Republic of the Congo

From Wikinfo

The Republic of the Congo, also known as Middle Congo, Congo/Brazzaville, and Congo (but not to be confused with its larger neighbor to the east, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, formerly Zaire), is a former French colony of west-central Africa. 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.

R�publique du Congo

File:Congo republic flag medium.png	File:Congocofarms2.png
(In detail)	(Full size)

National motto: Xxxxx

File:LocationRCongo.png

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

(optionally) Largest City

Xxxxx

President

Denis Sassou-Nguesso

Area
- Total
- % water

Ranked 62nd
[[1 E11 m�|342,000 km�]]
3.3%

Population
- Total (2003)
- Density

Ranked 131st

2,954,258
8.6/km�

Independence

- Declared

- Recognised

(from France)

15 August 1960
(Year)

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]

(Subdivisions)

Main article: (Subdivisions) 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; the interior of the country consists of a central plateau between two basins to the south and north.

File:Congo republic sm03.jpg

Map of 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 oil, support services, and a government characterized by budget problems and overstaffing. Oil 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 oil earnings, contributing to a shortage of revenues. The 12 January 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. Denis SASSOU-NGUESSO, who returned to power when the war ended in October 1997, 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.