Congo

The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is the second-largest country in Africa and the largest in Sub-Saharan Africa, situated at the very heart of the continent. Rich in natural resources and biodiversity, it straddles the equator and encompasses the vast Congo River Basin, one of the most ecologically diverse regions on Earth. Despite immense mineral wealth, the DRC’s history has been marred by colonial exploitation, dictatorship, and prolonged conflict. In recent decades, however, the nation has pursued gradual progress toward stability, democratic governance, and economic recovery.

Historical Background

Human settlement in the Congo Basin dates back thousands of years, with successive waves of Bantu and Sudanic peoples establishing agricultural and trading societies between 2000 B.C. and A.D. 500. By the 14th century, centralised kingdoms had formed, notably the Kingdom of Kongo along the Atlantic coast and the inland Luba and Lunda empires, which thrived on regional trade in salt, iron, and ivory.
European colonisation transformed the region in the late 19th century. Following the Berlin Conference (1884–1885), King Leopold II of Belgium claimed the territory as his personal possession, naming it the Congo Free State. Under Leopold’s rule, widespread atrocities occurred as the population was forced into rubber and ivory extraction, leading to millions of deaths through violence, famine, and disease. International condemnation compelled Belgium to annex the colony in 1908, renaming it the Belgian Congo.
The country gained independence on 30 June 1960 as the Republic of the Congo (Léopoldville). However, instability quickly followed: the army mutinied, provinces seceded, and Cold War rivalries deepened internal divisions. In 1965, Colonel Joseph-Désiré Mobutu seized power, ruling for 32 years under the name Mobutu Sese Seko. Renaming the nation Zaire (1971), his regime combined authoritarianism, kleptocracy, and personality cult, leaving behind a legacy of economic decay.
Mobutu’s fall in 1997 came amid regional upheaval. Rebel forces led by Laurent-Désiré Kabila, backed by Rwanda and Uganda, toppled the dictatorship and restored the country’s name to the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Yet conflict reignited in 1998, drawing in multiple African states in what became known as “Africa’s World War.” By its end in 2003, an estimated five million people had died from violence and disease.
Laurent Kabila’s assassination in 2001 brought his son, Joseph Kabila, to power. He negotiated peace accords and oversaw the country’s first democratic elections in 2006, followed by a contested re-election in 2011. In 2018, Félix Tshisekedi won the presidency, marking the DRC’s first peaceful transfer of power since independence. Re-elected in 2023, Tshisekedi’s government continues to face instability in the eastern provinces, where over 100 armed groups—including M23, ADF, and FDLR—operate. The UN peacekeeping mission (MONUSCO), deployed since 1999, remains integral to civilian protection and conflict mediation.

Geography and Environment

Covering 2,344,858 square kilometres, the DRC is roughly one-quarter the size of the United States. It borders nine countries—Angola, Zambia, Tanzania, Burundi, Rwanda, Uganda, South Sudan, the Central African Republic, and the Republic of the Congo—and has a 37-kilometre Atlantic coastline at Banana.
The country’s geography centres on a vast tropical basin surrounded by mountains and plateaus, with the Congo River, the world’s deepest river (over 220 metres), serving as a crucial transportation and energy source.

• Climate: Tropical and humid in the central basin; cooler in highlands.
• Highest point: Pic Marguerite (Mount Stanley), 5,110 metres.
• Natural resources: Cobalt, copper, gold, diamonds, coltan, tin, timber, and vast hydropower reserves.

The DRC is home to over half of Africa’s rainforests, with 54.7% forest cover forming part of the Congo Rainforest, a key global carbon sink. Environmental threats include deforestation, illegal mining, poaching, and pollution.
Natural hazards are recurrent: the Nyiragongo and Nyamuragira volcanoes near Goma are among Africa’s most active, while periodic floods and droughts disrupt agriculture and displace communities.

People and Society

As of 2024, the DRC’s population is estimated at 115.4 million, making it Africa’s fourth most populous nation. The population is young, with a median age of 16.9 years, and is growing rapidly at 3.1% annually.
The country is ethnically diverse, comprising more than 200 ethnic groups, most of which are Bantu-speaking. The largest communities include the Mongo, Luba, Kongo, and Mangbetu-Azande.
Languages:

• Official: French
• National languages: Lingala, Swahili (Kingwana), Kikongo, and Tshiluba

Religious composition:

• Christian: 93% (Roman Catholic, Protestant, and Kimbanguist)
• Muslim: 1.3%
• Traditional and syncretic: 1.2%
• None: 1.3%

Health indicators (2024):

• Life expectancy: 62.6 years
• Maternal mortality: 427 deaths per 100,000 live births
• Infant mortality: 57 per 1,000 live births
• Access to clean water: 35%
• Access to sanitation: 33.7%

The country’s literacy rate stands at 73.6%, with significant gender disparity (men 87.5%, women 61.6%). Education expenditure is 2.8% of GDP, and nearly 46% of the population is under 15, underscoring the need for expanded schooling and employment opportunities.

