Population of Dr. Congo. Democratic Republic of the Congo. Population, economy, culture and religion

After all, it is the most full-flowing. In addition, it gave its name to two countries located on its shores, which is why these two republics are even confused.

One of these countries is the Republic of the Congo, which is smaller and located to the west, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo has a huge area and is located in the middle.

The first of the republics was previously called Middle Congo, while it was a French colony. After liberation from foreign rule, it was called the People's Republic of the Congo.

The location is elongated, almost from north to south, along the Congo River. Accordingly, most lands are represented by accumulative plains, characteristic of the local depression. There are also many swamps and various rivers, which are tributaries of the Congo and others:

• Ubangi;
• Neary;
• Quim.

Therefore, local shipping routes are huge, but they are often problematic due to swampiness, and this is also hampered by waterfalls and rapids.

The climate here, as throughout the Central Region, is equatorial. In the southern part the situation is as follows:

• driest - June-September, 21 degrees Celsius;
• the most humid is March-April, 30 degrees.

In the center, the climatic features are different - it is hottest in January, and humid in July. In the north, the Republic of Congo is as humid and hot as possible.

In this republic, the majority of those fellow citizens who want to live in a city rather than a village come here. Also major cities are:

• Lubomo;
• Pointe-Noire.

At the same time, the data settlements characterized by high unemployment rates. And yet this country has features that are distinctive from other states in the region:

• education level of adult citizens is about 63%;
• a large number of hired workers;
• influence and organization of trade unions.

The second republic called Congo has the prefix “Democratic”. During the period of colonization, it was subject to Belgium, then gained independence and became known as the Republic of Zaire. It acquired its modern name in 1997.

This republic has one of the largest African cities on the mainland. It attracts with its many faces and heterogeneity, but many are scared off by the poverty that exists over a large territory.

And the whole country is practically the poorest on the planet, and this despite the presence of the largest reserves of important natural resources:

• diamonds;
• cobalt;
• germanium;
• Uranus;
• copper;
• tin;
• tantalum;
• oil;
• silver;
• gold.

In addition to these deposits, there are other reserves, as well as a lot of forest resources and hydropower.

In many ways, long civil wars had a negative impact on the economy; after 2002, the situation began to improve, only slowly and irregularly.

The Democratic Republic of the Congo has significant lands, but most of them are still undeveloped, due to the peculiarities of the climate - heat and humidity. However, thanks to this, the local nature has been preserved in an often untouched form.

The landscapes here are mostly flat, with hills and mountains on the outskirts. The east of the country is rich in volcanoes, some of which are active and frozen. The territory is also rich in rivers and lakes, and there are also picturesque waterfalls.

Such evergreen landscapes definitely attract tourists, but more interesting are the animals that live in these conditions. Their number is huge, here you can find typical African inhabitants:

• lions;
• antelope;
• giraffes;
• turtles;
• hyenas;
• zebras;
• crocodiles;
• hippos;
• lemurs.

Okapi are especially distinguished, as this species is beautiful and unusual.

There are also a large number of birds, fish and insects:

• ostriches;
• flamingo;
• bustards;
• perches;
• pike;
• termites;
• tsetse fly;
• bees;
• malaria mosquitoes.

A visit to this republic will definitely become a landmark, because here you can experience the essence of the entire nature of Central Africa, observing its inhabitants in their natural environment.

The number of citizens of the Democratic Republic of the Congo is increasing rapidly, as the birth rate is higher than the death rate. However, rarely does anyone live to old age (at least 60 years), and this is largely due to the difficult climate for living.

About a third of the population is urban; most often they prefer to go to Kinshasa. The country has many nationalities, each of which can speak their own language, but almost everyone understands French, which is a relic from the colonial period.

Although the country has rich mineral deposits, the mining industry is unable to operate at full capacity due to the crisis. Therefore, the economy is maintained at its current level thanks to agriculture. The following crops are grown in large quantities:

• cocoa;
• coffee;
• rubber;
• peanut;
• cotton;
• bananas.

These goods, as well as natural resources, are exported to different countries on all continents.

Capital: Kinshasa

Total area: 2.34 million sq. km

Population: 55.85 million people

State system: republic

Head of State: the president

Religion: Christians - 50%, adherents of local beliefs - 40%, Muslims - 3%.

Official language: French

Currency unit: Congolese franc

Geography

The Democratic Republic of the Congo is the largest country by area in central Africa and the third largest country on the continent. Total area - 2.3 million square meters. km. Most of the country's territory lies in the Congo River Basin. It borders on Congo in the northwest, Sudan and the Central African Republic in the north, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi and Tanzania in the east, Zambia in the south, and Angola in the south and west.

In the far west, DR Congo has access to the Atlantic Ocean on a very short stretch of coastline (40 km) between Angola and Congo. In the east of the country, mountainous terrain predominates - the Rwenzori massif and the volcanic Virunga Mountains (height up to 4507 m), with active volcanoes. The highest point is Margherita Peak (5,109 m). The west and south are predominantly plains, covered with moist equatorial forests and secondary savannas in the west, and dry tropical woodlands in the south and southeast.

Climate

Mostly equatorial, constantly humid. In the southern half and on the northern outskirts - subequatorial. Average air temperatures range from +25 C to +28 C, daily differences reach 10-15 C. Two rainy and two dry seasons: “small” dry season - January-March, “small” rainy season - April-May, winter dry season - June-August, rainy season - September-December.

Precipitation in the equatorial zone is 1700-2200 mm. per year, especially heavy rains occur from April to May and from September to November. Equatorial showers during these months are strong, but short-lived (usually in the afternoon). Further from the equator (to the south and north), dry periods are more pronounced: in the north - from March to November, in the south - from October–November to March–April. There is less precipitation - up to 1200 mm. In the mountains it is cooler and there is more precipitation - up to 2500 mm. in year.

Currency

The monetary unit since 1993 is the new zaire (exchange rate: 1 US dollar is equal to approximately 115 thousand new zaires). A new national currency, the Congolese franc, comes into circulation. Currency exchange for local money is possible freely both in banks, specialized exchange offices and hotels, and on the “black” market (rate difference is 1-2%).

Banks are open from 10.00 to 16.00 from Monday to Friday, from 8.30 to 11.00 on Saturday. Credit cards Visa, MasterCard, Access, American Express, Diners Club and traveler's checks are accepted for payment in most hotels, shops and restaurants in the capital, but using them in other cities causes a lot of difficulties. Tips are 10% in restaurants (in cafes and street bars they are practically not used, but rewarding staff other than the bill is not prohibited).

Attractions

Almost 15% of the territory is occupied by nature reserves and national parks - Virunga, Upemba, Garamba, Kahuzi-Biega, Northern Salonge and South Salonge, etc. The country's humid climate supports the life of dense jungles - the last vast tropical forests in the world, inhabited by a variety of wild animals. Only in Zaire, for example, are there okapi - small forest animals of the giraffe family, which have become the national symbol of the country. The savannas of the south of the country are home to lions, leopards and antelopes.

The main attraction of the country is the Congo River. Although the river has been officially called the Zaire since 1971, its wild appearance is inextricably linked to a mysterious history during which it was known as the Congo, a Portuguese-corrupted West African word meaning "the river that swallowed all rivers." On the banks of this fantastic river, you really feel awe at the power of nature: more than 4370 km. in length, with a pool area of ​​3.9 million square meters. km., it is second only to the Amazon in water consumption, pouring almost 42.5 thousand cubic meters into the Atlantic Ocean. m of water per second.

The equatorial tropical rainforest contains some of the densest and most impenetrable thickets in the world: oak, mahogany, hevea and ebony exceed 60 m in height and eternal twilight reigns under the interlacing of their crowns. Beneath this colossal canopy is a veritable hell with extremely dense thickets, stifling humid heat, dangerous animals - crocodiles, pythons, cobras, hairy forest pigs and poisonous spiders - and debilitating, including even fatal diseases - malaria, schistosamosis and others.

And finally, the most mysterious labyrinth lies between the river and the fabulous Mountains of the Moon - the Rwenzori Range, which serves as the eastern watershed of Zaire. At the northeastern end of the grand river arc lies Stanley Falls, a series of waterfalls and rapids that carry the river for about 100 km. descends to a height of 457 m.

This is followed by a 1,609 km long navigable section that passes into Malebo Pool (once Stanley Pool) - an area over 20 km wide that separates Kinshasa, the capital of Zaire, and Brazzaville, the capital of Congo. Beyond Malebo Pool are Livingstone Falls, a 354-kilometer stretch of river that includes a series of rapids and 32 spectacular waterfalls, the last of which (the Devil's Cauldron) the river bursts out of the Crystal Mountains and drops to sea level.

Large lakes - Mobutu-Sese-Seko, Eduard, Kivu, Tanganyika, Mweru and numerous rivers of the country - Aruvimi, Ubangi, Lomami, Kasai, etc. are excellent fishing regions, and with the appropriate experience and equipment they can provide an unforgettable experience for lovers of rafting or historical travels - the route in the footsteps of Henry Morton Stanley, which was previously in great demand among foreign tourists, is again available for passage, although it is considered an extremely risky undertaking.

Entry rules

Visa regime. A visa can be obtained from the country's embassy or at a border checkpoint. The minimum period for obtaining a visa at the embassy is 15 days. Required documents: 3 questionnaires in French, 3 photographs, passport, invitation and certificate of vaccination against yellow fever. The entry visa is valid for 30 days. Consular fee - USD 50. Visa-free transit is not permitted. Children under 16 years old are included in the visa of their parents (mother). Visas are issued locally with great difficulty upon special application to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Customs regulations

Export local currency prohibited, import and export of foreign currency is not limited. You can import duty-free cigarettes - up to 100 pcs., or cigars - 50 pcs., or tobacco - up to 0.5 kg., alcoholic beverages - 1 bottle, perfumes and cosmetics - within the limits of personal needs, camera. Radio equipment is subject to duty.

Currently, due to the lack of new customs law and rates customs duties There are no clear rules.

Customs officers during inspection are guided by the principle of “reasonable quantity”. The import of mercury, radioactive materials, narcotic drugs, the import of weapons and military uniforms is prohibited - only with a special permit. The export of gold bullion, rough diamonds, raw ivory, and rare animals is prohibited.

CONGO (Congo), Democratic Republic of the Congo (République Democratic du Congo).

General information

Congo is a state in Central Africa. In the west it has access to the Atlantic Ocean (the length of the coastline is 37 km).

It borders on the north with the Central African Republic and Sudan, on the east on Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi and Tanzania, on the south on Zambia and Angola, on the west on the Republic of Congo. Area 2344.8 thousand km 2 (3rd place in Africa after Sudan and Algeria). Population 64.1 million (2008). The capital is Kinshasa. The official language is French; national languages ​​- Kikongo (Congo), Lingala, Swahili, Chiluba (Luba). The monetary unit is the Congolese franc. Administrative division: 11 provinces (table).

Congo is a member of the UN (1960), AU (1963; until 2002 - OAU), IMF (1963), IBRD (1963), WTO (1997).

N.V. Vinogradova.

Political system

Congo is a unitary state. The Constitution was adopted by referendum on December 18-19, 2005. The form of government is a presidential republic.

The head of state is the president, elected by universal secret ballot for a term of 5 years (with the right to one re-election). A Congolese by birth who has reached the age of 30 and has full civil and political rights can be elected president. The President leads the armed forces and heads the government.

The highest legislative body is the bicameral parliament. The lower house is the National Assembly (500 deputies elected by universal suffrage). The upper house is the Senate (108 seats, senators are nominated by the provinces). The term of office of the Senate and National Assembly is 5 years.

Executive power is exercised by the president and the government headed by the prime minister. The Prime Minister (with the approval of a majority of members of Parliament) and ministers are appointed by the President.

Congo has a multi-party system. The leading political parties are the People's Party for Reconstruction and Democracy, the United Lumumbian Party.

Nature

Relief. The central and western parts of the territory are located within the closed inland Congo Basin and the surrounding marginal uplifts. From south to north, and below the city of Kisangani - from east to west, the entire territory of the country is crossed by the Congo River (in the upper reaches - Lualaba). In the middle reaches of the Congo River there are ancient lacustrine-alluvial plains (300-380 m), clearly differentiated by height. The lower level plains (300-310 m) - the lowest areas of the country - have a minimal elevation above the floodplain of the river and its main tributaries, are regularly flooded and are mostly swampy. The plains of the upper level are separated from them by a sharp ledge, when cut through by rivers forming a series of rapids and waterfalls. In general, from the center to the periphery of the Congo Basin, the height of the plains increases. The marginal parts of the depression are occupied by table plateaus 500-600 m high; in the southern part of the country, their heights exceed 1200 m. In the west, the Congo Basin is separated from a narrow strip of the coastal lowland of the Atlantic Ocean by a series of structural-denudation plateaus (Crystal Mountains, Mayombe Mountains), rising from north to south. Cutting through them, the Congo River forms a series of Livingston Falls. On far north in the south of the Congo, basement plains are widespread, in the north forming the southern slope of the Azande plateau; in the south - the Lunda plateau (region of the Congo-Zambezi watershed). In the southeastern part of the Congo there are block and folded-block mountains of Mitumba, sandstone plateaus of Kundelungu and Manika, separated by wide tectonic depressions.

The eastern outskirts of the country, covering the marginal zone of the East African Plateau, have the most elevated and dissected relief. The East African Rift System stretches along the eastern border of the country. The marginal parts of the system are represented by mountain ranges with a height of 2000-3000 m (mountains Mitumba, Ugoma); The Rwenzori horst massif reaches its greatest height (5109 m - Margherita Peak, the highest point of the Congo). There are active volcanoes in the Virunga Mountains: Nyamlaghira and Nyiragongo. The bottoms of the grabens are occupied by large tectonic lakes (Albert, Edward, Kivu, Tanganyika, Mweru, etc.).

