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The Republic of the Congo, also known as Middle Congo, Congo-Brazzaville,
and Congo (but not to be confused with the Democratic Republic of the Congo, formerly Zaire, which was also at one time known as the
Republic of the Congo), is a former French colony of west-central Africa. It borders on Gabon, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Gulf of Guinea. Upon independence in 1960, the former French region of
Middle Congo became the Republic of the Congo. A quarter century of experimentation with Marxism was abandoned in 1990 and a democratically elected government installed in 1992. A brief civil war in 1997 restored former Marxist President Denis Sassou-Nguesso. The capital is Brazzaville.
République du Congo
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National motto: Unite, Travail, Progres
(French: Unity, Work, Progress) |
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| Official language |
French (official), Lingala and Monokutuba (lingua franca trade languages), many local languages and dialects (of which
Kikongo has the most users) |
| Capital |
Brazzaville |
| Capital's coordinates |
4° 14' S, 15° 14' E |
| President |
Denis Sassou-Nguesso |
Area
- Total
- % water |
Ranked 62nd
342,000 km²
3.3% |
Population
- Total (2003)
- Density |
Ranked 131st
2,954,258
8.6/km²
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| Independence
- Declared
- Recognised |
(from France)
15 August 1960
(Year)
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| Currency |
CFA franc (XAF) |
| Time zone |
UTC +1 (DST, yes or not) |
| National anthem |
La Congolaise |
| Internet TLD |
.CG |
| Calling Code |
242 |
History
Main article: History of
the Republic of the Congo
Politics
Main article: Politics
of the Republic of the Congo
The most important of the many parties are the Democratic and Patriotic Forces or FDP (an alliance of Convention for
Alternative Democracy, Congolese Labor Party or PCT,
Liberal Republican Party, National Union for Democracy and Progress, Patriotic Union for the National Reconstruction, and Union
for the National Renewal) [Denis SASSOU-NGUESSO, president]; Congolese Movement for Democracy and Integral Development or MCDDI
[Michel MAMPOUYA]; Pan-African Union for Social Development or UPADS [Martin MBERI]; Rally for
Democracy and Social Progress or RDPS [Jean-Pierre Thystere TCHICAYA, president]; Rally for Democracy and the Republic or RDR
[Raymond Damasge NGOLLO]; Union for Democracy and Republic or UDR [leader NA]; Union of Democratic Forces or UFD [Sebastian
EBAO]
Regions
Main article: Regions of
the Republic of the Congo
9 regions (regions, singular - region) and 1 commune*; Bouenza, Brazzaville*, Cuvette, Kouilou, Lekoumou, Likouala, Niari, Plateaux, Pool, Sangha
Geography
Main article: Geography of the Republic of the Congo
Congo is located in the central-western part of sub-Saharan
Africa, straddling the Equator. To the south and east it is bounded by the
Congo River and its tributary the Ubangi River, across which is the larger Democratic Republic of the Congo. It is also bounded by Gabon to the west, Cameroon and the Central African Republic to the north, and Cabinda (Angola) to the southwest. It has a short
Atlantic coast.
Its capital, Brazzaville, is located on the Congo River,in the south of
the country, immediately across from Kinshasa, the capital of the DR Congo.
The southwest of the country is a coastal plain for which the primary drainage is the Kouilou-Niari River; the interior of the country consists of a central plateau between two basins
to the south and north. Below is a map of the Republic of the Congo.
Economy
Main article: Economy of
the Republic of the Congo
The economy is a mixture of village agriculture and handicrafts, an industrial sector based largely on petroleum, support services, and a government characterized by budget problems and
overstaffing. Petroleum extraction has supplanted forestry as the mainstay of the
economy, providing a major share of government revenues and exports. In the early 1980s, rapidly rising oil revenues enabled the
government to finance large-scale development projects with GDP growth averaging 5% annually, one of the highest rates in Africa.
The government has mortgaged a substantial portion of its petroleum earnings, contributing to a shortage of revenues. The
January 12, 1994 devaluation of Franc Zone currencies by 50% resulted in
inflation of 61% in 1994, but inflation has subsided since. Economic reform efforts continued with the support of international
organizations, notably the World Bank and the IMF. The reform program came to a halt in June 1997 when civil war erupted. When
Sassou-Nguesso returned to power at the war ended in October 1997, he publicly expressed interest in moving forward on economic
reforms and privatization and in renewing cooperation with international financial institutions. However, economic progress was
badly hurt by slumping oil prices and the resumption of armed conflict in December 1998,
which worsened the republic's budget deficit. The current administration presides over an uneasy internal peace and faces
difficult economic problems of stimulating recovery and reducing poverty.
Demographics
Main article: Demographics of the Republic of the Congo
Culture
Main article: Culture of the Republic of the Congo
See also:
- Music of the Republic of the Congo
- List of writers from the Republic of the Congo
- Public holidays in the Republic of the Congo
Miscellaneous topics
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