Congo (Dem. Rep.) Passport

[Country Name] Democratic Republic of the Congo (R é publique D é mocratique du Congo). Abbreviated as Congo (Kinshasa).

【 Area 】 2344885 square kilometers.

[Population] 102.3 million people (2023). There are 254 ethnic groups in the country, belonging to the Bantu, Sudanese, and Nilot language families. The tribes of Bantu language family account for 84% of the national population, mainly distributed in the south, middle and east, of which the Congolese are the largest in the country; The various tribes of the Sudanese language family mostly reside in the north, with the largest populations being the Azand and Mongbeto tribes; The various tribes of the Nilot language family were the earliest indigenous inhabitants living in Congo, most of whom have been assimilated by other tribes, with only a few remaining tribes such as the Pygmy and Arul now living in the equatorial forests. French is the official language, and the officially recognized ethnic languages are Lingala, Swahili, Kikongo, and Kiluba. 50% of the residents believe in Roman Catholicism, 20% believe in Protestantism, 10% believe in Islam, and the rest believe in various indigenous primitive religions.

【 Capital 】 Kinshasa, formerly known as Leopoldville. With a population of approximately 17 million, it is the largest city in the Democratic Republic of Congo and the political, economic, and cultural center of the country. The annual average temperature is 26 ℃.

F é lix Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo, the head of state, officially took office on January 24, 2019 and was re elected on January 20, 2024, for a term of 5 years.

[Important holiday] June 30th (Independence Day).

[Overview] It is located in central Africa, bordering Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi and Tanzania to the east, Zambia and Angola to the south, South Sudan and the Central African Republic to the north, and Congo Brazzaville across the Congo River to the west. There is a narrow corridor leading to the Atlantic Ocean in the west. The coastline is 37 kilometers long. The northern region has a tropical rainforest climate, while the southern region has a tropical grassland climate. The annual average temperature is 27 ℃, and the annual precipitation is about 1500-2000 millimeters.

The 13th and 14th centuries were part of the Kingdom of Congo. In 1884, it was designated as a "private territory" of the King of Belgium, known as the "Congo Free State", and later renamed as the "Belgian Congo". On June 30, 1960, independence was declared and Kasavubu was elected as the President, with Lumumba as the Prime Minister. The country was named "Republic of Congo" or simply "Congo (Liberia)". In August 1964, the country's name was changed to the Democratic Republic of the Congo. In May 1966, the capital was renamed Kinshasa, abbreviated as "Congo (Kinshasa)". In October 1971, the country's name was changed to "Republic of Zaire". The multi-party system was implemented in April 1990. In May 1997, the name of the Democratic Republic of the Congo was restored, along with the national flag and anthem from the time of independence. In August 1998, some soldiers launched a rebellion with the support of the armies of Uganda and Rwanda. Zimbabwe, Angola, Namibia and other countries responded to the request of the Congolese government to send troops for assistance, triggering regional conflicts and causing a situation of division and rule in Congo. In July 1999, the conflicting parties signed a ceasefire agreement in Lusaka, the capital of Zambia. The United Nations Security Council decided to establish the United Nations Organization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (Kinshasa) and deploy peacekeeping forces to the country. On January 16, 2001, Laurent Kabila was assassinated, and his son Joseph Kabila Kabange succeeded him as president. In December 2018, Felix Antoine Tshisekedi Chilombo was elected president and re elected in 2023.

Politics: Implement a semi presidential system, with the President serving as the head of state and commander-in-chief of the military, and the Prime Minister serving as the head of government. In December 2018, the Democratic Republic of Congo held general elections, and the candidate of the Democratic and Social Progressive Alliance, Tshisekedi, won the election and formed a coalition government. In 2021, the Democratic and Social Progress Alliance formed a "Holy Alliance" with some political parties to restructure the new government. In December 2023, Zisekdi was successfully re elected as a candidate for the "Holy Alliance", and the Democratic and Social Progressive Alliance became the largest party in the National Assembly. In April 2024, Judith Tuluka Suminova was appointed as the Prime Minister. In May, the new government was officially formed.