Geological structure and minerals. The territory of the Congo occupies a vast part of the Precambrian African platform. It almost completely covers the Archean craton of the Congo (Central African), as well as fragments of the Late Proterozoic folded structures framing it: the Kibar belt (stabilization age 1.2-1.0 billion years) in the east, the Katanga system in the southeast and the Western Congo system in the west (0.65 billion years). In the extreme southeast is the tip of the Early Proterozoic Bangweulu Craton. In the rear of the Western Congo system there is a block of Early Proterozoic and Archean rocks. The basement of the Congo Craton surfaces in two uplifts in the northeast and central part of the country, separated by the Congo syneclise; formed by a migmatite-granulite-gneiss complex, amphibolites, quartzites and metamorphosed volcanic-sedimentary strata of the Upper Archean. In the southern part of the country, the basement rocks are intruded by a large gabbro-peridotite-anorthosite massif and granite intrusions of Early Proterozoic age. Deposits of iron and gold ores are associated with greenstone belts in the northeastern part of the craton. The most ancient deposits of the craton cover belong to the upper part of the Lower Proterozoic and Upper Proterozoic; they are exposed along the periphery of the Congo syneclise. Higher in the east lie continental coal-bearing and variegated deposits of the Upper Carboniferous - Lower Jurassic (Karoo complex), and in the north and west - terrigenous sediments of the Cretaceous. Continental Cenozoic deposits (Eocene - Pleistocene) are distributed both in the syneclise and along the periphery of the Kasai massif, in the northeastern part of which, as well as on the Kundelungu plateau in the southeast of the country, there are numerous pipes of diamondiferous kimberlites of Cretaceous age.

The Kibar fold belt is composed of an Upper Proterozoic quartzite-schist complex, including blocks of Archean and Proterozoic metamorphic rocks and intruded by Riphean granites (including tin-bearing ones), rare-metal pegmatites and gold-bearing quartz veins. The Katanga and Western Congo fold systems are formed by carbonate-terrigenous strata of the Middle and Upper Riphean with copper and copper-cobalt mineralization. In the far west of the country, on the coast, oil and gas bearing shallow-marine Cretaceous and Cenozoic deposits are widespread, including horizons of phosphorites and salt rocks (evaporites).

Along the eastern border of the Congo stretches the western branch of the East African rift system (grabens of lakes Albert, Edward, Kivu, Tanganyika), which is associated with centers of carbonatite, alkaline and alkali-basaltic volcanism of the late Cenozoic age (volcanic fields of Virunga, South Kivu). To the north of Lake Kivu are the active volcanoes Nyamlaghira and Nyiragongo, as well as the large fumarole field Mai-ya-moto.

Minerals. The country ranks 1st in the world in cobalt ore reserves (32.8% of world reserves, 2005). In Africa, Congo leads in reserves of tin and tungsten ores, ranks 2nd in reserves of copper and zinc ores, 3rd in tantalum ores, and 4th in diamonds (2005). The depths of the Congo contain large reserves of germanium ores. The most important mineral resources also include oil, natural gas, coal, gold and silver ores.

Large stratiform deposits of complex (copper-cobalt, copper-polymetallic) ores are localized in the southeast of Congo, in the Katanga province, where they form the Copper Belt of Central Africa (Musoshi, Ruashi, Tenke-Fungurume, etc. deposits). The ores contain significant quantities of germanium, silver, cadmium, gold, platinum, uranium, etc. (for example, the reserves of germanium in complex copper-zinc ores of the Kipushi deposit are the largest in the world). Important deposits of uranium ores are also located here (Shinkolobwe, Swambo). Tungsten and tin ore reserves are concentrated in hydrothermal (Kalima, Punia, etc.), rare metal pegmatite (Manono, Ezeze, etc.) and placer (Maniema mining district) deposits in the east of the country. In the east of the Congo there is the so-called rare metal heart of Africa - a concentration of complex rare metal pegmatite deposits with large reserves of beryllium, tantalum, niobium, lithium ores (Manono, Kobo-Kobo, Ezeze, Chonka, etc.), rare metal carbonatite deposits (Lueshe, Bingi) with significant reserves of niobium ores, as well as placer deposits of tantalonium bates (for example, the unique Idiba placer). Diamond reserves (mainly technical) are concentrated in primary and placer deposits (Bakwanga, Chimanga, Lubi, Kasai, etc.) in the provinces of Western Kasai and Eastern Kasai.

Small deposits of oil and natural combustible gas (Mibale, Mwambe, Motoba, etc.) are confined to a narrow coastal strip and shelf. The main deposits of hard coal are located in the province of Katanga within two coal basins - Lukuga (in the northeast of the province) and Luena-Lualaba (in the southern part). In the northeastern part of the Congo there are primary deposits of gold ores (Kilo, Moto ore districts, etc.), as well as deposits of iron ores (Ami, Kodo, Tina, etc.). The Kisenge manganese ore deposit (in the southern part) is significant in terms of reserves. In the west of the country there are deposits of bauxite in lateritic weathering crusts, as well as deposits of phosphorites. In many deposits of the Copper Belt of Central Africa, high-quality jewelry and ornamental malachite (the so-called azurmalachite), consisting of alternating layers of azurite and malachite, is found. There are also known deposits of asbestos, mica, barite, sulfur and natural building materials.

Climate. The territory of Congo lies within the equatorial and subequatorial climatic zones. The part of the country located between 3° north latitude and 3° south latitude is characterized by a constantly humid equatorial climate with two maximum precipitation (from March to May and from September to November). In the Congo Basin and the plateaus surrounding it, the average temperatures of the warmest month (March or April) are 26-27°C, the coldest month (July or August) is from 23 to 25°C; daily temperature amplitudes are greater than annual ones, but not higher than 10-15°C. The average annual precipitation is 1500-2000 mm.

In the southern part and in the far north of the Congo, the climate is subequatorial, with rainy summer and dry winter seasons; duration of the dry season northern border Congo does not exceed 2-3 months (December - February), in the south it reaches 5-7 months (from April - May to September - October). Annual temperature amplitudes are higher than in equatorial climates; daily amplitudes often exceed 20°C. Maximum temperatures are observed before the onset of the rainy season (up to 28°C in the north; up to 24°C in the south); In winter, average temperatures are around 24°C in the north and 18°C ​​in the south. As you move away from the equator, the average annual precipitation decreases: to 1300-1500 mm in the far north and to 1000-1200 mm in the far south.

In the mountainous regions of the eastern part of the Congo, annual temperature amplitudes are no higher than 1-2°C; At an altitude of 1500 m throughout the year, the average temperature is 20°C and there is high relative humidity. On the windward slopes of the mountains, up to 2500 mm of precipitation falls per year (on the slopes of the Rwenzori massif - up to 4000 mm).

Inland waters. The river network is very dense and full of water. Over 9/10 of the country's territory belongs to the Congo River basin; in the east - a small part of the territory belongs to the Nile River basin.

The largest rivers: Congo and its right (Lufira, Luvoa, Aruvimi, Itimbiri, Mongala, Ubangi) and left (Lomami, Lulonga, Ruki, Kwa) tributaries. In the east, partly within the country, there are large lakes: Albert, Edward, Kivu, Tanganyika, Mweru. In the Congo Basin there are large shallow lakes Mai Ndombe and Tumba.

Annually renewable water resources amount to 900 km/year (25% of all African resources). In terms of water availability (1283 m 3 /person per year), Congo ranks 1st in Africa; in terms of the volume of potential hydropower resources (44 thousand MW) it is one of the leading places in Africa. No more than 1% of available water resources are used for economic purposes (of which 61% is used for municipal water supply, 23% is spent for agricultural needs, 16% is consumed by industrial enterprises).

Soils, flora and fauna. Forests occupy 58% of the country's territory; savannas, woodlands and grasslands - about 25%. Within the Congo Basin is the world's second largest array of undisturbed evergreen equatorial forests (gils). The nature of vegetation depends on the characteristics of moisture and relief. The western, low-lying part of the country in the middle reaches of the Congo River is occupied by swampy, constantly flooded forests; on the slopes of the depression they are replaced by constantly moist evergreen equatorial forests. There are many valuable tree species in the forests: red, yellow, ebony, limba, agba, iroko, which produce high-quality wood, as well as oil palm, copal tree, various rubber plants, etc. The marginal elevations of the north, west and south of the country are characterized by parkland tall grass savannas in combination with gallery forests along river valleys. In the southeast (in the province of Katanga) deciduous savannah forests of miombo are common. In the mountains of the eastern part of the Congo, altitudinal zonation is expressed: mountain moist evergreen forests at the upper forest boundary (3000-3500 m) are replaced by thickets of bamboo, above are Afro-subalpine (with the dominance of tree-like heather) and Afro-alpine (with tree-like godsons and lobelias) altitudes belts

Thick red-yellow ferrallitic soils are developed under the hylaia; under constantly flooded swampy forests there are hydromorphic lateritic gley soils. Under deciduous woodlands, ferrozems were formed, under savannas - red ferrallite soils with a pronounced seasonal drying of the profile, and in places dense surface ferruginous crusts were expressed.

The level of biological diversity is very high: 11 thousand species of higher plants are known (of which 10% are endemic), 450 species of mammals, about 1150 species of birds (of which 345 species are nesting), over 300 species of reptiles, over 200 species of amphibians and over 100 species of fish. The lowland forests are home to the African forest elephant, forest duikers, okapi, brush-eared and forest pigs, pangolins, various primates (including the pygmy chimpanzee and the western gorilla), etc. In the mountainous regions of the east of the country, endemism of insects and birds is high. The mountain gorilla is also endemic, the largest population of which remains in the Virunga National Park. The hippopotamus is common on marshy shores and its population is declining; crocodiles. Savannas and woodlands are characterized by a wide variety of herbivorous mammals: various species of antelope (topi antelope, oribi, greater kudu, eland, etc.), African buffalo, Burchell's zebra, giraffe, elephant, black and white rhinoceroses, warthog; Carnivores include the lion, cheetah, leopard, striped jackal, spotted hyena, and wild dog.

Condition and protection of the environment. The rate of deforestation is 0.4%, the main reasons for deforestation are commercial logging and agricultural expansion. Hard-to-reach swampy forests in the middle reaches of the Congo River were subject to the least anthropogenic impact; The mountain forests of the eastern part of the Congo, which have the highest population density, have been most modified. The threat of decline in biological diversity is associated with poaching (bush meat accounts for up to 75% of the diet of the rural population of Congo), as well as with the consequences of armed conflicts. 55 species of higher plants, 40 species of mammals and 28 species of birds are threatened with extinction. There is oil pollution in the coastal areas of Congo.

Congo has created 83 protected natural areas, occupying 8.3% of the country's area. The World Heritage List includes the national parks of Virunga (1979), Kahuzi-Biega (1980), Garamba (1980), Salonga (1984) and Okapi National Reserve (1996); all of them have the status of objects in danger. 866 thousand hectares of territory are classified as wetlands of international importance, where nesting and wintering areas of waterfowl are concentrated.

Mountain gorilla in Virunga National Park.

Lit.: Republic of Zaire. M., 1984; Doumenge S. La conservation des ecosystèmes forestiers du Zaire. Gland, 1990.

O. A. Klimanova.

Population

The majority of the population of the Congo (85%) are Bantu peoples (Luba, Kongo, Tala, Mongo, Tetela, Sote, Nandi, Yaka, Chokwe, Pende, Bemba, Lega, Cuba, Luena, Lunda, Teke). In the north and east live peoples speaking the languages ​​of the Ubangi subfamily of the Adamawa-Ubangi languages ​​(7%): Zande, Tbaka, etc. Peoples speaking Nilo-Saharan languages ​​(10.1%) inhabit the northeast (Mangbetu, Lendu , alur).

Natural population growth 3.1% (2008). The birth rate (43 per 1,000 inhabitants) is more than three times higher than the mortality rate (11.9 per 1,000 inhabitants). With a high level of fertility (6.3 children per woman), infant mortality is also high (83.1 per 1000 live births; 2008). The country's population is young: the average age is 16.3 years. In the age structure of the population, the share of children (under 15 years old) is 47.1%, the working age population (15-64 years old) is 50.4%, people 65 years old and older are 2.5% (2008). Average life expectancy is 54 years (men - 52.2, women - 55.8 years; 2008). On average, there are 99 men for every 100 women. Average population density is 27 people/km 2 (2008). The most densely populated areas are in the far west (the average population density in the capital province is over 960 people/km 2, in the province of Bas-Congo 78.4 people/km 2) and in the east of the country (over 92.4 people/km 2 in the province of North Kivu and 67.3 people/km 2 in the province of South Kivu). The lowest population density is in the southeastern province of Katanga (9.8 people/km 2). Urban population is about 32%. Major cities (thousands of people, 2008): Kinshasa (9167), Lubumbashi (1628), Mbuji-Mayi (1474), Kolwezi (932.3), Kisangani (592.2), Boma (508.3), Kananga (507 ,8), Likasi (496.6). Economically active population 15 million people (2006); 65% of workers are employed in agriculture, 19% in the service sector, and 16% in industry. Unemployment rate 85%.

N.V. Vinogradova.

Religion

According to various estimates (2007), from 40 to 55% of the population of the Congo are Catholics, from 20 to 42% are Protestants (Lutherans, Anglicans, Presbyterians, Methodists, Baptists, Mennonites, Pentecostals, etc.), about 10% are adherents of Afro-Christian syncretic cults (mainly Kimbangism), from 5 to 10% are Muslims. There are also adherents of traditional religious beliefs.

On the territory of the Congo there are 6 metropolitanates and 41 dioceses of the Roman Catholic Church, 1 metropolitanate and 1 diocese of the Alexandrian Orthodox Church. Most Protestant organizations are united by the Church of Christ in the Congo (founded in 1942).

Historical sketch

Congo from ancient times to independence. Stone tools discovered in the upper reaches of the Kasai, Lualaba, and Luapula rivers indicate the settlement of the Congo in the Early Paleolithic era and date back to the Acheulean era. The so-called Middle Stone Age is characterized by the Tumba culture (a variety of the Sango culture; 55-45 thousand years ago), the Lupembe culture (30-15 thousand years ago), etc. The Late Stone Age is represented by sites of the Chitol culture (15-3 thousand years ago) on the Bena Chitole plateau (Katanga province) and in the vicinity of the city of Kinshasa. The earliest evidence of metal working (meteoric iron; mid-5th century BC) is found in the province of Katanga; presumably, one of the oldest centers of ferrous metallurgy in Africa existed here.

The autochthonous population of the Congo is considered to be the Pygmies, San (Bushmen) and Khoi-Koin (Hottentots). At the beginning of the 1st millennium AD they were driven into forested areas by the Bantu peoples. At the beginning of the 9th century, the first political entities belonging to the Kisale culture appeared in the north of Katanga province. In the 13th-16th centuries, state formations (sometimes called empires and kingdoms) were formed on the territory of the Congo: Kongo, Matamba, Ngoyo, Cuba, Luba, Lunda, Kasongo.

