Democratic Republic of the Congo

The **Democratic Republic of the 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  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.

## Related pages

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

## Infobox (country)

- **conventional long name**: Democratic Republic of the Congo
- **native name**:

</br />
- **image flag**: Flag of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.svg
- **image coat**: Coat of arms of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.svg
- **symbol type**: Emblem of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Coat of arms
- **national motto**:

- **national anthem**:

- **image map**: Democratic_Republic_of_the_Congo_(orthographic_projection).svg
- **capital**: Kinshasa
- **largest city**: capital
- **official languages**: French language, French & Swahili language, Swahili
- **national languages**: Lingala
 Kikongo
 Tshiluba
- **ethnic groups**: _See #Ethnic groups, Ethnic groups section below_
- **demonym**: <span class="nowikilink">Congolese</span>
- **government type**: Unitary state, Unitary Semi-presidential system, semi-presidential republic
- **leader title1**: President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, President
- **leader name1**: Félix Tshisekedi
- **leader title2**: Prime Minister of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Prime Minister
- **leader name2**: Judith Suminwa, Judith Suminwa Tuluka
- **legislature**: Parliament of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Parliament
- **upper house**: Senate (Democratic Republic of the Congo), Senate
- **lower house**: National Assembly (Democratic Republic of the Congo), National Assembly
- **sovereignty type**: History of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Formation
- **established event1**: International Association of the Congo, Colonised
- **established date1**: 17 November 1879
- **established event2**: Congo Free State
- **established date2**: 1 July 1885
- **established event3**: Belgian Congo
- **established date3**: 15 November 1908
- **established event4**: Congo Crisis, Independence from Belgium
- **established date4**: 30 June 1960
- **established event5**: United Nations Security Council Resolution 142, Admitted to the United Nations
- **established date5**: 20 September 1960
- **established event6**: Renamed to Democratic Republic of Congo
- **established date6**: 1 August 1964
- **established event7**: Zaire, Republic of Zaire
- **established date7**: 29 October 1971
- **established event8**: First Congo War, Fall of Mobutu
- **established date8**: 17 May 1997
- **established event9**: Constitution of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Current constitution
- **established date9**: 18 February 2006
- **area km2**: 2,345,409
- **area rank**: 11th
- **area sq mi**: 905,355
- **percent water**: 3.32
- **population estimate rank**: 16th
- **population density km2**: 34.83
- **population density sq mi**: 90.22
- **gdp ppp**: $67.988 billion
- **gdp ppp year**: 2017
- **gdp ppp per capita**: $785
- **gdp nominal**: $40.415 billion
- **gdp nominal year**: 2017
- **gdp nominal per capita**: $446
- **gini**: 44.4
- **gini year**: 2006
- **gini change**: increase
- **hdi**: 0.470
- **hdi year**: 2018
- **hdi change**: increase
- **hdi rank**: 176th
- **currency**: Congolese franc
- **currency code**: CDF
- **time zone**: West Africa Time, WAT and Central Africa Time, CAT
- **drives on**: right
- **calling code**: +243
- **iso3166code**: CD
- **cctld**: .cd