Country Information on the Democratic Republic of the Congo

Terrain The major physiographic element of the country is the vast Congo river basin (around 60% of the total area), which is covered by rain forests. From this basin there are elevations into all directions, which gradually become plateaux and mountains. The highest mountain range is to be found on the eastern border with Tanzania, Burundi, and Rwanda and includes the country's highest elevation, Mont Ngaliema (Mount Stanley), with 5,110 m. The Shaba or Katanga Mountains in the south-east reach heights of up to 1,500m and are rich in mineral resources, e.g. copper, uranium etc. As the Congo river basin rates as the world's second-largest river system (the Amazon river basin being the largest), the country's water resources are vast. Most important rivers include the biggest northern tributary to the Congo, the Oubangui, that has its source in the north-western fringe area of the Congo basin. The mountain ranges in the south-west are commonly referred to as Highlands of Bié. The Kasai has its source here, the most important southern tributary of the Congo. River valleys are thickly overgrown by the rain forest. Climate Except for the higher regions the country's climate is tropical. There is precipitation throughout the year. The average annual temperature is around 27°C in the lowlands of the Congo Basin. However, it is much higher in the hottest months, from February to April. In altitudes over 1,500m the average temperature is about 19°C. Fauna/Flora The country's rainforests abound in floral diversity. Among the plants that have their habitat in this country are rubber plants, oil palms, coffee, and cotton. Fruits that are commonly grown are bananas and coconuts. Timber abounds, e.g. teak, ebony, African cedar, and mahogany. Several animal species are threatened by extinction, such as the gorilla. Among the mammals living in this country are the elephant, hippopotamus, rhinoceros, red buffalo, giraffe, okapi, zebra, lion, leopard, jackal, hyena, and chimpanzee. The numerous reptiles include mambas, pythons, and crocodiles. The bird population features parrots, flamingos, cuckoos, herons, and plovers. Insects abound, particularly ants, termites, and mosquitoes, including the ones that transmit malaria. History/Politics For centuries, the area of present-day Democratic Republic of Congo was part of the Bantu Kingdoms. Europeans first explored the country in the 15th century and the Portuguese introduced Christianity and the Portuguese government system in the country's coastal areas. However, genuine exploration of inland areas started as late as the 19th century, when David Livingstone and Pierre Savorgnan de Brazza attracted world-wide interest to Africa as a source of wealth. In 1885, the Berlin Conference established the Congo Free State under the personal sovereignty of the Belgian King Leopold II. The territory became a Belgian colony in 1908. In 1959 emerging nationalist movements caused the Belgian government to announce elections. Soon after, civil war broke out between rivalling political wings, with one wing advocating secessionist ideas. Civil war ended in 1963 and a military coup in 1965 brought Joseph Desiré Mobuto to power who was to rule the country until 1997. He introduced a programme of Africanization, nationalizing multinational companies and renamed the country "Zaire", calling himself Mobuto Sese Seko. Mobutu's era came to an end when the Tutsi sparked a rebellion (after years of government repression) in the country's east out of fear of being expelled by Hutu militias. Laurent Kabila came to power in 1997. A cease-fire was signed between the Hutu and the Tutsi in July 1999. In January 2001 Laurent Kabila was assassinated, and his son Joseph Kabila was subsequently appointed president. Economy Although the Democratic Republic of the Congo is richest in natural resources of all African countries, it is today one of the poorest countries in the world owing to the civil war that went on for years. Between 1965 and 1985 annual economic growth was only at about 1%. Ever since the economic situation has been worsening. The mining industry was, after peak in the early seventies, badly hit by the decrease of copper prices in 1974 and in the following years. At the beginning of the nineties the economy completely collapsed. There was an extremely high rate of inflation, export earnings decreased owing to unrest among workers, the infrastructure of transport declined, foreign debts amounted to approximately 11.3 billion US dollars, and the country depended on food imports. Culture The various styles of Congolese folk music have greatly influenced contemporary African music. Many of the best-known African musicians play a kind of dance music whose roots are to be found in Afro-Cuban rumba rhythms. The Soukous developed from this musical style and has meanwhile become an individual musical form with alternating virtuoso electric guitar solos and vocal phasing in Lingala. It became famous in the forties and, thanks to artists like Jean Bosco Mwenda, spread as far as East Africa. The country has several museums, the most important ones in Kinshasa and Lubumbashi. Marriages are traditionally organised by parents. Members of the clan are the preferred spouses. Polygamy is still common.