The first Europeans to visit the Congo were the Portuguese, led by D. Kahn, in the 1480s. In the 16th century, the left bank of the Congo River became a major area of ​​the Portuguese slave trade. The penetration of Europeans met stubborn resistance from the local population. In 1491, the ruler of the Congo state, with the support of the Portuguese, dealt with Africans who opposed forced Christianization. In 1703, an anti-European movement arose in the Congo (the so-called Antonian heresy), which aimed to restore a unified state under the rule of a strong ruler. In 1706 the movement took the form of an open armed uprising. At the beginning of 1709 it was suppressed by the Congolese nobility. The development of the slave trade and constant civil strife became the cause of decentralization and the gradual decline of the states of the region.

At the end of the 19th century, the territory of the Congo became an object of rivalry between European states. In 1876, the Belgian King Leopold II organized under his chairmanship the International African Association (in the 1880s it received the name International Association of the Congo; IAC). In 1878, the Belgian company “Committee for the Study of the Upper Congo” was created. In subsequent years, royal emissaries concluded a series of treaties with local leaders that allowed Leopold II to establish control over the left bank of the Congo River. The Berlin Conference of 1884-85 recognized Leopold II as the sovereign of the captured territories, which were called the “Independent State of the Congo” (ISC). In fact, the conquest of the NGK lands was completed only at the end of the 19th century (see Tetela rebellion of 1895, 1897-1900, 1900-08; “War against the Arabs and Swahili” 1892-94).

Natural rubber has become the main export industry of the oil and gas complex. Leopold II transferred about 50% of the total area of ​​the oil and gas complex into ownership or concession to private companies, which received a monopoly on the exploitation of rubber plants, as well as the right to impose duties on the local population and collect taxes in kind, including in the form of rubber. In 1890, construction of the railway began. Due to complex climatic conditions the first line Matadi - Leopoldville, 435 km long, was opened only in 1898 (its construction was completed in 1909). In 1888, a colonial army, the Force Publique, was created in the NGK, and conscription was introduced in 1894.

The economic development of the Congo was carried out by Africans, who were severely punished for non-payment of taxes or refusal to perform labor duties. At the beginning of the 20th century, a campaign was launched in the European press against the abuses of the regime of Leopold II. 11/15/1908 Leopold II was forced to sign a decree on the transformation of the NGK into a colony of Belgium - the Belgian Congo (BC).

During the 1st World War, colonial troops of the British Army, together with British and French allies, took part in military operations in the area of ​​Lake Tanganyika, in Cameroon, on the border with Rwanda-Urundi. During this period, large European companies increased the extraction of minerals in the BC. Subsoil development was accompanied by the development of the mining industry, transport system, energy, and the formation of large industrial centers in the provinces of Katanga, Kivu and in the city of Leopoldville (now the city of Kinshasa).

In the 1920-30s, the rise of the national liberation movement began in BC, numerous religious and political movements and sects appeared (Kimbangism, the secret society of “leopard people”, etc.). In 1946, Africans won the right to form trade unions. In the late 1940s - early 1950s, various cultural and educational organizations were formed, and then political parties demanding independence for the BC. In 1958, the National Movement of the Congo (NDC) party was created, led by P. Lumumba, and in 1959, the Alliance of the Bakongo People (ABAKO) party was created under the leadership of J. Kasavubu (based on an educational organization that had been operating since 1950). In 1959, an anti-colonial uprising broke out in Leopoldville, which soon spread to many parts of the country. Attempts by the ruling circles of Belgium to extinguish the uprising through partial reforms failed. At the Brussels Round Table Conferences in 1960, the Belgian government announced the granting of BC independence.

Congo after independence. On June 30, 1960, the Belgian King Baudouin I proclaimed the formation of the independent Republic of the Congo (ROK). J. Kasavubu was elected its president, and P. Lumumba was elected prime minister. Lumumba's independent policy aroused discontent among supporters of maintaining close contacts with the former metropolis. As a result of the anti-government military mutiny on July 5, 1960, Lumumba was actually removed from power, and about 10 thousand Belgian soldiers were brought into the Republic of Kazakhstan. Taking advantage of the difficult internal political situation, the leaders of the ethno-regional parties M. K. Tshombe and A. Kalonji announced the creation of independent states in the province of Katanga and in the southern part of the province of Kasai. On September 5, 1960, by presidential decree, Lumumba was officially deprived of the post of prime minister and was soon killed. On September 14, 1960, the Chief of the General Staff of the Congolese National Army, Colonel S. S. Mobutu, with the support of Belgium and the United States, carried out a coup d'etat. Power was in the hands of a temporary body - the College of General Commissioners.

P. Lumumba and Belgian Prime Minister G. Eyskens sign the act of independence of the Congo. Leopoldville. 30.6.1960.

Supporters of P. Lumumba announced the formation of their own government in the city of Stanleyville (now Kisangani). In November 1960, it was headed by A. Gizenga, who served as Deputy Prime Minister in the Lumumba government. In August 1961, a new government of the Republic of Kazakhstan was formed, headed by S. Adula. In an effort to resolve the internal political crisis, Adula included Gizenga in the government (deputy prime minister, removed from the government in 1962). In 1962-63, South Kasai and Katanga were reunited with the ROK. On August 1, 1964, the country's constitution came into force, establishing a federal structure of the state. The ROK was renamed the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).

Government policy has not led to stabilization of the situation. In October 1963, supporters of P. Lumumba created the National Liberation Council, which became the governing body of the rebel movement. In April 1964, the People's Liberation Army was formed, which by August took control of 2/3 of the country's territory. In September 1964, the rebels proclaimed the formation of the People's Republic of the Congo with its capital Stanleyville. In November 1964, during Operation Red Dragon, carried out with the support of the military forces of Great Britain, Belgium and the United States, the rebel republic was destroyed.

On November 24, 1965, as a result of a coup d'etat, S.S. Mobutu came to power and banned the activities of all political parties and organizations (the only party allowed was the People's Movement of the Revolution party, created in 1967). The army command carried out a number of administrative reforms aimed at strengthening the power of the central government (the number of provinces was reduced, provincial assemblies were transformed into provincial councils with advisory voting rights, provincial governments were abolished, executive power in the provinces was transferred to governors). At the turn of the 1960s and 70s, an official doctrine was adopted, called “genuine Zairian nationalism.” The main national goals were declared to be the achievement of economic independence of the country and the rejection of European socio-economic and political institutions. On October 27, 1971, the DRC was renamed the Republic of Zaire (RZ). Mobutu's government, however, failed to achieve a significant change in the structure of the economy, which continued to be based on the export of raw materials. In the mid-1970s, a protracted socio-economic and internal political crisis began in the Republic of Kazakhstan.

In 1982, members of the Republic of Kazakhstan parliament criticized the regime of personal power of the president and formed the Union for Democracy and Social Progress (UDPS) party. In 1990, Mobutu announced the introduction of a multi-party system, but already in 1993 he began brutal persecution of opposition political organizations.

In 1996, armed groups of Rwandan Hutus invaded the eastern regions of the country. Their destruction of the local Tutsis (Banyamulenge), carried out with the tacit consent of the government of the Republic of Kazakhstan, provoked the outbreak of a civil war (the so-called 1st Congolese War 1996-97). The Alliance of Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Congo-Zaire (ADCOZ), led by L. D. Kabila, opposed the Mobutu government. Tutsis joined the rebels, accusing the government of the Republic of Kazakhstan of conniving with the Hutus.

In May 1997, ADSO forces entered Kinshasa, Mobutu was overthrown, power passed to Kabila, and the country returned to its previous name - the DRC. The new president immediately removed former Tutsi allies from the government structures. In the summer of 1998, he authorized the expulsion of all foreign military and civilian officials (mostly Tutsi) from the country and disbanded Tutsi-staffed units of the Congolese army. Kabila's policies led to a new civil war (the so-called 2nd Congolese War of 1998-2002), in which the states bordering the DRC were drawn into it.

On the side of the government forces were Angola, Namibia, Zimbabwe, and armed detachments of Rwandan and Burundian Hutus. They were opposed by the military-political Congolese Rally for Democracy, the Movement for the Liberation of the Congo, as well as the military forces of Burundi, Rwanda and Uganda. In July 1999, a ceasefire agreement was signed in Lusaka (Zambia). To monitor its implementation, the UN Security Council established the UN Mission in the DRC (MONUC) on November 30, 1999. However, neither the rebels nor the states neighboring the DRC fulfilled the terms of the agreement.

In early 2001, L. D. Kabila was assassinated. His son, J. Kabila, became the president of the country. In July 2002 in the city of Pretoria (South Africa) a peace agreement was signed between the DRC and Rwanda, in September 2002 in the city of Luanda (Kenya) - between the DRC and Uganda. On April 2, 2003, negotiations between the government of the DRC, political parties and opposition armed groups (the so-called Inter-Congolese Dialogue) ended, during which agreements were reached on a political settlement of the Congolese crisis. During the transition period, the leadership of the country was entrusted to J. Kabila and his deputies - A. Yerodiou, A. Z. Ngoma, as well as to representatives of the armed opposition - J. P. Bemba and A. Ruberva. During the 2nd Congo War, approximately 4 million people died.

In 2004, a multi-party system was introduced in the country; in December 2005, a new Constitution of the DRC was adopted, providing for a change in the administrative-territorial division of the country from February 2009. The 2006 presidential elections (held in two rounds) ended in victory for J. Kabila. In the parliamentary elections, the most successful were the pro-presidential People's Party for Restoration and Democracy and the United Lumumbian Party.

In March 2007, an operation began in Kinshasa to disarm the paramilitary guards of the leader of the Union in Support of the Nation (USN) J. P. Bemba, J. Kabila’s main rival in the presidential elections. Bemba's guards offered armed resistance to government forces, which became the cause of another internal political crisis. Bemba was forced to leave the country. On May 24, 2008, on the basis of a warrant from the International Criminal Court in The Hague, Bemba was detained in Brussels on charges of crimes against humanity committed by him in the territory of the Central African Republic from October 2002 to March 2003. At the end of August 2008 in eastern Congo (the provinces of North Kivu and South Kivu) Clashes began between government troops and the forces of General L. Nkunda.

Diplomatic relations between the USSR and the Congo were established on July 7, 1960. During the reign of S.S. Mobutu, bilateral relations practically did not develop. Since the late 1990s, the government of the DRC has advocated the establishment of close political cooperation with Russia, primarily within the framework of international organizations. Russian Federation supports MONUC's efforts to achieve a political solution to the Congolese crisis.

Lit.: Vinokurov Yu. N., Orlova A. S., Subbotin V. A. History of Zaire in modern and recent times. M., 1982; Ndaywel è Nziem I. Histoire générale du Congo: de l’héritage ancien à la république démocratique. R., 1998; Countries of Africa 2002. Directory. M., 2002; Vinokurov Yu. N. Democratic Republic of the Congo. Power and opposition. M., 2003; République Démocratie du Congo (RDC) 2006-2007. R., 2007; Mova Sakanyi N., Ramazani Y. De L.-D. Kabila à J. Kabila. La vérité des faits! R., 2008.

G. M. Sidorova.

Farm

The DRC is an agricultural country with the most powerful economic potential among the states of Tropical Africa. Since the mid-1970s, the economy has been in a state of deep crisis, which is aggravated by chronic internal political instability. Shadow business and illegal developments are widespread natural resources and their export abroad. Almost 60% of the state budget is formed from external sources - donor assistance and loans coming from individual states (EU countries, USA, China) and international organizations (IMF, World Bank, etc.). Trends towards a way out of the protracted crisis emerged only in the mid-2000s. Real GDP growth in 2008 was 6.3%. The restoration of industrial capacities (including energy facilities), agricultural production, transport infrastructure, and poverty reduction were declared priority areas of economic activity.

GDP volume is 18.8 billion dollars (at purchasing power parity; 2007); per capita 300 dollars.

Human Development Index 0.411 (2005; 168th among 177 countries in the world). In the structure of GDP, agriculture accounts for 55%, services - 34%, industry - 11%. By the beginning of 2008, external debt amounted to $11.5 billion, the inflation rate was 20%.

Industry. Mining (based on the richest mineral resource base) and primary processing of mineral raw materials provide 10.4% of GDP (2007) and about 80% of foreign exchange earnings. The most important role is played by the extraction of cobalt ores (in terms of metal - 22 thousand tons in 2005; Katanga province) and copper (92 thousand tons; Katanga province), diamonds (30.3 thousand carats; provinces of Western Kasai and Eastern Kasai, Equateur, Bas-Congo, Eastern, Maniema), gold (4.2 tons; Eastern province), silver (53.6 tons), zinc (15 thousand tons), tin (2.8 thousand tons; Katanga, Maniema, North Kivu and South Kivu), Germany (2.5 tons), tantalum. Oil deposits (coastal areas and shelf zone) and coal (Katanga province) are also being developed. Leading state companies: Gécamines, MIBA, OKIMO.

The DRC occupies a leading position in Tropical Africa in terms of energy potential (about 100 thousand MW). Electricity production 7.3 billion kWh, consumption 5.3 billion kWh (2005). The bulk of the electricity is generated at the Inga hydroelectric complex on the Congo River (installed capacity 39 thousand MW; managed by the state company Snel), which includes the Inga 1 and Inga 2 hydroelectric power stations; By 2010, it is planned to complete the construction of the Inga 3 hydroelectric power station.

The manufacturing industry is represented by chemical enterprises (production of fertilizers, plastics, sulfuric acid, paint and varnish products, etc. in Kinshasa, Kolwezi, Kalemie, Likasi, Lubumbashi), textile (Kinshasa, Kisangani, Lubumbashi, Kalemie, Bukavu), leather and footwear, food ( including flour milling, oil milling, brewing), wood processing (factories in Boma, Matadi, Lemba, Kindu, Lukolela, Nkolo, Nyoki, Mushiye) industries, production of building materials (Lubudi, Lukala, Kimpesa, Kabemba, Shinkolobwe). In Kinshasa, the main industrial center, there are also car assembly, shipbuilding, ship repair, and metalworking enterprises.

Agriculture. About 3% of the country's territory is cultivated, pastures occupy about 6%. Large plantation farms produce mainly export products, small subsistence peasant farms with a low level of agricultural technology and mechanization (provide employment for 60% of the population) produce products for domestic consumption. The most important crops: oil palm (for the production of palm oil), as well as (collection, thousand tons, 2005) sugar cane (1800), coffee (32), cotton (9), cocoa (7), hevea (3.5), tea (3). For domestic consumption they grow (harvest, thousand tons, 2005): cassava (15,000), plantain (1193), corn (1155), peanuts (364), rice (315), potatoes (92), sorghum (54), millet (37). Also grown (thousand tons): papayas (220), mangoes (203), pineapples (195), oranges (180), avocados (62.6). Cattle breeding is limited due to the widespread prevalence of trypanosomiasis. Livestock (thousand heads, 2004): goats 4016, pigs 957, sheep 899, cattle 758; poultry about 20 million. The annual fish catch is about 220 thousand tons.