In January 2008, the government of the Democratic Republic of Congo held a peace, security, and development conference for North and South Kivu provinces in the capital city of Goma. Some illegal armed groups in the region signed a ceasefire agreement with the government. In August, there was a conflict between the Congolese government army and the Nkunda armed group in the area, causing a large number of civilians to be displaced. In January 2009, just after reaching an agreement with Rwanda, they sent troops into eastern Congo to participate in the encirclement and suppression of illegal armed groups, and arrested Nkunda. In March, the two governments announced the end of the joint military operation and the withdrawal of all Lu troops from the border. In December 2008, the Congolese government, together with the governments of Uganda and Southern Sudan, launched a unified military operation against the Ukrainian rebel group, the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA), operating in the northeastern region of the country. In March 2009, the Ukrainian army had just withdrawn. Subsequently, with the efforts of all parties, the situation in the eastern region of Congo has significantly improved.

In May 2010, the United Nations Security Council unanimously passed Resolution 1925, deciding to rename the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (Kinshasa) as the United Nations Stabilization Mission in the Congo (MONUSCO) from July 1 of the same year. The focus of the mission shifted from monitoring ceasefire and maintaining peace to protecting civilians, consolidating peace, and maintaining stability. In March 2013, the United Nations passed a resolution to establish an "intervention brigade" within the United Nations Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, with the aim of assisting in reducing the threat posed by armed groups to the sovereignty of eastern Congo and the safety of civilians. The intervention brigade is led by South Africa, Tanzania, and Malawi.

In April 2012, the anti-government armed group "3.23 Movement" (M23) launched a war in eastern Congo. In February 2013, 11 regional countries including Congo, Rwanda, and Uganda signed the "Framework Document for Peace, Security, and Cooperation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Great Lakes Region". In December, the Congolese government and M23 reached an 11 point consensus in Nairobi through their respective statements, with M23 announcing the end of the armed rebellion. The Ugandan anti-government armed forces, such as the Democratic Alliance Forces (ADF), continue to be active. After taking office as president in January 2019, Zisekdi continuously strengthened the crackdown on illegal armed groups in the east and achieved certain results. Since 2022, M23 has become active again, causing friction with Rwanda. The East African Community has dispatched a multinational joint force to combat illegal armed groups in Congo. In November 2022 and March 2023, the Congolese government signed ceasefire agreements with M23 twice, but did not achieve significant results. In December 2023, the Eastern Community troops will withdraw. Since 2024, the UN Stabilization Mission has initiated the withdrawal process, and the Southern African Development Community Joint Force has been stationed in eastern Congo. From July 5th to August 3rd, the Congolese government held a 4-week humanitarian ceasefire with M23. On July 30th, the foreign ministers of Congo and Rwanda met in Angola and agreed to a ceasefire for all parties involved in the conflict in eastern Congo starting from August 4th local time. Currently, negotiations are underway between Gang and Lu regarding a peace agreement.

On February 18, 2006, then President Kabila promulgated a new constitution, which stipulated that the national institutions were composed of the President, the Government, the National Assembly, the Senate, and the courts. The President is the Head of State and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces, elected by universal suffrage for a term of five years, renewable for one term. He is responsible for upholding the dignity of the Constitution, national independence, sovereignty, and territorial security, and ensuring the normal operation of state institutions under parliamentary supervision and government participation. The Prime Minister is the head of government, and the government and the President jointly formulate national policies. The government is the main responsible agency for implementing national policies. The government is responsible to the parliament, and the National Assembly may propose a motion of no confidence against government members; The president has the power to dissolve parliament. The judicial power is independent of the legislative and executive powers and consists of the Constitutional Court, Supreme Court, Administrative Court, Civil Court, Military Court, and Prosecutor's Office.

The parliament adopts a bicameral system, consisting of the National Assembly and the Senate. There are 500 members of the National Assembly and 108 members of the Senate, each serving a term of 5 years. The current National Assembly will be elected in January 2024, with the Speaker being Vital Kamere Loir Kanikiny Nikingi. The current Senate will be elected in April 2024, with the Speaker being Sama Lukonde Keeng Jean Michel.

