A stable, peaceful, and prosperous democratic republic of congo promises to have transformational impacts not only for the countrys 67 million citizens but also for the entire subregion. Belgiums king leopold ii claimed congo free state as his personal possession. The first rebellion to oust the late president mobutu sese seko began in the city of goma in the mid1990s. Jul 14, 2017 a very brief history of the democratic republic of congo this year im using the drc as a major case study in underdevelopment it is last on the uns hdi rankings after all heres my mainly cut and paste from wikipedia very brief history of the drc ill add in video links, general links, pictures and extracts from numerous. Overview of the case on 17 october 2000, the democratic republic of the congo drc filed an application instituting proceedings against belgium concerning a dispute over an international arrest warrant issued on 11 april 2000 by a belgian examining judge against the acting congolese minister for foreign affairs, mr. Latest developments armed activities on the territory of. The nation becomes independent on 30 june 1960 as the democratic republic of the congo. The commission reiterates the continued availability of the african union to accompany the democratic republic of the congo in this critical phase of its history, as well as its solidarity with the congolese people. On 28 december 1998, guinea filed an application instituting proceedings against the democratic republic of the congo drc in respect of a dispute concerning serious violations of international law alleged to have been committed upon the person of mr.
Democratic republic of the congo drcs debtcarrying capacity was assessed as weak 1. Latest developments arrest warrant of 11 april 2000. A very short overview of belgian, and latterly us, imperialism in congo, written by marty jezer in 2001. The democratic republic of the congo enough project. Democratic republic of the congo, march 2019 monthly. This train of thought fails to take into account both the incredible potential. Democratic republic of congo the shifty neighbor kinshasa, the capital of the drc, lies just across the river from brazzaville and the two capitals have a tradition of providing asylum for political figures fleeing from one congo into the other.
Patrice lumumba, leader of the congolese national movement the countrys first nationwide party, wins the first national election. Indeed, the democratic republic of congo is the largest country in subsaharan africa by land area and the third largest in population. In 2017 the gdp of the democratic republic of the congo. Africa congo, democratic republic of the the world. In 2017 the democratic republic of the congo exported 7. Reduction strategy paper document strategique pour.
In comparison, the average for the 26 african countries in revenue statistics in africa 2019 remained at 17. Latest developments ahmadou sadio diallo republic of. Politics of the democratic republic of the congo wikipedia. The democratic republic of the congo drc is a nominally centralized constitutional republic. Democratic republic of the congo is taking place at an alarming rate in two phases. This resolution was about financing of the united nations organization mission in the democratic republic of the congo. The democratic republic of congo, formerly known as zaire, provides plenty of ingredients for savage imagery, incredible stories, wishful thinking, conventional wisdom and the fuelling of scientific theories about politics, economics and the state in africa. The democratic republic of the congo is named after the congo river, which flows throughout the country. Democratic republic of congo research papers academia. The congo free state was a corporate state privately controlled by leopold ii of belgium through the association internationale africaine, a nongovernmental organization. The capital, kinshasa, is located on the congo river about 320 miles 515 km from its mouth. Embassy kinshasa, updated regularly, and translated in french in a separate pdf. Information on the role of the immigration services in security functions in the drc and control of migration by drc immigration service sept.
The democratic republic of the congo is the 94th largest export economy in the world. Within days, the cndp captured a number of small towns and congolese forces retreated in large numbers. Abdoulaye yerodia ndombasi, seeking his detention and subsequent extradition. In recent weeks the democratic republic of the congo, formerly known as zaire, and before that the belgian congo, has been in the news.
Democratic republic of the congo history britannica. Usaid senior deputy assistant administrator tim ziemer travels to democratic republic of the congo, rwanda, and uganda. Before that, a briefing on the secretarygenerals latest report and consultations with the head of monusco, leila zerrougui, are likely. During the 1960s, usaid programs were directed at developing the united nations new role as the coordinator of bilateral assistance. A brutal civil war, an horrendous aids epidemic, the assassination of its dictator, laurent kabila, and. In the months leading up to independence, the congolese elected a president, joseph kasavubu, prime minister, patrice lumumba, a senate and assembly, and similar bodies in the congo s numerous provinces. In response to violence carried out by exiled rwandan hutu genocidaires, rwandan and ugandan forces invaded the democratic republic of congo. Just four days later there are early signs of mutiny in the army.
View democratic republic of congo research papers on academia. Democratic republic of the congo, country located in central africa. It has many beautiful landscapes, mainly comprising dense and undulating rainforest interspersed with waterfalls and teeming with fascinating wildlife. The government, however, failed to organize elections in. A very brief history of the democratic republic of congo. The country shows some vulnerabilities in debt repayment capacity due to weak revenue mobilization. Under the constitution, president joseph kabilas second and final term in office expired in 2016.
Check out our country profile, full of essential information about congo, democratic republic of thes geography, history, government, economy, population, culture, religion and languages. Benefits of making business in the democratic republic of. Usaid senior deputy assistant administrator tim ziemer travels to democratic republic of the congo, rwanda. Picsim 2005 republic of congo 3 republic of congo history colonial beginnings congo was originally a kingdom in central africa which was then incorporated into the french empire in the 1880s. The congo civil war, or congo crisis, was a complex political tumult that began just days following belgiums granting of congolese independence in 1960.
While the congolese army maintains that the adf is an islamist insurgency, most observers feel that they are only a criminal group interested in gold mining and logging. Democratic republic of congo visa drc visa application. See also mortality study, eastern democratic republic of congo, februaryapril 2001, includes a map. Top sights in democratic republic of the congo, africa. Conflicts in the democratic republic of congo united nations. Identification of arms sources found in the conflict in drc. Congo kinshasa the world bank on the democratic republic of congo, 1999washington, dc a country brief and data pdf file. Colonial and postcolonial history of congo research papers. Background report on eastern democratic republic of the congo. The principal rivers are the ubangi and bomu in the north and the congo in the west, which flows into the atlantic. Discovered in the 1990s, the earliest discovered human remains in the democratic republic of the congo have been dated to approximately 90,000 years ago.
A democratic, multiparty constitution was adopted by referendum in march 1992. The congo, in westcentral africa, is bordered by the republic of congo, the central african republic, the sudan, uganda, rwanda, burundi, tanzania, zambia, angola, and the atlantic ocean. Democratic republic of the congo kinshasa foreign relations volumes 27 foreign relations of the united states, 19551957, arabisraeli dispute, january 1july 26, 1956, volume xv. Politics of the democratic republic of congo take place in a framework of a republic in transition from a civil war to a semipresidential republic.
The reason is the fury of the african soldiers that in spite of independence the officers in the congolese army are without exception white. List of documents on the democratic republic of the congo consulted by the. Democratic republic of congo armed forces fardc in eastern congo. On that date, the area formerly known as the belgian congo was proclaimed independent from belgian sovereignty. Under leopold ii, the congo free state became one of the most infamous international. For more information on preparing for your interview, click here. Causes, impact and implications for the great lakes region executive summary the democratic republic of congo is recovering from conflicts, posting substantial improve ment in overall macroeconomic performance since the cessation of the war, on the back of robust copper and cobalt exports.
Brazzaville, congo s current national capital, was. Relations congressional research service 3 historical background due to its resources, vast territory, and location figure 1, drc has long served as an arena of regional and international competition. The role of multinational corporations in the democratic. The first real states, such as the kongo, the lunda, the luba and kuba, appeared south of the equatorial forest on the savannah from the 14th century onwards.
Prepare for your interview confirm your appointment detailed instructions on preparing for your immigrant visa interview at u. Democratic republic of the congo countries office of the. Communique on the democratic republic of the congo african. He and his wife, chris woolwinemoen, produced thousands of awardwinning maps that are used all over the world and content that aids students, teachers, travelers and parents with their geography and map. The history of the democratic republic of the congo, the 18th largest country in the world, is fraught with violence, conflict and exploitation. Democratic republic of congo travel guide and travel. John moen is a cartographer who along with his wife are the orignal founders of. The allied democratic forces has been waging an insurgency in the democratic republic of the congo and is blamed for the beni massacre in 2016. Belgium took personal control of the territory, ruthlessly exploiting congos.
Infoplease has everything you need to know about congo, democratic republic of the. A brief history of the democratic republic of the congo. United nations organization mission in the democratic. Local humanitarian action in the democratic republic of congo. It should be noted that the visit of the highlevel delegation to kinshasa on 21 january 2019 has been postponed.
The democratic republic of congo drc is one of the largest and most enigmatic countries in africa. The republic of the congo gains independence from belgium. The taxtogdp ratio in the democratic republic of the congo decreased by 0. Democratic republic of the congo, 19932003 report of the mapping exercise documenting the most serious violations of human rights and international humanitarian law committed within the territory of the democratic republic of the congo between march 1993 and june 2003 august 2010. Overview of the case on 23 june 1999, the democratic republic of the congo drc filed in the registry of the court applications instituting proceedings against burundi, uganda and rwanda for acts of armed aggression committed. Officially known as the democratic republic of the congo, the country has a 25mile 40km coastline on the atlantic ocean but is otherwise landlocked. Overview of the case on 28 december 1998, guinea filed an application instituting proceedings against the democratic republic of the congo drc in respect of a dispute concerning serious violations of international law alleged to have been committed upon the person of mr. The congo river is the worlds deepest river and the worlds second largest river by discharge. Do not travel to north kivu and ituri provinces due to ebola, and to the eastern drc and the three kasai provinces due to armed conflict.
Education in the democratic republic of congo isbn. Foreign relations of the united states, 19551957, arabisraeli dispute, january 1july 26, 1956, volume xv. Pdf on jun 1, 2014, randi solhjell published the democratic republic of. The humanitarian needs in the drc have reached alarming proportions. State department country documents ric report democratic republic of kinshasa, former zaire drc. The democratic republic of congo, formerly known as zaire. The cycle of recurrent wars and violence in the drcs history calls for an. Background and current developments congressional research service 1 recent developments in february 2011, the congolese government formally charged one senior military officer and 10 soldiers of mass rape in the town of fizi, in the eastern province of south kivu. Department of state has gone paperless to serve you better. Voters popularly elect the president and the lower house of parliament national assembly. According to the 2017 2019 hrp updated for 2019, 12.