Forest resources are poorly used, although logging volumes are growing at the beginning of the 21st century (65.2 thousand m 3 in 2006). Valuable wood species (teak, ebony) are of particular export importance. A significant part of logging is carried out by the national company SOCEBO and a subsidiary of the German Danzer Group - SIFORCO.

Transport. Transport development of the territory is low. The length of roads is 153.5 thousand km, including 2.8 thousand km with hard surface (2004). The length of railways is 5.1 thousand km (2006); Most of it is concentrated in the province of Katanga and is intended for the transportation of mineral raw materials. Rail connections to Dar es Salaam (Tanzania), Lobito (Angola), Zambia, Zimbabwe, Mozambique and South Africa. In 1997, the DRC's railways were nationalized. The total length of river routes is about 15 thousand km (2005). Major ports: Banana, Boma, Bumba, Matadi, Kinshasa, Mbandaka, Kisangani, Kindu. The length of oil pipelines is 71 km, gas pipelines are 62 km (2007). There are 237 airports (of which 26 have paved runways). International airports in Kinshasa, Lubumbashi, Bukavu, Goma, Kisangani.

International trade. The value of merchandise exports is $1.6 billion, imports are $2.3 billion (2006). The main export items are diamonds, copper, oil, cobalt, timber, and agricultural products. Main trading partners (2006): Belgium (29.4% of value), China (21.1%), Brazil (12.3%), Chile (7.8%), Finland (7.2%), USA ( 4.9%), Pakistan (4.9%). Machinery and equipment, including mining equipment, vehicles are imported; fuel, food, mainly from South Africa (17.7% of the cost), Belgium (10.9%), France (8.5%), Zimbabwe (8.1%), Zambia (6.9%), Kenya ( 6.8%), Ivory Coast (4.4%).

Lit.: Mutamla L. Redresser l’economie du Congo-Kinshasa. R., 2003; Tumba V. M. Le développement du Congo: promesses, faillites et défis. Kinshasa, 2006; République démocratique du Congo: 2008. R., 2007.

N.V. Vinogradova.

Armedstrength

The Armed Forces (AF) of the Congo consist of regular armed forces and the Republican (civil) Guard. Regular armed forces (about 134.5 thousand people; 2008) include the Ground Forces (ground forces), the air force and the navy. Military annual budget $181 million (2007).

The Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces is the head of state - the President.

The main part of the Armed Forces is the Army (about 111.23 thousand people). The combat structure of the Army includes brigades (1 motorized infantry, 14 infantry and 1 presidential guard), 2 commando regiments, artillery and anti-aircraft divisions, and other units. The Army is armed with up to 50 main and 40 light tanks, over 50 infantry fighting vehicles, 20 infantry fighting vehicles, 138 armored personnel carriers, 159 towed field artillery guns (including 10 anti-tank guns), about 330 mortars, 57 MLRS, and over 50 anti-aircraft artillery mounts. The Air Force (2.54 thousand people) is organized into squadrons, has 5 combat aircraft, about 40 helicopters (including 4 combat ones). The Navy (6.7 thousand people, including marines) includes 3 patrol boats and over 20 combat boats; base points - Kinshasa, Boma, Matadi (on Lake Tanganyika). The Republican (civil) Guard (about 14 thousand people) consists of a tank regiment and 3 infantry brigades. Weapons and military equipment are mainly of Chinese, French and American origin.

Regular aircraft are recruited on a voluntary basis. Training of non-commissioned officers and enlisted personnel - in training centers and schools for the types of armed forces, officers - in national educational institutions, but mainly abroad. Mobilization resources (men) are about 11.3 million people, including 6.4 million people fit for military service.

V. D. Nesterkin.

Healthcare

In the Congo, per 100 thousand inhabitants there are 11 doctors, 53 paramedical personnel, 2 pharmacists (2004). Total expenditure on health care is 4.2% of GDP (2005) (budget financing - 18.7%, private sector - 81.3%) (2003). The most common infections: bacterial and amoebic dysentery, hepatitis A, malaria, trypanosomiasis, schistosomiasis. The main causes of death in the adult population: dysentery, AIDS, lung diseases, malaria (2004).

V. S. Nechaev.

Sport

The Congo Olympic Committee was founded in 1963 and recognized by the IOC in 1968. DRC athletes have been participating in the Olympic Games since 1968; did not take any prizes, the best result was 16th place in the men's marathon M. Kalombo (Atlanta, 1996). The most popular sports: athletics, boxing, basketball, football.

The Football Federation was founded in 1919 (in FIFA since 1964). National football team - winner of the African Cup (1968 and 1974); TP Mazembe (Lubumbashi) won the African Champions Cup (1967 and 1968) and the African Cup Winners' Cup (1980); Vita club (Kinshasa) - winner of the African Champions Cup (1973). The largest stadium in the city of Kinshasa is the Stade de Martire (80 thousand seats). The most famous athletes: football players - M. Kazadi (the best goalkeeper in the history of the country), Ch. Bwanga (the best football player in Africa, 1973), L. Lua-Lua (played for the English clubs Newcastle and Portsmouth), S. Nonda (top scorer in the history of the national team - 19 goals, finalist of the 2004 UEFA Champions League as part of the Monaco team); basketball player D. Mutombo; boxer A. Wamba (world champion according to the World Boxing Council in the 1st heavy weight category in 1991-94); athlete G. Kikaya (bronze medalist at the 2004 World Indoor Championships, holder of the African record in the 400 m run).

P. I. Andrianov.

Education. Scientific and cultural institutions

The education system is administered by the Ministry of Primary, Secondary and Vocational Education and the Ministry of Higher Education. The education system includes (2007): preschool education for children from 3 to 5 years of age (optional), compulsory 6-year primary education for children from 6 years of age, 6-year secondary education, higher education. There are state schools and missionary schools, which are subsidized by the state. Preschool education covers 14% of children, primary education - 95%, secondary education - 32%, higher education - 1%. The literacy rate of the population over the age of 15 is 67%. The main universities, scientific institutions, libraries and museums are located in the city of Kinshasa, including the University of the Congo (1954), the National Library (1932), and the National Museum. There are also universities in Lubumbashi (1955, modern status since 1981), Kisangani (1963, modern status since 1981), Mbuji-Mayi (1990), Goma (1993), etc.; pedagogical institutes - in Lubumbashi, Kikwit, Goma, Mbanza-Ngungu, etc.; technical institutes - in Kikwit, Lubumbashi, etc.; several agricultural and commercial institutes. Among the non-state universities are Catholic universities: in Bukavu, Butembo; Protestant University in Lubumbashi. National Museums: in Kananga, Lubumbashi.

Lit.: Education in the Democratic Republic of Congo: priorities and options for regeneration. Wash., 2005.

Facilitiesmassinformation

Weekly newspapers are published: “L'Avenir” (since 1996; circulation 3 thousand copies, in French, Swahili and Lingala, Kinshasa), “Le Potentiel” (since 1982; 2.5 thousand copies), “Le Phare” (since 1983; 2.5 thousand copies), “L'Observateur”, “La République”, “Elima” (since 1928; 1 ​​thousand copies; all in French, Kinshasa), “Mjumbe” (since 1963, city ​​of Lubumbashi) and others. Radio broadcasting since 1936, television since 1966. Broadcasting of television and radio programs is carried out by the state corporation “Radio-Télévision Nationale Congolaise” (founded in 1945, modern name and status since 1997), etc. National News Agency - Agence Congolaise de Presse (ACP; since 1960).

Literature

Literature of the Congo began to take shape in the 1920s, developing in French. Literature in the Luba, Kongo, Lingala, etc. languages, which appeared at the beginning of the 20th century thanks to the efforts of missionaries (mainly religious and educational books), did not receive further development. The first writer of the Congo was Abbot S. Kaose, the author of a hymn about the Christian martyrs of Uganda. In the 1930s and 1940s, imitation of the literature of the French Enlightenment was combined with the use of folk poetics. In 1945, the magazine “The Voice of the Congolese” (“La Voix du Congolais”) was founded. D. Mutombo's stories appear (“Victory of Love,” 1943; “Our Ancestors,” 1948), dedicated to the conflict between the traditional way of life and European innovations. Traditionalist themes, mixed with elements of kimbangism, distinguished the works of P. Lomami-Chibambe (story “Crocodile”, 1948). In the 1970s, prose began to develop intensively; the main place in it was occupied by works of educational orientation, criticizing archaic life, ignorance, superstition, as well as the costs of rapid modernization of society: the novel “Two Lives, New Time” by N. Mbala (1970), the story “Bandoki the Sorcerer” (1971), “ Postcard" (1974), "Seven Brothers and a Sister" (1975) by B. Zamengi. The novel “Son of the Tribe” by P. Ngandu Nkashama (1973) recreates the life of an African village. The short story genre became widespread (I. L. Mudaba and others). For the novels “Giambatista Vico” (1975), “Wandering” (1979) by J. Ngala, “Between the Waters. God, Priest, Revolution" (1973), "The Magnificent Scoundrel" (1976) V. Y. Mudimba is characterized by a synthesis of the mythological consciousness of traditional society and the novel technique of the 20th century; their main themes are the African intellectual’s search for his place, the problems of self-identification of Africans. In the 1980s and 90s, Ngandu Nkashama’s expressionistic works stood out: the novels “The Curse” (1983), “Bright Sun over the Ethiopian Highlands” (1991), “Old Man Marie” (1994), as well as the story “Whites in Africa” (1988), "A Servant in Pretoria" (1990).

Congolese dramaturgy has its roots in oral folk art and traditional folk theatre. At the initial stage, the genres of historical (using folklore plots) and everyday plays prevailed. The plays “Ngombe”, “The Fifteenth” by A. Monjita (both 1957), “Genevieve, Martyr of Idiofa” by L. R. Bolamba (1967) depict the country’s colonial past. The dramaturgy of the last decades of the 20th century (“At the mercy of the current, or the collapse of landmarks” by S. Sansa, 1976, etc.) is marked by the influence of French existentialism and European avant-garde literature.

The leading genre of Congo poetry is a poem bearing the imprint of folk poetics. In the poems “First Experiments” (1947), “Esanzo. A Song for My Homeland” (1955) by L. R. Bolamba, intended for oral recitation, retains the rhythm and imagery of folk art. The poetry of the 2nd half of the 20th century (J.B. Katacandang Le Ossambala and others) consists mainly of political, love and nature-descriptive lyrics. At the end of the 20th and beginning of the 21st century, due to political instability, the literary process in the Congo was almost completely interrupted.

Lit.: Lyakhovskaya N.D. Poetry of West Africa. M., 1975; she is the same. Literature of Zaire // French-language literature of Tropical Africa. M., 1989; Cape M. Roman Africain et traditions. R., 1982.

N. D. Lyakhovskaya.

Architecture and fine arts

Rock paintings (possibly from the Neolithic era) have been preserved in the Congo. The art of the peoples of the Congo has long been developed: wooden sculpture; production of wooden and earthenware (including cups of the Kuba and Mangbetu peoples in the form of a human head), jewelry made of wood, iron and copper (including elegant wooden combs with stylized decorated compositions), furniture, weapons; weaving products (mats, bags, baskets) from raffia palm fibers that have a velvety texture and a two-color geometric pattern (the so-called Kasai velvet); painting the walls of houses with geometric patterns or symbolic designs. In 1964, workshops of arts and crafts were organized (the main centers are Kinshasa, the provinces of Katanga, North Kivu and South Kivu). Folk housing is dominated by wicker or adobe huts without windows, typical for many African countries, round or rectangular in plan, with conical or helmet-shaped roofs covered with grass and branches; in some areas, walls are painted with colorful geometric designs or symbolic signs.

At the end of the 19th and beginning of the 20th century, numerous cities emerged (the port of Matadi, Kinshasa, Mbandaka, etc.). In plan, they had a rectangular street network (Lubumbashi), a radial and fan pattern (Boma), or a combination of different types of layout (Kinshasa). Until the mid-20th century, urban development was dispersed and low-rise.

Multi-storey buildings with concrete and steel structures were erected according to the designs of Belgian architects, in particular C. Laurens, whose buildings determined the appearance of Kinshasa. A group of European architects led by J. Elliott worked in the province of Katanga, and architects F. Charbonnier and A. Laprada worked in Lubumbashi. Their buildings are characterized by contrasts of open and closed spaces, light and shadow. After the declaration of independence (1960), blocks of standard houses for workers were built, and urban improvement was carried out.

Professional fine art began to develop in the 1st half of the 20th century. At the end of the 1940s, easel painters appeared (M. Diouf, Ch. Mwenze Mongolo), “primitivists” (landscape painter A. Monjita, portrait painter A. Kiabelua); a group of artists who created bright decorative compositions in which plants and animals were woven into a intricately colorful pattern (Pili-Pili, Lai, Kayongonda, etc.). Masters E. Makoko, F. Nzuala, F. Lulanda and others decorated ceramic products (dishes, etc.) with designs inspired by the Poto-Poto school. Motifs of protest against colonialism appeared in the works of individual masters (B. Mensah). The sculptor B. Konongo created a gallery of contemporaries; E. Malongo, D. Buesso, Lijolo worked in the spirit of traditional plastic arts. Among the painters, J. Ndamau, L. Zoave, and E. Gouvey stood out.

Lit.: Olderogge D. A. Art of the peoples of West Africa in museums of the USSR. L.; M., 1958; Olbrechts F. M. Les arts plastiques du Congo Belge. Brux., 1959; Lebedev Yu. D. Art of Western Tropical Africa. M., 1962; Art of the peoples of Africa. M., 1975; Curtis A., Schildkrout E. African reflections: art from northeastern Zaire. Seattle; N.Y., 1990; Touya L. Mami Wata la sirène et les peintres populaires de Kinshasa. R., 2003.