The current government will be formed in May 2024, including 1 Prime Minister, 6 Vice Premiers, 10 State Ministers, 24 Ministers, and 4 Ministerial level Representatives. The main members are as follows: Prime Minister TULUKA SUMINWA Judith, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, Security, Decentralization and Traditional Customs Affairs SHABANI LUKOO Jacquemin, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport, Transport and Road Clearing BEMBA GOMBO Jean Pierre, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense and Veterans KABONGO MWADIANVITA Guy, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Economy MUKOKO SAMBA Daniel, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Public Service and Administrative Modernization. Minister of Public Sector Innovation, LIHAU EBUA Jean Pierre, NYEMBO MBWIZYA Guylain, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Planning and Development Assistance Coordination; MUSHAYI MUTOMB Gr é goire, Minister of State and Minister for Agriculture and Food Security; KAYIKWAMBA WAGNER Th é r è se, Minister of State and Minister for Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and French Speaking Countries; MALU DINANGA Ra ï ssa, Minister of State and Minister for National Education and New Citizens; and BAZAIBA Masudi È Eve, Minister of State and Minister for Environment and Sustainable Development. ve), Minister of State and Minister of Infrastructure and Public Works, GISARO Muvunyi Alexis, MUTAMBA TUNGGA Constant, Minister of State and Minister of Justice and Seal, Boji Sangara BAMANyIRWE Aim é, Minister of State and Minister of Budget, BANDUBOLA MBONGO Acacia, Minister of State and Minister of Land, MUHINDO NZANGI BUTONDO, Minister of State and Minister of Rural Development, LOANDO MBOOYO Guy, Minister of State and Minister of Territorial Consolidation, and Fuwanba Likund Dududou Guy, Minister of Finance (FWAMBA LIKUNDE Doudou), Minister of Industry and SME Development KABAMBA WATUM Louis, Minister of Water and Electricity Resources LWAMBA MUBA Teddy, Mining Minister KIZITO KAPINGA MULUME, Petroleum Minister SAKOMBI MOLENDO Aim é, Employment and Labor Minister AKUAKUA Ephra ï m, Urban Construction and Housing Minister MBADU PANZU Chrispin, Human Rights Minister MWAVITA SHAMBU Chantal, Public Health, Health and Social Security Minister KAMBA MULAMBA Samuel Roger, Higher Education and Universities Minister Safi SAFI SOMBO Ayane, Minister of Scientific Research and Technological Innovation KABANDA KURHENGA Gilbert, Minister of Posts, Telecommunications, and Digitization Kibassa MALIBA LUBALALA Augustin, Minister of State Owned Enterprises BUSSA TONGBA Jean Lucien, Minister of Social Affairs, Humanitarian Action, and National Unity AZIZA MUNANA Nathalie, Minister of Foreign Trade PALUKU KAHONGYA Julien, Minister of Regional Integration MAZENGA MUKANZU Didier, Minister of News and Media and Government Spokesperson Muya Kartenbu MUYAYA KATEMWE Patrick, Minister of Vocational Training EKILA LIKOMBIO Marc, Minister of Gender, Family and Children Kandolo OMOYI L é onie, Minister of Fisheries and Livestock TSHIMANGA BWANA Jean Pierre, Minister of Culture, Arts and Heritage ELEBE MA NDEMBO Yolande, Minister of Tourism MPAMBIA MUSANGA Didier, Minister of Sports and Recreation Budibuanga Didier, Minister of Youth and Patriotic Awakening Ayeganagato Naguipon Noera EGANAGATO NAKWIPON No ë lla, KAZADI DITABALA Bestine, Ministerial Representative for International Cooperation and Francophone Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, TENGE TE LITHO Didier, Minister of Urban Policy Affairs, Ministry of Urban Construction and Housing; MBOMBO MWAMBA St é phane, Minister of New Climate Economy, Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development; and ESAMBO DIATA Ir è ne, Minister of Disability Affairs, Ministry of Social Affairs.

In February 2016, the administrative division adjustment was completed, and the original 11 provinces were divided into 26 provinces.

After the implementation of a multi-party system in April 1990, more than 400 political parties emerged. During the reign of Laurent Kabila, political party activities were temporarily banned. In May 2001, President Joseph Kabila promulgated the "Law on the Organization and Activities of Political Parties and Political Groups", officially lifting the ban on political parties and requiring all parties to re register. As of July 2023, there are a total of 910 political parties registered with the Ministry of the Interior in Congo. The main political parties are as follows:

Union Pour la D é mocratie et le Progr è s Social, UDPS）： Established in February 1982, it has long been in opposition and advocates for the implementation of a Western style democratic system. Former party chairman Etienne Zisekdi served as prime minister, minister, ambassador, and other positions during the Mobutu era, ranking second with 32.33% of the vote in the presidential election held in November 2011. After the death of Etienne Zisekdi, his son Felix Antoine Zisekdi Chirombo succeeded as the party chairman. In the National Assembly elections held in December 2023, the party won 69 seats.

