Difference between revisions of "Democratic Republic of the Congo"
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| − | + | {{Country| | |
| − | + | |map=drocongomap.gif | |
| − | + | |flag=drocongoflag.gif | |
| + | |arms= | ||
| + | |capital=Kinshasha | ||
| + | |government=Semi-Presidential Republic | ||
| + | |language=French | ||
| + | |monarch= | ||
| + | |president=Joseph Kabila | ||
| + | |chancellor= | ||
| + | |pm=Antoine Gizenga | ||
| + | |area=2,344,858 km² | ||
| + | |pop=63,655,000 | ||
| + | |pop-basis=2007 estimate | ||
| + | |gdp-year= | ||
| + | |gdp-pc=$774 | ||
| + | |currency=Franc Congolais (CDF) | ||
| + | |idd=+243 | ||
| + | |tld=.cd | ||
| + | }} | ||
[[Belgium]] held the '''Congo''' as an [[Africa]]n colony for mining [[copper]] and producing [[rubber]]. When Belgium granted Congo its independence in 1960 and [[Patrice Lumumba]] was sworn in its its first prime minister, the young nation was unprepared. Moise Tshombe, a leader of southeast region that had the copper mines, announced its separate independence. Tshombe was backed by Belgians interested in the copper, while Lumumba was supported by the communist [[Soviet Union]]. Joseph Mobutu, with sympathy by the West, then overthrew Lumumba, who was then murdered. Tshombe ruled for a short period until he, too, was overthrown by Mobutu. | [[Belgium]] held the '''Congo''' as an [[Africa]]n colony for mining [[copper]] and producing [[rubber]]. When Belgium granted Congo its independence in 1960 and [[Patrice Lumumba]] was sworn in its its first prime minister, the young nation was unprepared. Moise Tshombe, a leader of southeast region that had the copper mines, announced its separate independence. Tshombe was backed by Belgians interested in the copper, while Lumumba was supported by the communist [[Soviet Union]]. Joseph Mobutu, with sympathy by the West, then overthrew Lumumba, who was then murdered. Tshombe ruled for a short period until he, too, was overthrown by Mobutu. | ||
Revision as of 22:47, July 1, 2007
| Democratic Republic of the Congo | |
|---|---|
| Flag | |
| Capital | Kinshasha |
| Government | Semi-Presidential Republic |
| Language | French (official) |
| President | Joseph Kabila |
| Prime minister | Antoine Gizenga |
| Area | 2,344,858 km² |
| Population 2007 estimate | 63,655,000 |
| GDP per capita | $774 |
| Currency | Franc Congolais (CDF) |
| International dialing code | +243 |
| Internet top-level domain | .cd |
Belgium held the Congo as an African colony for mining copper and producing rubber. When Belgium granted Congo its independence in 1960 and Patrice Lumumba was sworn in its its first prime minister, the young nation was unprepared. Moise Tshombe, a leader of southeast region that had the copper mines, announced its separate independence. Tshombe was backed by Belgians interested in the copper, while Lumumba was supported by the communist Soviet Union. Joseph Mobutu, with sympathy by the West, then overthrew Lumumba, who was then murdered. Tshombe ruled for a short period until he, too, was overthrown by Mobutu.
Mobutu renamed the nation Zaire, and ruled it for 32 years. He personally accumulated enormous wealth from the nation, until he was deposed (overthrown) by Laurent Kabila in 1997. Kabila then changed the nation's name to the Democratic Republic of Congo. The neighboring countries of Rwanda and Uganda supported an insurrection in 1998, and a civil war resulted between the pro-Kabila Hutu and the anti-Kabila Tutsi ethnic groups. As more African nations became involved in this conflict in Central Africa, it began to look like the first all-African war. The United Nations sent peacekeeping troops in February 2000 and a cease-fire was declared later that year.