Music

The oldest monuments of musical culture in the Congo (archaeological finds of musical instruments) date back to the 8th-9th and 12th-14th centuries. The Portuguese traveler D. Lopes in 1578 described military music (featuring kettledrums, gongs and signal trumpets made from elephant tusks) and singing accompanied by a hair-stringed lute; By the end of the 16th - beginning of the 17th century, information about singing in funeral rites, love, war and hunting songs dates back. Ceremonial drums (a symbol of power) were used in court music, and drums and trumpets were used in family ceremonies and initiation rituals. The most archaic layer of traditional music of the Congo is the vocal tradition of the Mbuti pygmies. Among other peoples of the Congo, playing various idiophones (including gongs, slotted drums), membranophones, lamellaphones (over 20 types), zithers, etc. is widespread; among the Pende and Ekonda (a subgroup of the Mongo) complex choral polyphony is found. In rural areas of the Congo, a welcoming ritual with music and elements of drama has long been practiced; under the regime of General S.S. Mobutu (1965-97) it was used as the basis for official "Music of Cultural Revitalization" events.

Missionary activity in the 1920s to 1950s led to the spread of Western-style choral singing; The choir “Aborigines of Elizabethville” of the Mission of St. Benedict (created in 1937 by priest A. Lamoral) became famous. In 1944, in Elisabethville (now Lubumbashi), the cantata “The Glory of Belgium” by J. Kivele (accompanied by drums) was performed. In 1953, near the city of Kamina, under the leadership of priest G. Haazen, the “Luba Mass” was performed, accompanied by drums (it used melodies of the Luba and other peoples of the Congo), which later served as a style model for the creation of Christian-African music in the country. In 1988, the “Zairean rite” of the Catholic mass was established in the Congo. Religious Christian music has become widespread in cities and accompanies wedding and funeral ceremonies. Since the mid-20th century, secular musical life has been developing in cities. Since the 1930s, the guitar has become popular. Brass bands were used at city weddings and funerals from the 1930s through the 1960s. Mixed popular styles that came from West Africa, including highlife (from Ghana), and the maringa song-dance, spread to Kinshasa. Latin American music and dance styles (rumba, cha-cha-cha, charanga, patachanga, mambo, merengue) gave a new impetus to the development of urban popular music in the mid-20th century; vocal and instrumental ensembles consisting of guitar, saxophone, clarinet and flute became widespread. In 1953 the ensemble “African Jazz” was created, in 1956 - the ensemble “O. Congo Jazz" (its founders are J. S. Essu, E. Nganga, M. Boyibanda). In the 2nd half of the 20th century, the style of Congolese rumba was formed with many local varieties: mokonyon (based on tetela dances, introduced in 1977 by the singer S. Vembadio and his ensemble “Viva la Musica”), kvasa (derived from the mass dance of the Congo people, introduced in 1986 by the ensemble “Bakuba Empire”), ekonda sakade (1972, singer L. Bembo, ensemble “Stukas”), sundana (1992, ensemble “Swede-Swede”) (the last two are based on the dances of the Mongo people). In the last quarter of the 20th century, street ensembles of guitars and drums (among the performers were 3. Langa-Langa), dance performances with elements of atalaku comedy, became widespread; Since the end of the 20th century, the guitar has once again occupied a central position in Congolese popular music.

At the end of the 19th century, the traditional music of the Congo was studied by E. Tordey, V. Overberg, and since the 1950s - Congolese musicologists and ethnographers K. Turnbull, L. Verwilgen, J. N. Make, A. Merriam.

Lit.: Lonoh M. Essai de commentaire sur la musique congolaise moderne. Kinshasa, 1969; Bemba S. Cinquante ans de musique du Congo-Zaïre 1920-1970: de Paul Kamba à Tabu-Ley. R., 1984; Manda T. Terre de la chanson: la musique zaïroise, hier et aujourd’hui. Louvain-la-Neuve, 1996.

A. S. Alpatova.

DanceAndtheater

Numerous folk ensembles of the Congo preserve the ancient dance traditions of various nationalities and ethnic groups. The dance is a complex polyrhythmic complex. As a rule, it is very energetic, accompanied by clapping, exclamations, clicking of the tongue, and striking of the palms against the body. The dancer is “accompanied” not only by the tam-tam drum, but also by his entire costume - the ringing of bracelets and rings, the rustling of grass from which skirts and bandages on arms and legs are woven. During the dances, masks are used that represent all kinds of life situations, parody specific people, and depict spirits. The repertoire of Congolese dance groups is very diverse and closely related to ethnicity: Kimbunda - dances of the Bunda Didiofa tribe from the Bandundu province (kaful is dedicated to the leader of the tribe; engen - the birth of a child; lazar - victory in court); shaba - dances of the region of the same name in the province of Katanga (mbuje - the dance of a messenger to the leader for an invitation to a wedding; kiemba - a dance that gives pleasure to water monsters); kimongo - dances of the province of Equateur (kimongo - performed on the river in a pirogue to appease the spirits of the Mongo ancestors, performed in the presence of the leader; ekonda - dance of warriors). The dances of the pygmies are also symbolic: the iyaya sings of a successful hunt and the discovery of an area rich in game; mpongo loilo - a successful eagle hunt; kebo - the most ancient pygmy dance, performed around the leader of the tribe; Bolanga - warrior dance during the funeral of a leader.

One of the most popular folk ensembles in the 2000s was the group “Young Singers and Dancers from Masina” led by B. Mavinga (founded in 1985 in the province of Bandundu). The repertoire consists of traditional songs and dances of various ethnic groups of the Congo (preference is given to the folklore of the Suku and Yaka peoples).

The emergence of dramatic theater in the Congo as an independent art form began with the arrival of the Belgian colonialists at the end of the 19th century. This process took place against the background of the displacement of pagan traditions and the introduction of Christianity. Missionaries and French teachers staged short plays in schools for didactic purposes. Theater life intensified at the end of the 2nd World War, when a significant number of Europeans appeared in the Belgian Congo. In the large cities of the country - Leopoldville (now Kinshasa) and Elisabethville (now Lubumbashi) European-style troupes appeared. In 1955, the Congolese playwright A. Mongita headed the group “Lifoko” (“Ligue folklorique du Congo”; existed until the mid-1960s). His troupe staged small skits based on fairy-tale and everyday stories, performed on city stages, and traveled to remote areas with programs that included song and dance folklore, acrobatics and clownery.

In 1957, a Committee of People's Performances was organized in Leopoldville with the participation of directors from Brussels. In the early 1960s, the African Theater Union was founded. In 1965, a group of actors emerged from its composition and formed the “Theater of Twelve”. They set as their goal the development of a national theater based on the study of European culture. In 1967, the National Academy of Music and Dramatic Art was established in Kinshasa, which served as the basis for the creation of the National Institute of Arts (1971). School, university and amateur theaters appeared. The theaters “Mvondo” (Katanga province), “Mil” (Matadi city, Bas-Congo province), “La Colline Theater” (Kinshasa), etc., organized in the 2nd half of the 1960s, enjoyed great success.

In 1969, playwright M. Mikanza, who founded the “Little Black Theater” in the city of Kikwit (Bandundu province) in 1967, was invited to the capital to create the National Theater (officially existing since 1973). Despite the unfavorable political and social situation of the 1990s and early 2000s, the theatrical art of Congo continues to develop in two main directions - classical and folk. The classical direction is represented by: the National Theatre, the Theater Company of the National Institute of Arts, as well as private companies in Kinshasa - “Intrigues” (1982), “Marabou” (1984), “M” Majiskul (1987), “Ecurie Maloba” (1988 ), “There-There” (1990). Among the folk groups: “Salongo” (1974), “Theater Plus Masumu” (1988), “Simba” (1998), all in Kinshasa. Genres such as drama, comedy, and political satire have developed. Current issues became central to the playwrights and directors - polygamy, healthcare, corruption of officials, the activities of religious sects, the state of the environment, etc. In the 2000s, the most popular group in Kinshasa was P. Chibanda, a master of presenting folk tales, known for his humorous stories. Among the choreographic groups in Kinshasa, the most famous is Studio Kabako. Theatrical and choreographic groups also exist in the cities of Lubumbashi, Matadi, Mbuji-Mayi, etc. Every year on January 20, National Theater Day is celebrated, arts and folklore festivals are held, in which numerous dance groups take part. The theaters are united in the National Theater Federation (created in 1980 in Kinshasa).

Lit.: Mongita L. “Témoignage d’un pionnier” in le théâtre zai’rois: dossiers du premier festival de théâtre. Kinshasa, 1977; Mikanza M. La création théâtrale. Kinshasa, 1979; Midzgor ski D. Art du Spectacle Africain. Kinshasa, 1980; Lvova E. S. Ethnography of Africa. M., 1984.

Population 48.9 million people (1998). In the capital Kinshasa there are approx. 5 million inhabitants.

The Belgian Congo colony gained independence on June 30, 1960 and became the Republic of the Congo. In August 1964, the country was named the Democratic Republic of the Congo. President Joseph-Désiré Mobutu renamed it the Republic of Zaire on October 27, 1971. On May 17, 1997, after Laurent-Désiré Kabila overthrew the Mobutu regime, the country regained its former name - the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

NATURE

Relief and water resources.

The central part of the DRC is an alluvial plateau with an average height of approx. 910 m above sea level In the southeast of the country and along its eastern border, the ridges of the Mitumba Mountains rise 1520–4880 m above sea level, the highest point of which, Margherita Peak (5109 m), is located on the Rwenzori massif. The entire territory of the DRC is located in the basin of the Congo River (the second longest in Africa) and its numerous tributaries. The most important among them are Ubangi, Lualaba, Aruvimi and Kasai, which forms its own extensive river system. The country has many swamps, and the Congo River widens in several places and forms lakes, in particular Malebo (Stanley Pool). The largest lakes are located in a chain along the eastern border: Albert, Edward, Kivu, Tanganyika (the natural border with Tanzania) and Mweru. The largest lakes inland are Mai Ndombe and Tumba.

Climate.

The climate in the Congo River basin is tropical with a slight difference in temperature between the coolest month, July, and the hottest, February. The average annual temperature is approx. 26° C, precipitation falls from 1100 to 1700 m per year, mainly during the rainy season from October to March. In the mountains of the Kivu and Shaba regions (formerly Katanga), the climate is cooler and drier.

Soils and natural vegetation.

The best soils are found in the floodplains of the middle reaches of the Congo River, where silt accumulates. Approximately 64.7 thousand sq. km in the equatorial part of the Congo River basin is occupied by tropical rain forest with tall trees and a closed canopy. To the north and south it gives way to park-like savanna woodlands, and in the Kivu region in the east of the country pure grasslands are found in places.

The natural vegetation of the country is very diverse. The forests contain many valuable tree species, in particular redwood and ebony, as well as palm trees and rubber trees. Bananas, cotton and coffee trees grow wild. In the southeast of the Shaba (Katanga) region there is a vast belt of open forests. One of the most important sources of commercial timber is the Mayumbe forest with an area of ​​5.2 thousand square meters. km off the Atlantic coast, but in principle it is believed that almost half of the country’s territory is covered with suitable plantations.

Animal world.

The fauna of the DRC is rich and diverse. Elephants, chimpanzees and other primates, lions, leopards, jackals and many different snakes are found in forests and woodlands. The rivers abound with crocodiles and hippopotamuses, and the savanna is rich in African buffalos, antelopes and other herbivorous ungulates. There are several national parks in the DRC, the most important of which is Virunga around Lake. Edward. Birds include endemic storks, parrots, ibises, terns and herons. Among insects, pathogens that cause diseases in humans and livestock are abundant - malaria mosquitoes and tsetse flies. The lakes are rich in many types of fish.

POPULATION

Demography.

Population estimates, like most available statistics for the Congo, are unreliable. It is difficult to make accurate estimates, since rural residents migrate to cities within the country, and refugees periodically migrate from a number of neighboring countries - Angola, Burundi, Rwanda and Sudan - and sooner or later return. According to official census data, the population in 1970 was 21,638 thousand people, in 1974 - 24,327 thousand, and in 1984 - 29,671 thousand. In 1992, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, which was responsible for population registration, estimated the country's population at 40 million people. According to the most accurate independent estimates, in 2003 there were 56.6 million people living in the country.

Annual population growth was approximately 2.9% in 2003 and was mainly due to natural increase, since the birth rate significantly exceeds the death rate. In 2003, the birth rate was 45.12 per 1000 people, and the death rate was 14.87 per 1000. Most experts believe that the real death rate was higher due to the decline of the economy and sphere medical care, however its true extent is unknown. The highest rates of population growth were observed in the south of the country and in cities. In rural areas of the north, the demographic situation was relatively stable. Despite rapid urbanization, approximately 55% of Congolese remained rural in the mid-1990s. Average life expectancy in 2003 was estimated at 46.83 years for men and 51.09 years for women.

Ethnic composition, language and religion.

The indigenous population of the territory of modern DRC were pygmies, inhabitants of Central Africa. Currently, there are few of them left and they live only in dense forest areas. The ancestors of the peoples who now make up the bulk of the population of the DRC settled here in the 2nd–1st millennium BC. during numerous migrations. There are approximately 250 peoples and ethnic groups in the country, the vast majority of which speak Bantu languages. Among the most numerous and best studied ethnic groups are the Bakongo in the west of the country, the Mongo in the center of the Congo River basin, the Baluba in the south and center of the eastern part of the country, the Lunda in the south, the Bashi near Lake. Kivu and Azande in the northeast.

Regional languages ​​of interethnic communication are Kikongo in the west, Chiluba in the south-central part of the country, Swahili in the east and Lingala in the north and center of the Congo River basin. The most widely spoken African language in the DRC is Lingala. It is spoken in Kinshasa and Brazzaville, the capital of the neighboring Republic of Congo. Lingala was the only African language that was used as a means of communication in the armed forces from colonial times until the overthrow of Mobutu. Most folk songs are sung in Lingala. The official language is French, which is used in government and educational institutions, in the armed forces and in business life.

About 90% of the population are Christians. Approximately 60% of them are Catholics, the rest are Protestants, Kimbangists (supporters of the Christian African Church) and a small number of Orthodox Christians. The number of Muslims inhabiting mainly the eastern and northeastern parts of the country is approx. 2 million people.

Cities.

Since the 1950s, the DRC has been urbanizing at an impressive rate. In the capital of the country, Kinshasa, in 1940 there lived only 47 thousand people, by 1957 - 380 thousand, and by 1991 - approximately 4 million. According to recent estimates, the population of the capital ranges from 5 to 6 million people. The economic and political crises significantly affected the demographic situation in other large cities. Populations have declined in areas where ethnic cleansing has taken place, such as the three important mining centers of the Copper Belt - Lubumbashi, Kolwezi and Likasi. The population of the cities of Mbuji-Mayi, Kananga, Kisangani, Goma and Bukavu, where displaced persons have taken refuge, has increased. Despite the process of job reduction in cities that began in 1991, their population continues to grow. In the absence of reliable statistics, the approximate population of the country's regional centers in the late 1990s was estimated as follows: Lubumbashi, Mbuji-Mayi and Kisangani - approx. 1 million people each, Kananga, Goma and Bukavu - 0.5 million people each, Kolwezi and Likasi - a quarter of a million people each. Other large administrative and business centers with a population of at least 100 thousand people are Mbandaka, Bandundu, Matadi and Boma. Mbuji-Mayi is the center of diamond mining in the East Kasai region, Kikwit is the center of palm oil processing. The main seaport is Matadi, located upstream near the mouth of the Congo River. Minor volumes of cargo are handled at the port of Boma, located upstream in the Congo. It is planned to build a deep-water port in the town of Banana, located on the Atlantic coast.

During the colonial period, the Belgian administration controlled internal migration, limiting the flow of population into the cities. After independence, these restrictions were lifted, and masses of people, mostly rural youth, flocked to the cities. The spontaneous growth of cities has led to the fact that around the center of each large city, where administrative buildings, shopping centers and permanent houses built by the state or private companies are concentrated, huge slum areas have appeared. One of the most serious problems in Congolese cities is unemployment.

GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS

From 1965 to 1990, the Congo enjoyed a regime of strong centralized presidential power. President Mobutu concentrated enormous powers of power in his hands. Mobutu came to power after a period from 1960 to 1985 in which the country was engulfed in chaos and separatism and a weak federal government was unable to restore order. State corruption and Mobutu's long rule led to a breakdown in domestic political stability in the late 1980s and widespread demands for political reform. From 1990 to 1996, the country's political leaders engaged in long and complex negotiations to democratize the political system. In October 1996, war broke out, Mobutu's dictatorship fell, and in May 1997 a new regime led by Laurent Kabila came to power. In August 1997, another rebel group, backed by Rwanda and Uganda, resumed hostilities. The armed opposition announced that it intends to remove President Kabila and establish a democratic regime in the country.

The traditions of strong centralized power in the Congo developed during the colonial period, but after the declaration of independence, the authoritarian regime could no longer ensure high rates of socio-economic development of the country. Under the conditions of a one-party system, when power relations were built on the “patron-client” principle, most of the state resources became the personal property of the autocratic ruler and his inner circle.

Federal authorities.

From 1965 to 1990, the Congo was ruled by an authoritarian regime, with all executive power in the hands of the president. In presidential elections held every seven years, Mobutu was elected uncontested. The unicameral parliament, consisting of loyal members of the ruling party, approved the budget and passed the necessary laws.

In 1990, attempts to reform the political system from above intensified in order to create more efficient and corruption-free government bodies during the transition period. It was assumed that presidential powers would be limited, and the activities of the executive branch would be under the control of parliament, an independent judiciary and a free press. Mobutu and his entourage did their best to obstruct the democratization process, which completely stalled after Kabila came to power and banned the activities of political parties.

Regional and local authorities.

The 1967 Constitution abolished the federal structure of the Congolese state, declared in the 1960 and 1964 constitutions, and restored the centralized structure of regional and local government. According to the 1967 constitution, regional governors, heads of administration of districts and smaller territorial units were appointed by the central government. The number of regions was reduced from 21 to 8, and later increased to 10. In addition, the capital of the country, Kinshasa, received regional status. Currently, territorially and administratively, the country is divided into the following regions: Bandundu (administrative center Bandundu), Bas-Congo (Matadi), Equatorial (Mbandaka), Haute-Congo (Kisangani), Western Kasai (Kananga), Eastern Kasai (Mbuji-Mayi ), Katanga (Lubumbashi), Maniema (Kindu), North Kivu (Goma) and South Kivu (Bukavu). Further, the territory of the regions was divided into 24 districts and 134 rural districts or territories. At the grassroots level, power functions were exercised by chiefs and elders, who were appointed by the government taking into account their traditional status in the local community.

In 1992, the Assembly on Political and Constitutional Reforms, known as the Supreme National Conference, approved a course towards federalization of the government.

Major political organizations.

From 1967 to 1990, the ruling and only legal political organization was the People's Movement of the Revolution (PRM) party led by President Mobutu. Trade unions, women's and youth organizations were built on a national basis and worked within the framework of the NDR. With the introduction of a multi-party system in 1990, the monopoly of Mobutu's party in the country's political life was ended, which was the culmination of a decade of opposition struggle for multi-party democracy. The opposition declared itself in 1980, and in 1982 it created the Union for Democracy and Social Progress (UDSP) party. After 1990, hundreds of political parties and public organizations emerged and became part of the democratic movement.

During the transition period of 1990–1997, almost all political organizations in the country were divided into two main camps. The first supported President Mobutu and advocated maintaining the status quo. It was represented by the organization Political Forces of the Conclave, named after the assembly that pro-presidential forces held in March 1993 to repel democratic elements. Supporters of the second camp united around an organization called the Holy Alliance of the Radical Opposition and its allies, which advocated fundamental changes and declared adherence to the decisions of the National Conference. In May 1997, President Kabila banned the activities of these political groups and all parties in general. The Alliance of Democratic Forces for the Liberation of the Congo, a coalition of four opposition groups created in October 1996 to fight the Mobutu regime, became the country's only legal political organization.

Judicial and legal system.

Justice in the DRC is administered according to the rules of both common law, “written law”, and customary law. The state judicial system, where common law rules are applied, is built on the same principles as the Belgian one. At the grassroots level, mainly in rural areas, there are chieftaincy courts, which are governed by customary laws. Their jurisdiction is limited to resolving disputes of a local nature.

Foreign policy.

The DRC is a member of the UN, the Organization of African Unity (OAU), the African Development Bank, the Southern African Development Community and other international organizations, and maintains diplomatic relations with most countries of the world.

Armed forces.

Since Mobutu seized power in a military coup in 1965, the Congolese armed forces have been the mainstay of his regime. According to statistics leaked to the media in 1993, approx. 90% of the officer corps were fellow countrymen of the president, natives of the Equatoria region, about half of the generals belonged to the same small ethnic group as Mobutu - the Ngbandi. The president's fellow countrymen predominated in the elite military units that made up about a quarter of the armed forces - the 15,000-strong presidential guard, the military intelligence service, the security agencies, the immigration service, and the paramilitary police force. In all, the 60,000 men and women who served in regular gendarmerie units, ground forces, airborne and mechanized units, in a small and poorly equipped air force, as well as in coast guard units, were poorly trained, lived in poor conditions and received a meager salary. The army subsisted on extortion and banditry; soldiers often terrorized and robbed civilians. As a result of mass looting and outrages committed by military personnel in Kinshasa and other cities in 1991 and 1993, many modern shopping centers were destroyed. All this contributed to the disintegration of the national armed forces as a fighting force and an instrument for maintaining law and order. The Congolese army failed to resist the armed rebels who overthrew Mobutu and brought to power the Alliance of Democratic Forces for the Liberation of the Congo.

The Alliance had no army of its own, except for the 4,000–5,000 Congolese auxiliaries of the Angolan army who returned to their homeland to help Kabila, and the thousands of teenagers (kadogo) whom Kabila put under arms during the seven-month march from Goms to Kinshasa. It was the units of the national Angolan army and the Congolese who served in them that won three decisive battles: they defeated Serbian and Croatian mercenaries at Kisangani, defeated the presidential guard at Lubumbashi and the troops of the Angolan rebel Jonas Savimbi at Kenga. Other military operations were carried out under the command of Rwandan officers: the destruction of Hutu refugee camps, which were used by Hutu extremists to continue the genocide of the Tutsi in Rwanda, and the capture of the main cities and administrative centers of the Congo. Until July 1998, the position of chief of staff of the Congolese armed forces was held by Rwandan citizen James Kabare.

By the end of 1998, the DRC was left without a national army. The so-called official army, the Congolese Armed Forces (FAC), was haphazardly formed from the remnants of Mobut's army, soldiers of the auxiliary units of the Angolan army, known as the Katangese gendarmes or "tigers", and the kadogo. It is not surprising that this disunited, ill-trained and undisciplined army was unable to resist the Congolese Rally for Democracy army, formed from defectors from the RAF, including members of the former Mobutu army, and Congolese Tutsis who received military training in Uganda and Rwanda. In addition to the two armies mentioned, several other police units operated in the northeastern regions of the country.

ECONOMY

The DRC, whose subsoil is rich in minerals, has the most powerful economic potential among the countries of Tropical Africa. The country has significant energy resources - hydropower, oil and natural gas, which began to be developed only in recent years. The DRC ranks first in the world in the production of industrial diamonds and cobalt and is one of the world's leading producers of copper. The DRC has a diversified economy, although exports are dominated by mining products. Agriculture still provides the livelihood for the vast majority of the population, but the role of industry is steadily increasing. The main industrial centers are the Kinshasa-Matadi corridor, the Katanga copper mining area and Eastern Kasai, a diamond mining center. During the colonial period, Belgian-owned companies monopolized the mining industry, as well as the most important branches of agricultural and industrial production. The authorities of independent Congo have limited the activities of foreign corporations. In 1974, the government expropriated small and medium-sized foreign enterprises and plantation farms.

The collapse of government bodies and internal strife that followed the declaration of independence seriously undermined the economy. The most qualified civil servants, managers and technical specialists (mostly Belgians) quickly left the country. The costs of fighting the separatists, the inability to collect taxes in many parts of the country, and the secession of Katanga have brought the central government to the brink of bankruptcy. Production volumes fell sharply in most sectors of the economy. Since 1966, the process of economic recovery began. The army managed to restore order in most of the rural areas. In 1967, the government carried out a number of economic reforms that contributed to the development of trade and the influx of investment. In addition to introducing a new and more stable currency, the Zaire, the country's authorities weakened controls over import operations and abolished restrictions imposed back in 1960 on the export of profits by foreign companies abroad.

In the mid-1970s, the country again entered a period of economic crisis, which continued into the 1990s. Since export earnings only partially covered significant import costs, the government made large foreign loans. The growth of export earnings was constrained by low world prices for the main export products - copper, cobalt, coffee and diamonds. Financial assistance from foreign banks and international organizations was required to service the external debt. By 1997, its amount amounted to $13.8 billion. Since agricultural production did not meet the needs of the population, the government was forced to spend foreign currency reserves on food imports. Economic difficulties were compounded by the deplorable state of infrastructure, especially transportation. Annual budgets were running significant deficits, which, coupled with other economic problems, generated high levels of inflation.

The protracted political crisis of the 1990s - the aborted transition to democracy and the wars of 1996 and 1998 - led to further deterioration of the economic situation, the collapse of the mining, trade, banking and service industries.

Gross domestic product.

In 1991, Congo's GDP was estimated at 133 trillion. zaires, which was approximately equal to 8.5 billion dollars, or 233 dollars per capita. The share of agricultural production oriented to the domestic market was approximately 30% of GDP, industry - 30%. The rest of the GDP was produced in trade and services. In 1995, GDP was estimated at $16.5 billion, or approx. $400 per capita. The structure of GDP was as follows: agriculture - 59%, industry - 15%, services - 26%.

Agriculture.

Cultivable land is approx. 3%, meadows and pastures – 6% of the country’s area. In agriculture, two types of agricultural production coexist. Small peasant farms employing approx. 60% of the economically active population produce products for their own needs and for sale on the domestic market. Until now, such farms use the traditional system of shifting farming. Chemical fertilizers and modern technology are almost never used. The main food crops are cassava, bananas, corn, rice, legumes, sweet potatoes and peanuts. Peasants grow cotton, coffee and sugar cane for sale, and surplus food crops are sold in local markets.

The production of agricultural export products is concentrated mainly in plantation farms. Large companies specialize in the production of oil palm products, rubber, coffee and cocoa. Most palm oil and nuts are produced on plantations located in the Congo Basin in the southwest of the country. Arabica coffee is grown on highland plantations in the east, Robusta coffee is grown in the Congo Basin. The plantations produce most of the tea, rubber, sugar cane and cocoa.

Due to the tsetse fly, which transmits the causative agent of sleeping sickness in humans and Nagana disease in domestic animals, the livestock farming area is limited. They raise cattle, goats, sheep, pigs and poultry.

Forestry and fisheries.

About 75% of Congo's territory is covered by forests. Valuable wood (teak and ebony) is exported, the rest is used as fastening material in mines and as fuel. Fish is an important source of protein in the population's diet.

Mining and metallurgy.

Mining in Katanga dates back to the 10th century. Europeans began to develop the mineral resources of the Congo in the first decade of the 20th century. By the end of the colonial period, European companies controlled almost the entire mining industry. The most powerful of them was the Belgian Société Générale, which, through its subsidiary Union Minière du O'Katanga (UMOC), owned as a concession a territory of 33.7 thousand sq. km, where the richest mineral deposits were concentrated minerals. On December 31, 1966, the government nationalized the property of YUMOK. To control the extraction, smelting and sale of copper and other minerals, the state mining corporation ZHEKAMIN was created. The contradictions that arose in the Societe Generale were resolved in early 1967, when the government transferred part of the copper mining to running its subsidiary.

Since independence, Congo's economy has become increasingly dependent on mining. The main source of export earnings is copper, followed by cobalt, diamonds, cassiterite (tin ore) and zinc. Copper production, which is the mainstay of the country's economy, takes place in the Katanga region. Lead, coal, manganese, zinc and cobalt are also mined there. The DRC is the largest supplier of cobalt to the world market. In the area, which extends from the northern border of Katanga to the northern part of Kivu, deposits of gold, tungsten and tantalum are being developed. Kasai ranks first in the world in the production of industrial diamonds, and jewelry diamonds are also mined there. Large-scale illegal mining of diamonds has been established, which are smuggled out of the country abroad. Gold is mined in the north-west of the country. In 1975, the development of oil fields on the coastal shelf began.

Large mining and metallurgical complexes have been created in mining areas. The largest centers of metallurgy are Likasi and Kolwezi in Katanga. Copper ore is converted into a concentrate from which copper is smelted. Most of the zinc ore is processed into zinc sheets, and some of the cassiterite is smelted into tin ingots.

The political crisis of the 1990s had a detrimental effect on the development of the mining and metallurgical industries. Annual copper production fell by 90%, and most of the gold and diamonds were mined by artisanal miners who preferred to work on the black market.

Manufacturing industry.

Although the first manufacturing industries were established in the Congo during the First World War, its development was artificially restrained until the outbreak of the Second World War. Wartime shortages of consumer goods stimulated the growth of local light industry, which continued after independence. However, since the mid-1970s, the output of many types of manufacturing products has declined or not increased each year. Moreover, in the early 1980s, many enterprises were operating at only 30% capacity. This situation arose due to restrictions on foreign exchange transactions, which prevented the purchase of imported spare parts for worn-out equipment, insufficient supplies of industrial raw materials and the reluctance of investors to load industrial enterprises at full capacity against the backdrop of an uncertain economic situation.

After a wave of military robberies swept the country in 1991 and 1993, there was a further decline in production, and the state of the manufacturing industry worsened after each political crisis. During the period of independence, the production of consumer goods, in particular clothing and food products, grew at the highest rates, which was explained by the increasing needs of the ever-increasing urban population and the shortage of similar imported products. Consumer goods manufacturing enterprises are concentrated primarily in the Kinshasa area, the country's main industrial center. Mining, chemical and metallurgical enterprises are concentrated in the mining regions of Katanga. Palm oil presses and small food processing plants are found throughout the country.

Transport and energy.

The main obstacle to the development of mining and other industries is the underdevelopment of the transport system and lack of energy capacity. The basis of the DRC's transport network is the routes for exporting export products along rivers and railways. The length of almost all roads and railways is short; they typically link waterways to export production areas. In the early 1990s, most of the roads were in need of repair. Traffic jams are a common occurrence along the river section. Congo between Kinshasa and the seaport of Matadi. Since this section of the river is unnavigable due to rapids, significant effort and resources are required to transfer cargo from barges to railway cars. The railway connects Katanga with the foreign seaports of Lobito and Benguela (Angola), Beira (Mozambique), Dar es Salaam (Tanzania) and East London, Port Elizabeth and Cape Town (South Africa). In 1990, the length of operating railways was approx. 5.1 thousand km. Due to the poor condition of the railway track, accidents became more frequent in the 1990s.

The length of the waterways is approx. 14.5 thousand km, roads (mostly dirt) - approx. 145 thousand km. Domestic air transportation plays an important role. International airports are located in the cities of Kinshasa, Lubumbashi and Kisangani. The DRC has a powerful hydroelectric potential, estimated at 1 billion kW. However, in 1990, only 4.9 million kWh of electricity was produced.

International trade.

The DRC is an exporter of mining and agricultural products. The main export item is copper, the sale of which brought the country almost half of its export earnings in 1990. Cobalt, diamonds, zinc and cassiterite occupy an important place in the list of export goods. Typically, the share of minerals in exports is approx. 80%. Other exports include coffee, oil palm products, rubber and timber. Machines, vehicles, food, textile and chemical products, metal and metal products are imported.

The cost of exports usually far exceeds the cost of imports. In 1990, for example, exports brought in $2.14 billion and import costs amounted to $1.54 billion. However, significant administrative and debt service costs in the aftermath of the economic crisis of the mid-1970s resulted in significant annual balance of payments deficit. Belgium remains the main foreign trade partner, accounting for over a third of exports. Other major foreign trade partners are the USA, France, Germany, Italy and Japan.

Finance and banking.

In order to issue local currency, regulate cash flows and implement credit policy, the Central Bank was created in 1964. In the 1960s, the franc was devalued several times, and in 1967 a new currency, the Zaire, was introduced into circulation. In 1992, the country's financial system collapsed, and in 1998 the Zaire was replaced by the new Congolese franc.

The state budget.

In the period 1960–1990, the state budget ran a deficit. Since 1967, the budget deficit has assumed alarming proportions. Typically, annual deficits were covered by loans from the Central Bank, which was one of the factors behind strong inflation. The main source of government revenue was taxes on foreign trade transactions, as well as export duties on mining products, import duties, taxes on personal income and corporate income.

Under President Mobutu and Prime Minister Leon Kengo Wa Dondo (1982–1986, 1988–1990 and 1994–1997), there was a practice of concealing the true state of public finances when actual expenditures differed significantly from declared figures. Thus, published data on some items of the 1989 budget expenditures were as follows: servicing the public debt - approx. 29%, education - 7%, national defense - 8% and expenses for maintaining the president and his staff - 15%. In fact, almost half of the budget was spent on the needs of the president. Most development programs were financed through foreign loans and subsidies. In 1989 the development budget amounted to approx. 10% of all government spending. After the cessation of foreign economic assistance in 1990, this item of expenditure disappeared from the state budget.

SOCIETY AND CULTURE

General characteristics.

The country is home to peoples of 250 language groups. For many centuries, the peoples of the northern savannah zone of the Congo maintained ties with the population of the state formations of the interior of West Africa and the Nile region. The kingdom of Kongo, located in the west, dates back to the late 15th and early 16th centuries. established relations with Portugal and the Vatican. Throughout the 19th century. relations between the peoples of the eastern part of the country and the population of the coast of East Africa developed, and shortly before the arrival of Europeans in the Maniema region west of Lake. Arab-Swahili trading state formations began to emerge in Tanganyika. In the 19th century The peoples of the southern regions experienced military pressure from the South African Ngoni people.

Social structure.

Although migration processes between city and countryside continue, the social structure of rural society differs significantly from urban society. During the colonial period, the Congolese middle class was almost entirely white. Africans had few opportunities to obtain higher or secondary specialized education, so most of the leadership positions in the government apparatus and companies were occupied by Europeans. After independence, Africans occupied senior administrative positions, and companies that remained under foreign control for some time were required to recruit African management personnel. Since 1960, an African middle class began to form in the Congo. There are quite a lot of African entrepreneurs in the country, but the process of formation of the African bourgeoisie is proceeding at a slower pace.

A significant number of hired workers have developed in the mining industry, on plantations, transport and light industry enterprises. After independence, the country has a large group of underemployed or completely unemployed people, consisting mainly of young people. They live by odd jobs, street trading, or thanks to the help of relatives who have regular jobs. The vast majority of Congolese farmers own small plots where they grow food crops, as well as cash crops where they can be sold at a profit.

In some areas, mainly in the eastern part of the country, the influence of traditional social structures remains.

Religion and religious institutions.

During the colonial period, Christian missionaries carried out active work among the local population; by 1960 their number in the Congo reached 10 thousand people. The Catholic missions, led by the Belgians, enjoyed special protection from the colonial administration. Churches and missions became educational centers for Africans, where they began to be promoted to leadership positions long before such practices took root in administrative bodies and foreign companies. Thanks to the religious and educational activities of the missions, the vast majority of Congolese were converted to Christianity.

An important role was played by the third largest Christian community - the independent African church, whose head was Simon Kimbangu in 1921. In his teaching, S. Kimbangu combined the ideas of Protestantism and African traditional beliefs. The Belgian authorities considered that Kimbangu's sermons about the chosenness of Africans posed a threat to European domination in the Congo. S. Quimbangu, like many of his followers, was sent to prison, where he died after 30 years of imprisonment. Nevertheless, there were more and more supporters of Kimbangism, and in 1959 Kimbangism was recognized as official religion. In 1969, the Church of Jesus Christ on Earth, founded by Simon Quimbangu, became a member of the World Council of Churches, headquartered in Geneva.

The fourth and smallest Christian community in Congo is the Orthodox Church, making up less than 1% of Congolese Christians. Although the Orthodox faith was introduced to the Congo by Greek traders, whose churches remained exclusively Greek even after independence, a significant number of Congolese converted to Orthodoxy, giving the country another influential religious community.

One of the fastest growing religious communities in Congo is Muslims. From the places of its traditional influence in the east and northeast of the country, Islam spreads throughout its territory. Islam entered the Congo in the mid-19th century. with Arab-Swahili slave and ivory traders from Zanzibar and the East African coast. Muslim Congolese are easily identified by the long white robes common among the Islamized population of the East African coast.

Organizations and social movements.

After World War II, various African organizations emerged in Congolese cities; college alumni associations, intellectual leisure clubs, ethnic associations and trade unions.

Until 1967, the trade union movement was split into three large organizations, which was a consequence of conflicts between Catholic and socialist trade unions in Belgium, as well as the personal ambitions of trade union leaders. In 1967, under the one-party regime, all trade unions were united into one. Independent trade unions were revived after the abolition of the one-party system in 1990.

The students showed the most stubborn resistance to the establishment of control by the ruling party over their organization. After a number of serious conflicts with the regime, the student movement was incorporated into the youth organization of the ruling party. After 1990, students, like other social groups, received the right to participate in any legitimate socio-political activity.

Education.

The first schools appeared in the Congo at the end of the 19th century. After completing the primary school course, Africans had the opportunity to continue their education only in Catholic seminaries.

After the war, the colonial administration began to assist Christian missions in expanding the school education system. In 1948 government subsidies were awarded to Protestant missions for the first time. The main focus was on increasing the number of primary schools. After 1960, this problem was the focus of attention of all governments. In the early 1970s, spending on education exceeded 25% of the state budget. The economic crisis of the 1980–1990s had a detrimental effect on the entire education system. In order to survive in the conditions of a lack of funds to pay teachers, purchase everything necessary for the educational process and repair school buildings, educators are forced to turn to students’ parents for help. High school diplomas are issued to graduates on behalf of the government after successfully passing state examinations. Students in schools in remote areas where there are not enough teachers and teaching aids. Due to the difficulties of rural life, teachers with university degrees prefer to work in urban schools.

In 1954, the Belgians created a Catholic university in Leopoldville (modern Kinshasa), and in 1955 - a state university in Elisabethville (modern Lubumbashi). After 1960, a number of new higher education institutions appeared in the Congo. educational institutions. Thus, in 1963, a Protestant university was opened in Stanleyville (modern Kisangani), and medical, agricultural, technical, trade and other universities opened their doors in different cities of the country. In 1971, all three universities were merged into one - the National University of Zaire, but in 1981 each of them was returned to the status of an independent educational institution.

STORY

Before the establishment of colonial rule, a number of state entities existed in the south, west and east of modern DRC, some of them were quite large in territory and population. With the exception of the northern and northeastern outskirts, the entire population of the country spoke Bantu languages. The kingdoms of Congo, Cuba, Luba and Lunda left the greatest mark on history.

In 1484, when Portuguese sailors reached the mouth of the Congo River, the first contacts were established between Europeans and the local population. Because of the rapids, the Portuguese were unable to climb more than 160 km up the river. Europe really learned about the Congo thanks to the geographical explorations of Henry Stanley and other European travelers of the late 19th century. G. Stanley's attempt to interest the British authorities in the results of his discoveries ended in failure, and then he turned to King Leopold II of Belgium, in whom he found an interested ally. The Belgian monarch played a subtle diplomatic game and managed to get the participants in the Berlin Conference of European Powers in 1885 to agree to transfer into his personal possession the “Independent State of the Congo,” the territory of which was 80 times larger than the territory of Belgium. The reign of Leopold II was marked by cruelty towards the local population, and in the wake of mass protests, the first human rights movement appeared - the organization “For Reforms in the Congo”. In 1908, the Belgian king signed a decree transforming the “Independent State of the Congo” into a colony of Belgium, called the Belgian Congo.

For the next 40 years, the Congo was ruled by a peculiar triumvirate of the colonial administration, the Catholic Church and mining and agricultural companies. Until the mid-1950s, Belgium managed to isolate the Congo from the rest of Africa, but starting in the second half of the 1950s, Congolese began to receive more and more information about liberation movements in neighboring countries. Despite the persecution of the colonial authorities, political parties and organizations began to be created in the Congo one after another. The Belgians allowed the creation of elected municipal councils in several cities, but political parties were allowed only after riots in January 1959 in Leopoldville (modern Kinshasa).

The January events undermined confidence in the Belgians, and the colonial administration began to lose one position after another. However, the concessions turned out to be late, and it was possible to establish relations with Congolese political organizations only after official Brussels promised to grant the Congo full independence on June 30, 1960.

The most influential party was the National Movement of the Congo (NDC), which was created in October 1958 by young, educated Congolese representing various ethnic groups and regions. Led by Patrice Lumumba, the NDC sought to become a national organization. Although the NDC had the greatest support from the population of the Eastern Province and areas where the Congo language was spoken, before independence it managed to spread its influence to a number of other areas. Lumumba's dynamic and radical party especially appealed to Congolese youth. In 1959, the party found itself weakened when some of the most educated party leaders left it, in particular Cyril Adoula and Joseph Ileo, future prime ministers of the country. Another consequence of the split was the creation by Albert Kalonji, the leader of the Kasai, of the party of the same name, the National Movement of the Congo - Kalonji (NDC - K), rivaling the NDC. Unlike the National Movement of the Congo - Lumumba (NDC-L) party, which enjoyed the support of different ethnic groups, the MDC-K relied on the Baluba living in the Kasai province.

Another political organization, the Party of National Progress (PNP), a coalition of conservative politicians and leaders, which was created with the support of the Belgians, also enjoyed nationwide support. This party was distinguished by moderation and pro-Belgian sentiment; Paul Beauliat became its leader. Witty Congolese deciphered the French abbreviation for the name of the party (PNP) as follows: “parti des négres payés”, i.e. "party of bribed blacks."

Other influential political parties were representatives of local or ethnic interests. The Union of the Bakongo People (ABAKO) was created in 1950 as a cultural and educational organization of the Bakongo. In 1956–1959 it transformed into a political party led by Joseph Kasavubu. With solid support in the province of Bas-Congo and Leopoldville, ABAKO carried out political work mainly among the Bakongo and repeatedly advocated the creation of an independent state of the Bakongo people within the boundaries of the medieval state entity of the Congo. Nevertheless, the party leaders agreed to join the first government of the independent Republic of the Congo. Created in 1958, the African Solidarity Party (PAS) united in its ranks various ethnic groups in the areas of Kwilu and Kwango in the province of Leopoldville and was active among the workers of Leopoldville who came from these areas. The leaders of PAS, Antoine Gizenga and Cleophas Kamitatu, managed to create a party that was distinguished by radicalism and good organization. In order to defend the interests of Katanga, with the support of European settlers, the Confederation of Katangese Associations (CONACAT) was created in 1958. Initially, this party united in its ranks representatives of all the main ethnic groups of Katanga, but in November 1959 the Baluba of the northern regions left its membership, who then formed their own political organization on an ethnic basis - the Baluba Association of Katanga (BALUBAKAT). CONACAT was not a mass party; its supporters were united by the common interests of the African elite of Katanga and the Europeans living there. CONAKAT was led by Moise Tshombe and Godefroy Munongo.

