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Congo also known as the Congo-Brazzaville is situated in Central Africa. The bordering countries are Gabon, Cameroon, the Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Angolan exclave province of Cabinda, and the Gulf of Guinea. The total land boundary stretches upto 10,730 km, and the coastline. It claims a territorial sea upto 12 nm. The geographical terrain has vast central basin is a low-lying plateau with mountains in east. The lowest point is Atlantic Ocean at 0 m and the highest point is Pic Marguerite on Mont Ngaliema also known as the Mount Stanley at 5,110 m. Brazzaville, is located on the Congo River, in the south of the country, immediately across from Kinshasa, the capital of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
The natural resources to be found in Congo is cobalt, copper, niobium, tantalum, petroleum, industrial and gem diamonds, gold, silver, zinc, manganese, tin, uranium, coal, hydropower and timber.
Congo is located along the Equator, the climate is consistent year-round. The average day temperature is humid at 24 °C and nights generally between 16-21 °C.The climate is generally tropical. Hot and humid in equatorial river basin,cooler and drier in southern highlands, and cooler and wetter in eastern highlands. The climate varies in the north of Equator, with wet season from April to October, dry season from December to February. South of Equator has wet season from November to March and dry season from April to October. |
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| People |
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The total population in Congo is estimated to be 66,514,506. Congo is a multi-ethnic country with over 200 African ethnic groups of which Bantu the majority. The four largest tribes are Mongo, Luba, Kongo who are all Bantu, and the Mangbetu-Azande also known as the Hamitic make up about 45% of the population.
50% of the total population is Roman Catholic, 20% are Protestant, 10% follow Kimbanguist, 10% comprises of Muslim and 10% follow other religious belief which includes syncretic sects and indigenous beliefs.
The official language is French. Other languages are Lingala which is a lingua franca trade language, Kingwana a dialect of Kiswahili or Swahili,Kikongo and Tshiluba.
Congo is one of the most urbanized countries in Africa, with 85% of its total population living in a few urban areas. |
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| Government |
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Democratic Republic of the Congo operates under the framework of the Republic form of government. Wherein the president is the chief of the State, Prime minister is the head of the government. The cabinet Ministers of State appointed by the president. As per the new constitution the president is elected by popular vote to a five-year term, and is eligible for a second term.
Congo is administratively divided into 10 provinces and 1 city. The administrations are Bandundu, Bas-Congo, Equateur, Kasai-Occidental, Kasai-Oriental, Katanga, Maniema, Nord-Kivu, Orientale, Sud-Kivu and the city is Kinshasa.
As per the Constitution adopted in December 2005, the current administrative divisions will be subdivided into 26 new provinces by 2009
Capital: Kinshasa
Independence Day: 30 June 1960
President: Joseph Kabila
Prime Minister: Antoine Gizenga |
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| Economy |
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The economy of the Democratic Republic of the Congo is gifted with vast budding wealth, which is slowly on the road to recovery from two decades of decline. In August 1998, the conflict radically reduced the national output and government revenue, it increased external debt, and resulted in violence, famine, and disease which led to deaths of more than 3.5 million people. Since 2002, Congo has enhanced its conditions with the withdrawal of a large portion of the invading foreign troops. The current president has initiated and implemented various reforms, the transitional government reopened relations with international financial institutions and international donors. Much of the economic activity still occurs in the informal sector, and is not reflected in GDP data. Agriculture sector is the main source of income for the people.
The chief agricultural products to be found in Congo are coffee, sugar, palm oil, rubber, tea, quinine, cassava (tapioca), palm oil, bananas, root crops, corn, fruits and wood products.
The major industrial products and services are mining (especially of diamonds, gold, copper, cobalt, coltan zinc), mineral processing, cement, commercial ship repair and consumer products that includes textiles, footwear, cigarettes, processed foods and beverages. |
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