Congo, Democratic Republic of the |

Congo, Democratic Republic of the

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Capital: Kinshasa

Location:

Central Africa, northeast of Angola (slightly less than one-fourth the size of the US)

Registration Embassy and Consulate:

The U.S. Embassy in Brazzaville suspended operations at the time of the outbreak of the 1997 civil war and has not re-opened. A U.S. Ambassador is accredited to the Government of the Republic of the Congo and together with a small staff which operates from the Brazzaville U.S. Embassy Office, located in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo. This office may, in some circumstances, be able to provide emergency U.S. citizen services. U.S. citizens living in or visiting the Republic of the Congo are encouraged to register with the Brazzaville U.S. Embassy Office or the Consular Section, both located at the U.S. Embassy in Kinshasa at 310 Avenue des Aviateurs. The telephone number is 243-88-43608, and the mailing address from the U.S. is Brazzaville Embassy Office, American Embassy Kinshasa, Unit 31550, APO AE, 09828.

Background:

Since 1994 the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DROC; formerly called Zaire) has been rent by ethnic strife and civil war, touched off by a massive inflow of refugees from the fighting in Rwanda and Burundi. The government of former president MOBUTU Sese Seko was toppled by a rebellion led by Laurent KABILA in May 1997; his regime was subsequently challenged by a Rwanda- and Uganda-backed rebellion in August 1998. Troops from Zimbabwe, Angola, Namibia, Chad, and Sudan intervened to support the Kinshasa regime. A cease-fire was signed on 10 July 1999, but sporadic fighting continued. KABILA was assassinated in January 2001 and his son Joseph KABILA was named head of state. The new president quickly began overtures to end the war.

Ethnic Groups:

Over 200 African ethnic groups of which the majority are Bantu; the four largest tribes - Mongo, Luba, Kongo (all Bantu), and the Mangbetu-Azande (Hamitic) make up about 45% of the population

Language:

French (official), Lingala (a lingua franca trade language), Kingwana (a dialect of Kiswahili or Swahili), Kikongo, Tshiluba

Currency:

CDF Congolese franc (CDF) Congolese francs per US dollar - 50 (January 2001), 4.5 (January 2000), 4.02 (1999), 1.61 (1998), 1.31 (1997), 0.50 (1996) note: on 30 June 1998 the Congolese franc was introduced, replacing the new zaire

Climate:

Tropical; hot and humid in equatorial river basin; cooler and drier in southern highlands; cooler and wetter in eastern highlands; north of Equator - wet season April to October, dry season December to February; south of Equator - wet season November to March, dry season April to October

Population:

53,624,718 note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, lower population and growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2001 est.)

Religion:

Roman Catholic 50%, Protestant 20%, Kimbanguist 10%, Muslim 10%, other syncretic sects and indigenous beliefs 10%

Medical:

Medical facilities were limited before the civil wars and have worsened as a consequence of the fighting. Some medicine is in short supply, particularly outside the larger cities. Travelers should carry their own supplies of prescription drugs and preventive medicines. The Department of State strongly urges Americans to consult with their medical insurance company prior to traveling abroad to confirm whether their policy applies overseas and whether it will cover emergency expenses such as a medical evacuation. U.S. medical insurance plans seldom cover health costs incurred outside the United States unless supplemental coverage is purchased. Further, U.S. Medicare and Medicaid programs do not provide payment for medical services outside the United States. However, many travel agents and private companies offer insurance plans that will cover health care expenses incurred overseas including emergency services such as medical evacuations.

Safety:

Brazzaville and Pointe Noire, the second-largest city, are typical small central African cities. As result of 1997-1999 civil wars, there is evidence of extensive damage to the infrastructure in Brazzaville and in the southern part of the country. Disorganized bands of armed former militiamen remain in some areas in the southwest of the country but there have been no hostilities since peace accords were signed at the end of 1999. The war in neighboring Democratic Republic of the Congo has led to insecurity in border areas in northern Republic of Congo along the Ubangui river. Travel to these regions is not recommended. Night travel outside of Brazzaville and Pointe Noire should be avoided.

Traffic Safety:

While in a foreign country, U.S. citizens may encounter road conditions that differ significantly from those in the United States. The information below concerning the Republic of Congo is provided for general reference only and may not be totally accurate in a particular location or circumstance.

Safety of Public Transportation:

Poor

Urban Road Conditions/Maintenance:

Fair

Rural Road Conditions/Maintenance: