The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)

The Democratic Republic of Congo was formerly known as Zaire and it is located in central Africa. It shares borders with Angola, Zambia, Tanzania, Burundi, Rwanda, Uganda, Sudan, Central African Republic, and Republic of the Congo. It also stretches to the south of Atlantic Ocean and its capital city is Kinshasa. The DRC is the third largest country in Africa.

The Congo River basin occupies the central and Northwestern part of the country, Savannah grasslands are found in the southern parts of the country, dense tropical rain forest in central river basin and eastern highlands. The DRC is crossed by the equator.

Climate

The DRC is dominated by tropical rainforest. It is hot and humid in the equatorial river basin, cool and dry in the southern highlands, and cool and wet in the eastern highlands. North of the Equator the wet season runs from April to October; the dry season runs from December to February. South of the Equator the wet season is from November to March; the dry season lasts from April to October.

Natural Resources

Cobalt, copper, niobium, tantalum, petroleum, industrial and gem diamonds, gold, silver, zinc, manganese, tin, uranium, coal, hydropower, timber

Ethnic groups

The DRC has many Bantu-speaking ethnic groups, including Kongo, Mongo, Luba, Bwaka, Kwango, Lilua, Lunda, and Kasai, and Hamites-speaking groups such as Mangbetu-Azande.

Language

French is the official language of the DRC. Lingala is spoken in the west; Swahili is widely used in the East. Kingwana, Kikongo and Tshiluba are also spoken.

Religion

The DRC has the following religions; Roman Catholicism, Protestant, Kimbanguist, Islam and others, including syncretic sects and indigenous beliefs.

Economy

The DRC's economy mainly depends on mining diamonds, gold, copper, cobalt, manganese, uranium, cassiterite (tin ore), coal, zinc, and silver. Diamonds are mined in Kasai. Agriculture products include coffee, sugar, cocoa, rice, peanuts, rubber, tea, quinine, cassava (tapioca), palm oil, bananas, root crops, corn, fruit, and wood/forest products.

Industries include mineral processing, consumer products (including textiles, footwear, cigarettes, processed foods and beverages), cement, and commercial ship repair

History

The original inhabitants of the DRC were the Pygmies. The Bantu speakers migrated into the land by the end of the 1^st millennium B.C. The Bantu had different empires and these included the Kongo Kingdom (located in both Northern Angola and the extreme western part of DRC; founded in the 14^th century), the Luba empire (centered around Lake Kisale and Lake Upemba; founded in the 16^th century), the Lunda kingdom of Mwata Yamo (located in southwest Congo; founded 15^th century), the Kuba kingdom of the Shongo people (located in the region of the Kasai and Sankuru rivers; founded in the 18^th century), the Lunda Kingdom of Mwata Kazembe (located near the Luapula River; this forms part of the present Congo-Zambia boundary; founded in the 18^th century).

The Portuguese were the first Europeans to reach Congo in 1482. In the mid-19^th century, Arab, Swahili and Nyamwezi traders from Tanzania penetrated into East Congo seeking trade, slaves and ivory. The DRC became a Belgian Territory in the 1870s and the Belgian King, King Leopold II, reigned from 1865 to 1909. DRC gained independence from Belgium on 30^th June, 1960, but its early years were spoiled by political and social stability. Col. Joseph Mobutu detained power and declared himself as president in November 1965 coup. He changed both his name to Mobutu Sese Seko and country's name to Zaire. He retained his position for 32 years and was overthrown in May 1997. He was succeeded by Laurent Kabila, who renamed the country Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Laurent Kabila was assassinated in January 2001 and his, son Joseph Kabila, was named a head of state.

The DRC was the first black African country to qualify for the world cup in 1974.

Though this page has been carefully researched, the author does not claim expertise on the DRC.

Sources

Written by Esther Nalubwama, 2009