# Democratic Republic of the Congo

| Democratic Republic of the Congo*République démocratique du Congo*  (French) *Repubilika ya Kôngo ya Dimokalasi*  (Kongo) *Republíki ya Kongó Demokratíki*  (Lingala) *Jamhuri ya Kidemokrasia ya Kongo*  (Swahili) *Ditunga dia Kongu wa Mungalaata*  (Luba-Katanga)
جمهورية الكونغو الديمقراطية  (Arabic)}}  |
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Flag

Coat of arms

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| **Motto:**"Justice – Paix – Travail" (French) "Justice – Peace – Work" |
| **Anthem:Debout Congolais*  (French) "Arise, Congolese" |
| Location of  Democratic Republic of the Congo  (dark green) |
| Capitaland largest city | Kinshasa ﻿ / ﻿ |
| Official languages | French & Swahili |
| Recognised national languages | Lingala Kikongo Tshiluba |
| Ethnic groups  | *See Ethnic groups section below* |
| Demonym(s) | Congolese |
| Government | Unitary semi-presidential republic |
|  |
| • President  | Félix Tshisekedi |
| • Prime Minister  | Judith Suminwa Tuluka |
|  |
| Legislature | Parliament |
| • Upper house | Senate |
| • Lower house | National Assembly |
| Formation |
|  |
| • Colonised  | 17 November 1879 |
| • Congo Free State  | 1 July 1885 |
| • Belgian Congo  | 15 November 1908 |
| • Independence from Belgium  | 30 June 1960 |
| • Admitted to the United Nations  | 20 September 1960 |
| • Renamed to Democratic Republic of Congo  | 1 August 1964 |
| • Republic of Zaire  | 29 October 1971 |
| • Fall of Mobutu  | 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 | 95,894,118 (16th) |
| • Density | 34.83/km2 (90.2/sq mi) |
| GDP (PPP) | 2017 estimate |
| • Total | $67.988 billion |
| • Per capita | $785 |
| GDP (nominal) | 2017 estimate |
| • Total | $40.415 billion |
| • Per capita | $446 |
| Gini (2006) |  44.4 medium |
| HDI (2018) |  0.470 low · 176th |
| Currency | Congolese franc (CDF) |
| Time zone | UTC+1 to +2 (WAT and CAT) |
| Driving side | right |
| Calling code | +243 |
| ISO 3166 code | CD |
| Internet TLD | .cd |

Principal rivers and lakes of the Democratic Republic of Congo
The **Democratic Republic of the Congo** (French: *République démocratique du Congo*), commonly referred to as **DR Congo**, **Congo-Kinshasa** or the **DRC**, is a country in central Africa. It was known as Zaïre from 1971 to 1997. It is the second largest country in Africa by area and the eleventh largest in the world. With a population of over 71 million, the Democratic Republic of the Congo is the nineteenth most populous nation in the world, the fourth most populous nation in Africa, as well as the most populous Francophone (French-speaking) country.

The Democratic Republic of the Congo borders the Central African Republic and South Sudan to the north; Uganda, Rwanda, and Burundi in the east; Zambia and Angola to the south; the Republic of the Congo, the Angolan exclave of Cabinda, and the Atlantic Ocean to the west. It is separated from Tanzania by Lake Tanganyika in the east. The country has access to the ocean through a 40-kilometre (25 mi) stretch of Atlantic coastline at Muanda and the roughly 9 km wide mouth of the Congo River which opens into the Gulf of Guinea. It has the second-highest total Christian population in Africa.

## History

When the Belgian Congo became independent, its leaders fought each other. The Soviet Union and later the United Nations helped destroy the groups who wanted independence from the new country.

The Second Congo War, beginning in 1998, devastated the country. It involved nine African nations and some twenty armed groups. Despite the signing of peace accords in 2003, fighting continues in the east of the country. There, the prevalence of rape and other sexual violence is described as the worst in the world. The war is the world's deadliest conflict since World War II, killing 5.4 million people since 1998. The vast majority died from conditions of malaria, diarrhea, pneumonia and malnutrition.

The Democratic Republic of the Congo was formerly, in chronological order, the **Congo Free State**, **Belgian Congo**, **Congo-Léopoldville**, Congo-Kinshasa, and **Zaire** (*Zaïre* in French). Though it is in the Central African United Nations subregion, the nation is also economically and regionally affiliated with Southern Africa as a member of the Southern African Development Community (SADC).

### Civil war

The city of Goma was captured in 2025, as part of the M23 offensive (a series of attacks); The city is "eastern DR Congo’s biggest city"; The armed group M23 is backed by Rwanda. In February, the government lost control of the city of Bukavu and the town of Kavumu and its strategic military airport (map).

Earlier (January 26), the country cut its diplomatic contact with Rwanda, because of Rwanda supporting M23.

The Kivu conflict is ongoing (2025). North Kivu and South Kivu provinces are in the eastern part of the country. Some of the most active rebel groups are the Allied Democratic Forces, CODECO, and some Mai Mai militias. A UN peacekeeping force, MONUSCO, is in the country.

FDLR are supported by the military, in their fight against M23. The group is made up of Hutus. FARDC are the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Western DR Congo clashes are a series of attacks; As late as July 2024, 42 Mobondo rebels were killed when they attacked a village; 9 government forces died.

## Geography

The country is bordered by Angola, the South Atlantic Ocean, the Republic of Congo, the Central African Republic, South Sudan, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Tanzania across Lake Tanganyika, and Zambia.

The capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo is Kinshasa.

World Heritage Sites in the Democratic Republic of Congo include Virunga National Park (1979), Garamba National Park (1980),
Kahuzi-Biega National Park (1980), Salonga National Park (1984) and Okapi Wildlife Reserve (1996).

### Provinces

The country is divided into twenty six provinces. The provinces are then divided into districts. The districts are divided into territories.

|  |  |
| --- | --- |
|  | 1. Kinshasa
2. Kongo Central
3. Kwango
4. Kwilu Province
5. Mai-Ndombe Province
6. Kasaï Province
7. Kasaï-Central
8. Kasaï-Oriental
9. Lomami Province
10. Sankuru
11. Maniema
12. South Kivu
13. North Kivu
14. Ituri Province
15. Haut-Uele
16. Tshopo
17. Bas-Uele
18. Nord-Ubangi
19. Mongala
20. Sud-Ubangi
21. Équateur
22. Tshuapa
23. Tanganyika Province
24. Haut-Lomami
25. Lualaba Province
26. Haut-Katanga Province
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## Related pages

* DR Congo at the Olympics
* List of rivers of the Democratic Republic of the Congo