Congo

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INFORMATION

Capital: Kinshasa

Government: Unitary Semi-Presidential Republic

Current President: Felix Tshisekedi

Economy:

  • Much economic activity still occurs in the informal sector and is not reflected in GDP data.
  • Renewed activity in the mining sector, the source of most export income, boosted Kinshasa’s fiscal position and GDP growth from 2006-08.
  • Main exports: diamonds, copper, coffee, cobalt, and crude oil.

Population: 105,044,646 (July 2021 est.)

Land Size: 2.34 million sq km (905,354 sq miles)

Major Ethnic Groups:

  • Over 200 African ethnic groups
  • Majority are Bantu (make up about 45% of the population):
    • Mongo
    • Luba
    • Kongo (all Bantu)
    • Mangbetu-Azande (Hamitic)
 Religions:

  • Roman Catholic: 50%
  • Protestant: 20%
  • Kimbanguist: 10%
  • Muslim: 10%
  • Other (includes syncretic sects and indigenous beliefs): 10%

Language(s):

  • French (official)
  • Lingala (a lingua franca trade language)
  • Kingwana (a dialect of Kiswahili or Swahili)
  • Kikongo
  • Tshiluba

Links:

RECENT NEWS

  • Thu - Apr 18, 2024: Cardinal Ambongo - 'The Situation in and Around Goma Is Deteriorating Day By Day' - AllAfrica News: Congo-Kinshasa
    [Agenzia Fides] Kinshasa -- "The situation in and around Goma is deteriorating day by day," says Cardinal Fridolin Ambongo Besungu, Metropolitan Archbishop of Kinshasa, to Fides. He refers to the capital of North Kivu in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), where the M23 guerrillas have taken up arms again since 2021 and have captured several towns.
  • Thu - Apr 18, 2024: Hospitals in Eastern DRC Face Vaccine Shortages - AllAfrica News: Congo-Kinshasa
    [VOA] Goma -- In the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, specifically in the Beni and Butembo region, parents are finding it hard getting vaccines for their children. Health care providers report that vaccines have been in short supply for several months, leaving thousands of children unvaccinated. Parents worried about their children's health are calling on authorities to quickly resolve the situation.
  • Thu - Apr 18, 2024: From DR Congo to Uganda, and Back - AllAfrica News: Congo-Kinshasa
    [Norwegian Refugee Council] "Life in Uganda is hard, but life in DR Congo is too dangerous to return. I don't know what to do." Like many Congolese refugees in Uganda, Maisha faces an impossible choice.
  • Tue - Apr 16, 2024: Rep Smith Introduces Bill to Prevent Imports of Cobalt Mined by Child Labor In the DR Congo - AllAfrica News: Congo-Kinshasa
    [U.S. House] Washington, DC -- Communist China exploits African children to power the 'Green Economy'
  • Tue - Apr 16, 2024: Foreign Relations Committee Rejects Ruto's Pick for Goma Consulate - AllAfrica News: Congo-Kinshasa
    [Capital FM] Nairobi -- The National Assembly Committee on Defence and Foreign Relations has rejected the nomination of Charles Githinji Kiiru as the Consular General for Goma, DRC.