A brief history of congo democratic republic kinshasa established as a belgian colony in 1908, the republic of the congo gained its independence in 1960, but. The country that began as a kings private domain the congo free state, evolved into a colony the belgian congo, became independent in 1960 as the republic of the congo, and later underwent several name changes to the democratic republic of the congo, then to zaire, and back again to the democratic republic of the congo is the product of a complex pattern of historical forces. Democratic republic of the congo gpei polio eradication. This report discusses in brief the current political state of the democratic republic of the congo, as well as the crisis situation in eastern congo that has displaced more than 250,000 civilians. History of the democratic republic of the congo wikipedia. The democratic republic of congo drc faces a defining period in its history. Department of state travel advisory at the date of this reports publication assesses the democratic republic of the congo drc at level 3, indicating travelers should reconsider travel to the country due to crime and civil unrest. A very brief history of the democratic republic of congo this year im using the drc as a major case study in underdevelopment it is last on the uns hdi rankings after all heres my mainly cut and paste from wikipedia very brief history of the drc ill add in video links, general links, pictures and extracts from numerous. These programs focused on implementing a comprehensive economic stabilization program to contain inflation and improving. Search for democratic republic of congo country indicators, policy developments, and overview.
On 18 and 19 december 2005, a successful nationwide referendum was carried out on a draft constitution, which set the stage for elections in 2006. Eastern congo has been in a state of chaos for over a decade. The democratic republic of congo formerly zaire has a long history of conflict, but its recent crises can be traced to the aftermath of the 1994 rwandan genocide. View colonial and postcolonial history of congo research papers on academia. You will also need to provide proof of the hosts status in democratic republic of the congo ie.
These programs focused on implementing a comprehensive economic stabilization program to contain inflation. This tool is called the consular electronic application center, or ceac. Taking a stand on security sector reform underscores the critical role the international community must play. This astronaut image shows two capital cities brownishgray areas on opposite banks of the congo river.
The smaller city on the north side of the river is brazzaville, while the larger, kinshasa, is on the south side. Local humanitarian action in the democratic republic of congo capacity and complementarity veronique barbelet with paulin bishakabalya kokere, emmanuel kandate, pacifique makuta mwambusa, antoine mushagalusa ciza and sanctus nkundamwami namahira march 2019 hpg working paper. There have also been strains regarding the presence of nearly. Many people are accustomed to thinking about the democratic republic of the congo drc as a problem that will be fixed by addressing specific development challenges in isolation. From the personal colony of king leopold ii of belgium, to the dictator joseph mobutus personal piggy bank, to a country divided by a twentyyear civil war, the drc has a history of division and conflict. As of 1 july 2010, monuc was renamed the united nations organization stabilization mission in the democratic republic of the congo monusco helping bring peace and stability in the drc.
The cities lie at the downstream end of an almost circular widening in the river. Since gaining independence from belgium in 1960, the country and its 75 million residents have experienced numerous political and economic crises, including a war that claimed millions of. The state included the entire area of the present the democratic republic of the congo. Democratic republic of the congo african economic outlook 2017 the growth rate of the congolese economy fell from 6. Articlespublicationsdocumentsconflictmineralsoverviewaugust2012. Democratic republic of the congo expected council action. The democratic republic of the congo dr congo is one of the most populous countries in subsaharan africa, and the largest frenchspeaking african country. Resilience of an african giant all documents the world bank. Democratic republic of congo country commercial guide, 2001 pdf file united states energy information administration. Education in the democratic republic of congo all documents. Democratic republic of the congo kinshasa office of the. The four and a half year war in the democratic republic of congo has taken more lives than any other since world war ii and is the deadliest documented conflict in african history, says the international rescue committee. This paper examines the history of conflict in the drc and the.
Decades of misrule and two civil wars have devastated the countrys economy, social fabric, government capacity and infrastructure. The eisenhower administration had high hopes that the republic of the congo would form a stable, prowestern, central government. The land, people and recent history geographical spread 2 political and administrative structure 6 demographic context 8 economic growth, poverty and social development 11 the system of educational administrationschool education 14. Drc remains at a moderate risk of external and overall debt distress, with some space to absorb shocks. If you have any questions about the contents of the documents and the implications of your signing them, the consular section has a list of congolese attorneys for you to consult at attorneys in dr congo pdf 148 kb or you may wish to consult an attorney in the united states. The united states recognized the republic of congo democratic republic of the congo on june 30, 1960, in a congratulatory message from president dwight d. Usaid has provided assistance to the democratic republic of the congo drc continuously since the countrys first years of independence. Following the signing of the lusaka ceasefire agreement in july 1999 between the democratic republic of the congo drc and five regional states in july 1999, the security council established the. Democratic republic of the congo kinshasa office of.
1372 841 1600 177 158 154 1248 448 268 596 1352 368 1428 841 1647 886 1635 995 856 1132 1147 539 1106 535 327 501 242 78 329 1195 1376 97 797 250 809 50 1370 682 1323 847