Government and Politics

Officially titled the République Démocratique du Congo (RDC), the state operates as a semi-presidential republic under the 2006 Constitution, guaranteeing multiparty democracy and human rights.

• President: Félix Tshisekedi (re-elected 2024)
• Prime Minister: Judith Suminwa Tuluka (since 2024, first woman in the role)
• Capital: Kinshasa (population 16.3 million)

Administrative divisions: 26 provinces, including Kinshasa, Haut-Katanga, Nord-Kivu, and Ituri.
Legislature: Bicameral Parliament

• National Assembly: 500 directly elected members (12.8% women)
• Senate: 109 indirectly elected members (15.8% women)

The judiciary blends Belgian civil law with customary practices, headed by the Court of Cassation and the Constitutional Court.
Major political parties include the Union for Democracy and Social Progress (UDPS), Union for the Congolese Nation (UNC), People’s Party for Reconstruction and Democracy (PPRD), and Ensemble pour la République. Governance faces challenges from corruption, weak institutions, and ongoing insecurity, though electoral reforms and civic engagement signal gradual democratic consolidation.

Economy

The DRC is one of the world’s most resource-endowed yet economically disadvantaged nations.
Key indicators (2024):

• GDP (PPP): $164.4 billion
• GDP per capita (PPP): $1,500
• Growth rate: 6.7%
• Public debt: 16% of GDP
• Poverty rate: 56%

Sectoral composition:

• Agriculture: 17.1%
• Industry: 46.6%
• Services: 33%

The mining sector dominates the economy, producing copper, cobalt, gold, diamonds, coltan, and zinc. The DRC supplies around 70% of global cobalt output, crucial for electric vehicle and battery industries.
Trade profile:

• Main export partners: China (69%), UAE (7%), India (3%), Spain (3%), Egypt (3%)
• Key exports: Refined copper, cobalt, gold, crude oil
• Imports: Machinery, petroleum, vehicles, plastics

Despite rapid GDP growth, wealth remains unevenly distributed. Infrastructure gaps, corruption, and insecurity hinder diversification beyond mining.

Infrastructure and Energy

Electricity access: 21.5% (urban 45%, rural 1%)Generation capacity: 3.2 million kWEnergy mix: 86% hydroelectric, 13.8% solar
The Inga Dam, among the world’s largest hydroelectric facilities, represents vast untapped potential for regional power exports.
Transport:

• Railways: 4,007 km
• Airports: 273
• Seaports: Matadi, Boma, and Banana

Digital connectivity remains limited, with 31% internet penetration and 50 mobile subscriptions per 100 people, though mobile banking and telecommunications are expanding.

Military and Security

The Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (FARDC) comprise the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Republican Guard, numbering between 100,000 and 150,000 personnel.
Military expenditure: 1.2% of GDP (2024)
The FARDC focuses on combating internal insurgencies, particularly in North Kivu, Ituri, and South Kivu. Despite progress, issues of poor discipline and corruption persist. The MONUSCO mission, with around 14,000 personnel, continues to support peacekeeping and civilian protection, though discussions on its phased withdrawal are ongoing.

Culture and Heritage

Congolese culture is renowned for its artistic vitality, particularly in music, dance, and oral traditions. The DRC is the birthplace of Congolese rumba, soukou, and ndombolo, influential genres across Africa and the diaspora.
Languages of expression: French and Lingala dominate the media; Swahili unites the eastern provinces.
National symbols: The leopard, the sky-blue flag with a yellow star, and the anthem “Debout Congolaise” (Arise, Congolese) embody unity and resilience.
The DRC hosts five UNESCO World Heritage Sites, including Virunga, Garamba, and Salonga National Parks, which shelter rare species such as mountain gorillas and okapis.

International Relations

The DRC plays a pivotal role in Central and Southern African geopolitics, participating actively in the African Union (AU), Southern African Development Community (SADC), COMESA, and the United Nations (UN).
It maintains close partnerships with China, its dominant trading partner, as well as France, Belgium, and the United States. Regional diplomacy prioritises stability in the Great Lakes region through cooperation with Rwanda, Uganda, and Angola.