In the May 1960 parliamentary elections, Lumumba's party won 33 of the 137 parliamentary seats in the House of Representatives, and another 8 seats went to its allies. The NDC-L faction included representatives from five provinces of the country. The PPP was represented in parliament by 14 deputies from three provinces. 13 seats were won by candidates from PAS and 12 by ABACO, all in the constituencies of Leopoldville. NDK-K received 8 parliamentary seats from the province of Kasai. Candidates CONAKAT and BALUBAKAT each won 8 seats from Katanga province. The remaining seats in the House of Representatives were shared by small parties and independent candidates.

In a situation where none of the parties or coalitions secured a majority, the only logical step was the formation of a government led by representatives of the NDC-L and its allies. A coalition government was formed, P. Lumumba became prime minister. The provisional constitution, largely copied from the Belgian constitution, provided for the division of executive power between the president and the prime minister: the former was assigned mainly ceremonial functions. The president and prime minister were elected by parliament. In accordance with the compromise reached, the post of head of state was taken by the leader of the ABAKO party, J. Kasavubu. In each of the six provinces, elected legislatures elected provincial presidents and members of provincial governments. The latter, in most cases, like the central government, represented very fragile coalitions.

Just five days after the declaration of independence, the country plunged into chaos when Congolese soldiers stationed in the province of Bas-Congo mutinied against Belgian officers. The unrest spread to other provinces, and in the current situation, most of the Belgian officials left the country. On July 10, 1960, Belgium sent troops into the Congo. The next day, Moise Tshombe, with the support of white settlers, declared the province of Katanga an independent state. A month later, Albert Kalonji declared the independence of the "Mining State of South Kasai".

Faced with the threat of the collapse of the country, J. Kasavubu and P. Lumumba accused Belgium of aggression against an independent state and asked the UN Security Council for help. The UN responded to this request by sending peacekeeping forces to the Congo under its flag, consisting mainly of military contingents from African and Asian countries. Their task was to restore order and create conditions for the withdrawal of Belgian troops.

At the first stage, the UN operation was successful, but then disagreements arose between the Congolese government and UN officials about the nature of measures regarding Katanga, where the separatist movement was intensifying with the direct support of Belgium. The Congolese side insisted on the forceful suppression of separatism, and UN Secretary General Dag Hammarskjöld argued that the UN has no right to resort to military force. Realizing that the Katanga problem must be solved at any cost, Patrice Lumumba asked the USSR for military assistance. The West used this circumstance to accuse Lumumba of pro-communist sympathies, which led to a decline in his prestige both within the country and abroad.

On September 5, 1960, acting with the support of Western countries, President J. Kasavubu removed P. Lumumba from power and appointed a new prime minister, who did not receive the support of the majority of parliamentarians. This further escalated the situation, and a week later, the Congolese army chief of staff, Colonel Joseph Mobutu, announced that he would “neutralize” all politicians and take power into his own hands. When there were signs that the Mobutu regime had strengthened its position, P. Lumumba’s supporters decided to move from Leopoldville to the administrative center of the Eastern Province of Stanleyville (modern Kisangani) and form another central government there. When in November 1960 P. Lumumba himself secretly left Leopoldville and headed to Stanleyville, he was tracked down and captured by Mobutu's soldiers.

By early 1961, the Congo had four governments: two competing national governments, one in Stanleyville led by Mobutu, one in Kisangani led by Gizenga, deputy prime minister in Lumumba's government, and two separatist governments, one led by Tshombe in Katanga, the second from Kalonji in South Kasai. The current situation in the Congo caused concern among Western powers and the UN. Both in the Congo itself and beyond its borders, the opinion was strengthened that Lumumba was the only Congolese politician who was capable of preserving the territorial integrity of the country. The possibility of Lumumba returning to power frightened Washington and its Western allies, so the CIA continued to support the government in Leopoldville. By order of Mobutu, the arrested Lumumba was handed over to the ruler of Katanga, Tshombe, who on January 17, 1961 ordered the liquidation of the former leader of the country. In February 1961, the UN Security Council adopted a tough resolution that demanded the restoration of the power of the central government and a democratic regime in the Congo, as well as the cessation of foreign aid to Katanga.

With the support of the UN and Western powers, a compromise was reached in August 1961, according to which the authorities in Leopoldville and Stanleyville were to form one government led by Prime Minister Cyril Adoula. The leaders of Katanga resolutely refused to participate in its creation. In September and December 1961, armed clashes occurred between UN forces and the Katangese army. Lengthy negotiations between S. Adula and M. Tshombe did not bring results, and only a military operation by UN forces against Tshombe’s army in January 1963 put an end to plans for the secession of Katanga.

Meanwhile, the government coalition created from representatives of Leopoldville and Stanleyville collapsed, A. Gizenga was arrested. These events sparked mass protests. To preserve his unpopular regime within the country, but which enjoyed external support, Prime Minister S. Adula was forced to resort to tough measures, including the dissolution of parliament. On August 3, 1963, Lumumba's supporters formed the National Liberation Council (NCL) in Leopoldville, which, for security reasons, soon moved to Brazzaville, the capital of the neighboring Republic of the Congo. In mid-1963, partisan detachments began to form in the province of Kwilu, under the leadership of Lumumba’s comrade-in-arms Pierre Mulele. In January 1964 they carried out armed attacks on government offices, Christian mission buildings and companies. In April 1964, hostilities began near the eastern border. The rebel People's Liberation Army (PLA) operating in the northeast defeated government troops in July-August and established full control over the area. On September 5, 1964, a month after the capture of Stanleyville by the NAD, Christophe Gbenie announced the creation of a revolutionary government there.

The humiliating defeats of the Congolese army from poorly armed guerrilla groups predetermined the fate of the government of S. Adula. In July 1964, a new government was formed, headed by Moise Tshombe. To strengthen the Congolese army, he called up several hundred white mercenaries and received military assistance from Belgium and the United States. In August, while trying to capture the city of Bukavu, the partisans suffered their first serious defeat. By early September, mercenary-led columns of the Congolese army began to push back the rebels.

On November 24, 1964, Belgian troops were dropped from US Air Force aircraft on Stanleyville. His task was to free hostages from the United States and Belgium and support a detachment of government troops under the command of mercenaries who were supposed to liberate the city from the rebels. More than a thousand Congolese civilians and many hostages died during the operation. Over the next few weeks, partisan detachments in the east of the country were defeated. Individual groups of partisans continued to resist for many months, and in some areas for several more years.

The wave of indignation that swept across the world in connection with the Belgian-American armed action in the Stanleyville area led to an increase in military assistance to the partisans. Throughout 1965, China carried out significant arms deliveries through Tanzania. Cuban revolutionary Ernesto Che Guevara spent several months training the army of Laurent-Désiré Kabila in a mountainous area near Lake. Tanganyika. But help came too late and could no longer influence the outcome of the confrontation between the government in Leopoldville and Lumumba’s supporters.

When victory over the rebels was no longer in doubt, Tshombe created a nationwide political bloc, the Congolese National Agreement (CNC), and held parliamentary elections in May 1965. Despite the difficult situation, the parliamentary elections were well organized and their results were almost undisputed. Two warring blocs emerged in the new parliament. The result of the bitter struggle between President J. Kasavubu and Prime Minister M. Tshombe was Kasavubu’s decision to appoint Evarist Kimba to the post of Prime Minister. Kimba’s candidacy was put forward for approval by parliament members twice, and both times he did not receive the required number of votes.

The commander-in-chief of the Congolese army, General Mobutu, took advantage of this situation and seized power in the country on November 24, 1965. Mobutu abolished the parliamentary republic and transformed the Congo into a unitary state. The majority of Congolese supported these reforms. In 1967, a new constitution was adopted, according to which presidential rule was established in the country. In 1974, amendments were made to the text of the constitution, and in 1978 it was replaced by a new constitution, which provided for a significant expansion of presidential powers. The ruling political party, the Popular Movement of the Revolution (MRM), created in 1967, was declared the “supreme institution” of the country, which turned Congo into a typical African state with a one-party system and an authoritarian regime.

During the early years of Mobutu's rule, his regime enjoyed some support from the population, which was tired of the chaos of the early 1960s. The President banned political parties, restored the authority of the central government throughout the country, and reorganized the system of government. Maintaining close relations with Western countries, the Mobutu government began in 1967 to implement a program for Africanization of the economy and nationalized the giant company Union Minière du O'Katanga (UMOC). In the 1970 elections, the unrivaled NDR won all the seats in parliament, and Mobutu was elected president on an uncontested basis. In 1971, the Africanization campaign was extended to the cultural sphere. The country was renamed the Republic of Zaire (one of the local names of the Congo River, N'Zadi, distorted in the 15th century by the Portuguese). As part of the same campaign, Christian personal names were replaced with African ones (in particular, Joseph Désiré Mobutu became Mobutu Sese Seko), and an official ideological doctrine was adopted, called “genuine Zairean nationalism.”

Throughout the 1970s, Mobutu, while maintaining a generally pro-Western course, began to strengthen relations with China, which provided economic and military assistance to Zaire. During the civil war that unfolded in Angola after gaining independence, Zaire, together with the USA and South Africa, provided assistance to the FNLA and UNITA, who fought against the MPLA, which was supported by the USSR. The civil war in Angola resulted in the closure of Zaire's railway connection with the port city of Benguela, through which copper was exported from Katanga. In March 1977 and May 1978, exiled Katangese and other oppositionists invaded Katanga from Angola to overthrow Mobutu. Having received significant assistance from a number of Western powers, primarily from France, government troops barely defeated Mobutu's opponents.

DR Congo at the end of the 20th century

The process of weakening the Mobutu regime began in the late 1970s. Its harbinger was the economic crisis of 1975, and then a series of humiliating defeats for the government army at the initial stage of hostilities in Katanga in 1977 and 1978. Attempts by the international community, primarily the United States, to convince the Mobutu government of the need to democratize the political system and stabilize the economy ended in failure. This could be partly explained by poorly thought-out recommendations, partly by the reluctance of Mobutu and his entourage, mired in corruption, to undertake any reforms.

Faced with the consequences of the “privatization” of the state by the president and his inner circle, the healthy forces of Congolese society formed a new democratic movement aimed at restoring the rule of law and state institutions in the country. The main goal of the democratic movement created in 1980 was to eliminate the underlying causes of the economic crisis and social degradation, solving the moral problem known as le mal zaïrois (French “Zairean disease”). In 1990, democratic forces managed to achieve the abolition of the one-party system. The democratic movement was led by a group of 13 members of parliament who demanded political reforms aimed at establishing multi-party democracy. In 1982, this group created the opposition party Union for Democracy and Social Progress (UDSP), which was an open challenge to the one-party state system. The first major action of the UDSP, led by Etienne Tshisekedi, was a demonstration on January 17, 1989 in Kinshasa, dedicated to the anniversary of the assassination of Lumumba.

Democratic forces also achieved the convening of the Supreme National Conference. Held in Kinshasa between August 7 and December 6, 1992, the historic meeting of 2,842 delegates representing all sectors of Congolese society was an epoch-making event in the history of independent Congo. At this forum, a clear legal and organizational scheme was adopted for a two-year transition period to democracy, which provided for the introduction of a parliamentary form of government, the creation of a temporary legislative body for the transition period, a presidency with primarily representative functions and a prime minister, who is the head of a transitional government of national unity. The government's main objectives were to achieve economic recovery and support specialized institutions created to successfully implement the tasks of the transition period. The main such institution was the independent election commission, which was supposed to prepare, conduct general elections and monitor their progress within two years.

By decision of the conference, the president was deprived of almost all power, but remained as a nominal head of state for the transition period. 71% of conference delegates who took part in free elections approved the candidacy of Etienne Tshisekedi for the post of prime minister. However, at the beginning of 1993, in an effort to split the ranks of the opposition and maintain absolute power, Mobutu and his clique launched a fierce struggle against democratic forces, adopting methods of state terrorism, ethnic cleansing and economic sabotage. In a situation where the armed forces prevented E. Tshisekedi and his ministers from leading the country, the absence of an active government and the collapse of the entire public administration system led to the complete collapse of the economy and the destabilization of the internal political situation, which was vividly reminiscent of the chaos that swept the Congo in the early 1960s.

The failure of the nonviolent transition to democracy coincided with the rampant genocide in Rwanda. Many Hutu convicted of crimes found refuge in the Congo - in the regions of North and South Kivu. Two years later, the Tutsi-led Rwandan government decided to destroy Hutu bases in Congo, leading to a seven-month war that ended in May 1997 with the overthrow of Mobutu's regime and the installation of Kabila's government. The country received the official name of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. In 1998, relations between Kabila and his former allies Rwanda and Uganda deteriorated. As important as the external causes of the 1996 and 1998 wars and their international consequences were, for the Congolese the most serious outcome is that the attempt at transition to democracy failed and the country remains in a deep political and economic crisis.

Story Zaira V new And newest time. M., 1982
Republic of Zaire. Directory. M., 1984



Democratic Republic of the Congo.

The name of the country comes from the local name for the “river” - “kong”.

Administrative divisions of Congo. The state is divided into 9 regions and the capital district.

Congo form of government. Republic.

Head of State of the Congo. President, term of office - 2 years.

Supreme legislative body of the Congo. Unicameral Legislative Council.

Supreme executive body of the Congo. Government.

Major cities of Congo. Lubumbashi, Kisangani.

National language of Congo. French.

Fauna of Congo. Representatives of the animal world of the Congo are elephant, lion, leopard, chimpanzee, gorilla, giraffe, hippopotamus, okapi, zebra, wolf, buffalo. There are numerous reptiles, among which the mamba (one of the most poisonous snakes in the world), crocodile, and python stand out. Birds include flamingos, pelicans, parrots, herons, sunbirds, and African lapwings. There are also a large number of insects, including the tsetse fly and the malaria mosquito. There are a lot of fish in the lakes (up to 1000 species).

Rivers and lakes of Congo. The country has the densest river network in Africa. The main Congo River and its many tributaries. Many rivers abound with rapids and waterfalls.

Sights of Congo. In Kinshasa - the National Museum, in Lubumbashi - the Museum of African Art, in Eala - a huge botanical garden, in Likasi - a geological museum. Natural attractions include nature reserves, national parks, and colorful waterfalls, such as the cascade of 70 Livingston Falls in the lower Congo, near the ocean.

Useful information for tourists

The peoples of the Congo have rich cultural traditions - music, dance and art. Crafts such as wood carving, bone carving, and basket weaving have been preserved everywhere. Of particular interest are the wooden sculptures and masks with distinctive features of each ethnic group.