The People's Party for Reconstruction and Democracy (Le Parti du Peuple pour la Reconstruction et la D é mocratie), PPRD）： Established on March 31, 2003, it is the main political party supporting former President Kabila. The party constitution stipulates that the ideal goal of the party is to take control of the state power through democratic means, safeguard national unity, territorial integrity, and national prosperity. The main institutions include the National Congress and the National Executive Committee. Headquartered in Kinshasa. Executive Secretary Emmanuel Ramazani Shadary. The party did not participate in the general election scheduled for December 2023.

Ensemble pour la republique (EPR): Established on December 18, 2019. Headquartered in Lubumbashi. The founder and party chairman is Mo ï se Katumbi, who was originally a member of the People's Party for Reconstruction and Democracy, but withdrew from the party in 2015. In the National Assembly elections held in December 2023, the party won 18 seats.

Engagement pour la Citoyennet é et le D é evelopment, ECIDE）： Established on March 7, 2009, advocating for the construction of a prosperous country, safeguarding people's rights and interests, and promoting democratic culture. Headquartered in Kinshasa. The party chairman Martin Madidi Fayulu was elected as a member of the National Assembly and was nominated as a co candidate by the main opposition in the 2018 general election. He ranked third in the 2023 presidential election in terms of vote share.

Moument pour la Lib é ration du Congo, MLC）： Established on November 10, 1998, it was originally a political and military organization formed by former President Mobutu's former faction. It had long received support from Uganda and was in armed confrontation with the Kabila government. In June 2003, it was announced that it would become a political party and participate in the internal political dialogue. Later, it joined the transitional government and was appointed as the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Planning, and Budget. The party chairman, Benba, served as the Vice President in charge of economic and financial affairs during the transitional period. Headquartered in Equateur Province, with branch offices established in the capital Kinshasa and major cities across the country. The party formed an alliance with the Fighting for Citizens and Development Party led by Fayulu in the 2018 presidential election. After Zisekdi's victory in the election, the party approached the Democratic and Social Progressive Alliance led by Qi. In March 2023, Party Chairman Bemba was appointed as Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense. In April, the party formed a "Holy Alliance" with multiple political parties including the Democratic and Social Progress Alliance. In the National Assembly elections held in December 2023, the party won 19 seats.

Union pour la Nation Congolaise (UNC): Established in 2010, founded and chaired by Vital Kamerhe, former Speaker of the National Assembly and General Secretary of the People's Party for Reconstruction and Democracy. The party formed an alliance with the Democratic and Social Progressive Alliance led by Zisekdi in the presidential election held at the end of 2018. In April 2023, the party formed a "Holy Alliance" with multiple political parties including the Democratic and Social Progress Alliance. In the National Assembly elections held in December 2023, the party won 36 seats.

[Important Person] Felix Antoine Zisekdi Chirombo: President. Born on June 13, 1963 in Kinshasa, the son of Etienne Tshisekedi, founder of the Union for Democracy and Social Progress. At a young age, he followed his father to participate in political activities. He was elected as a member of the National Assembly in 2011 and has served as the Deputy General Secretary and Chairman of the Democratic and Social Progress Alliance since 2016. He won the general election in January 2019 and became president, and was re elected in January 2024.

One of the world's least developed countries as announced by the United Nations. Agriculture and mining dominate the economy, the processing industry is underdeveloped, and food cannot be self-sufficient. Once one of the countries with better economic conditions in Africa, Congo experienced consecutive years of negative economic growth in the early 1990s due to ongoing political turmoil. The civil war in 1996 and regional conflicts in 1998 added insult to injury and brought the national economy to the brink of collapse. After President Kabila came to power in 2001, the macroeconomic situation gradually improved, and the economic growth rate once reached around 8%. Subsequently, due to the influence of political and security situations, the economic growth rate slowed down. In 2019, after taking office as president, Zisekdi implemented the "Emergency Plan for 100 Days of Governance", vigorously raising funds to promote the implementation of projects in various fields such as transportation, health, education, housing, energy, employment, agriculture, fisheries, and animal husbandry. Since 2021, the economy has achieved rapid growth. The main economic indicators for 2023 are as follows:

Gross Domestic Product: 66.38 billion US dollars

Per capita Gross Domestic Product: 649.1 US dollars

Economic growth rate: 8.6%

Currency name: Franc Congolais (FC)

Inflation rate: 19.9%

Government debt to GDP ratio: 15.2%

(Information)

【 Resources 】 Rich in natural resources, it is known as the "world's raw material warehouse" and "geological wonder". The country is rich in various non-ferrous metals, rare metals, and non-metallic minerals, among which copper, cobalt, industrial diamonds, zinc, manganese, tin, tantalum, germanium, tungsten, cadmium, nickel, and chromium have considerable reserves and occupy an important position in the world. Iron, coal, gold, silver and other reserves are also abundant, as well as platinum, lead, phosphate, silicate and so on. Abundant reserves of oil and natural gas. The forest is vast, accounting for 47% of the total forest area in Africa, and is rich in more than 20 precious woods such as ebony, rosewood, rosewood, and yellow lacquer wood. The hydropower potential in the lower reaches of the Congo River is enormous.

Mining is an important economic pillar. After 1990, the economy continued to struggle and mining production experienced a comprehensive decline. The two wars in 1997 and 1998 occurred in the mineral rich eastern region, where production was severely damaged. In recent years, with the continuous easing of the domestic situation, mining production has recovered to some extent. In 2018, the industrial and mining output accounted for 32.3% of the gross domestic product.

The total arable land area in China is about 80 million hectares, of which 6 million hectares were previously cultivated. The rural population accounts for about 70% of the national population. Individual farmers are the main body of agricultural production, and they mostly use slash and burn cultivation. All agricultural land belongs to the state, and operators can legally obtain the right to operate it, which is renewed every 25 years. The main grain crops in Gang include corn, rice, cassava, beans, etc; The major cash crops include coffee, palm, cotton, cocoa, rubber, tobacco, tea, etc.

Inland and air transportation play an important role in transportation, while land transportation lags behind.

Water transportation: The total length of rivers in China is 23000 kilometers, of which 15000 kilometers are navigable. The main waterways are the Congo River and the Kasai River, which can generally accommodate ships of 150-400 tons. There are 2785 kilometers of waterways that can accommodate ships of 800 to 1000 tons. The main river ports include Matadi, Boma, Kinshasa, Ilebo, Kinshasa, Mbandaka, Kindu, and Kabalo. In addition, lakes such as Lake Tanganyika in the east have ports. The main seaport is Banana Port, which has regular ocean routes to West Africa, Mediterranean countries, France, Northern Europe, the United States, Japan and other places.

Air freight: Air freight is relatively developed, with domestic routes of about 39000 kilometers, African routes of about 14000 kilometers, and intercontinental routes of about 24000 kilometers. It has regular flights with Brussels, Paris, Istanbul, Johannesburg, Addis Ababa, Nairobi, Libreville, and Douala. There are a total of 54 airports, including 6 international airports.

Roads: The total length of the original roads nationwide is 145000 kilometers, including 58129 kilometers of first-class highway, 87300 kilometers of rural roads, and 7400 kilometers of urban road network. Due to years of war, destruction and lack of maintenance, most of the roads cannot pass normally, and many second-class highway and rural roads have been damaged. At present, there are only 50000 kilometers of trunk roads (asphalt roads account for only 1.8%), and only 7 kilometers of roads per 100 square kilometers.

Railway: The total length is 6111 kilometers, including 858 kilometers of electrified lines.

Foreign trade holds a pivotal position in the national economy. Mainly exporting cobalt, copper, crude oil, diamonds, agricultural and forestry products, importing grain, daily consumer goods, mechanical and electrical products, various raw materials, etc. The main export destinations in 2023 are China, South Africa, Tanzania, and the United Arab Emirates, while the main import sources include South Africa, China, Zambia, and the United Arab Emirates. In recent years, foreign trade has maintained rapid growth, with a basic balance between imports and exports. The statistical situation (in billions of US dollars) is as follows: