The Democratic Republic of Congo, once called Zaire, is a vast and diverse nation marked by a tumultuous political past, currently grappling with ongoing conflict in its eastern regions.
Below are five insights about this nation in Central Africa:
Size of a continent
The DRC covers an expanse of 2.34 million square kilometers (equivalent to 904,000 square miles), approximately comparable to the landmass of continental western Europe.
Ranked as the second-largest country in Africa by land area, it stands as the continent’s fourth most populous nation, estimated to house around 100 million people.
Approximately 250 distinct ethnic groups inhabit the DRC, conversing in a multitude of languages that number in the hundreds.
The official language of the country is French, while local languages like Kikongo, Lingala, Tshiluba, and Swahili hold official recognition as well.
Despite its vast size and diversity, including the attempted secession of the former province of Katanga in the 1960s, a strong sense of national unity prevails within the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Extreme poverty yet country super-rich in minerals
The Democratic Republic of Congo is rich in minerals and precious stones, boasting an abundance of resources such as gold, diamonds, coltan, tin, copper, and cobalt.
Home to the Congo River, the second-largest in Africa following the Nile, the DRC possesses vast hydroelectric potential and approximately 80 million hectares (197 million acres) of fertile arable land.
However, due to decades of war, corruption, and chronic mismanagement, only a fraction of the country’s immense wealth reaches the general population.
According to the World Bank, approximately two-thirds of the Congolese population live on less than $2.15 a day, struggling to meet their daily needs.
Turbulent and polarized
The Democratic Republic of Congo has a tumultuous political history, marked by the violent overthrow of two governments – first in 1965 and then again in 1997.
The Democratic Republic of Congo has seen the assassination of two of its leaders: Patrice Lumumba in 1961 and Laurent-Désiré Kabila in 2001.
Frequently, elections in the Democratic Republic of Congo are marred by violence. The 2018 vote that ushered in incumbent President Felix Tshisekedi signified the first peaceful transition of power in Congolese history, albeit amidst fervent disputes over the results.
As per the interior ministry, there are 910 officially registered political parties in the country.
War
The DRC endured two significant wars in its recent history. The First Congo War, spanning from 1996 to 1997, resulted in the overthrow of the former dictator Mobutu Sese Seko.
The Second Congo War, spanning from 1998 to 2003, involved nine African states and witnessed the emergence of numerous militia groups across the region.
While much of the DRC has experienced a semblance of stability, its mineral-rich eastern region, which shares borders with Uganda, Rwanda, and Burundi, continues to grapple with the presence of armed groups and enduring violence, stemming from the legacy of recent regional conflicts.
Rumba, survival
The people of Congo are celebrated for their resilience and ability to maintain a sense of humor amidst challenging circumstances.
There’s a common jest among many referencing “Article 15” of the constitution, humorously suggesting that it advises citizens to resolve matters on their own.
Music holds a significant place in the country’s culture. In December 2021, UNESCO recognized Congolese rumba as intangible cultural heritage of humanity.
Congo is renowned for its sapeurs, individuals celebrated for their ultra-elegant attire and remarkable sense of style.