Region: Middle Africa

Capital: Kinshasa

Population: 54.8 million (2004

Surface area: 2 344 858 square km

Currency: Congolese Franc (CDF)

GDP per capita: Purchasing power parity $700 (2004)

Background:
Established as a Belgian colony in 1908, the Democratic 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 the name of the country to Zaire.

MOBUTU retained his position for 32 years. 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. He renamed the country the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). In August 1998, his regime was challenged by an insurrection backed by Rwanda and Uganda.

A cease-fire was signed in July 1999 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 the warring parties to end the fighting and establish a government of national unity. A transitional government was set up in July 2003 with Joseph KABILA as president.

Economy:
The economy of the Democratic Republic of the Congo - a nation endowed with vast potential wealth - has declined drastically since the mid-1980s. The war, which began in August 1998, dramatically reduced national output and government revenue, increased external debt, and resulted in the deaths of perhaps 3.5 million people from war, famine, and disease. Foreign businesses curtailed operations due to uncertainty about the outcome of the conflict, lack of infrastructure and the difficult operating environment.

Conditions improved in late 2002 with the withdrawal of a large portion of the invading foreign troops. Several IMF and World Bank missions have met with the government to help it develop a coherent economic plan and President KABILA has begun implementing reforms. Much economic activity lies outside the GDP data. Economic stability, aided by international donors, improved in 2003-04. In 2005, renewed activity in the mining sector, the source of most exports, could boost Kinshasa's fiscal position and GDP growth.

Human Development Index Ranking: 167 out of 177 in 2005
Total External Debt (2003): US $7.6 billion
United Nations membership date: 20 September 1960

New York Mission:
Permanent Mission of the Democratic Republic of Congo
866 United Nations Plaza, Suite 511
New York, N.Y. 10017
Tel: 1-212-319-8061
Fax: 1-212-319-8232
E-mail: drcongo@un.int

Sources:
CIA World Factbook, Central Intelligence Agency
World Development Indicators, World Bank
Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development
Human Development Report 2005, United Nations Development Programme