Congo, Democratic Republic of (Zaire) Country & Tourist Information

Location
Central Africa.

Area
2,345,410 sq km (905,563 sq miles).

Population
60.1 million (UN estimate 2005).

Population Density
26 per sq km.

Capital
Kinshasa.
Population: 6.5 million (UN estimate 2005).

Government
Republic. Gained independence from Belgium in 1960.

Language
The official language is French. There are many local languages, the most widely spoken being Lingala, Swahili, Tshiluba and Kikongo.

Religion
Roman Catholic 50%, Islam 10%, Protestant 20%, indigenous beliefs 10% and Kimbanguist 10%.

Time
Kinshasa and Mbandaka: GMT + 1.
Haut-Zaïre, Kasai, Kivu and Shaba: GMT + 2.

Electricity
220 volts AC, 50Hz.

Head of Government
Prime Minister Antoine Gizenga since 2006.

Head of State
President Joseph Kabila since 2001.

Telephone
Country code: 243. Internal telephone service is often unreliable and exists only in major towns. Satellite or cellular telephones are often used by international organizations.

Mobile Telephone
Roaming agreements exist with a few international mobile phone companies. Note: Using a handset in public can attract unwanted attention and make the user a target for robbery.

Internet
Available, though power shortages may cause difficulties. There are Internet cafes in Kinshasa.

Media
The Congolese media operate against a backdrop of political power struggles and sometimes violent unrest. The press has been able to criticize the Government bodies in certain publications but the media still do so at the risk of threats and possible violence. There are several daily newspapers; many more publications appear sporadically. There are many privately-run TV and radio stations. Church radio networks are growing, but the state-controlled broadcasting network reaches the largest numbers of citizens.


Post
The country is included in the Universal Postal Union and the African Postal Union. Airmail to Europe takes officially takes four to 18 days but in practice can take much longer.

Post office hours: Mon-Sat 0800-1700.

Press
• The daily newspapers are in various African languages.
• The main newspapers are L’Analyste, Boyoma and Mjumbe.

Radio
• Radio Okapi is UN-backed and aims to become the only media outlet with national coverage and to enable dialog across the political divides; available on FM and shortwave.
• La Voix du Congo is state controlled and operated by RTNC, broadcasting in French, Swahili, Lingala, Tshiluba and Kikongo.
• The BBC and Voice of America can be heard in Kinshasa via Raga FM.
• Kinshasa listeners can hear Radio France Internationale broadcasts from neighboring Brazzaville.

Below are listed Public Holidays for the January 2006-June 2007 period.

2007
1 Jan New Year’s Day.
4 Jan Commemoration of the Martyrs of Independence.
17 Jan National Heroes’ Day.
1 May Labor Day.
17 May National Liberation Day.
30 Jun Independence Day.
1 Aug Parents’ Day.
14 Oct Youth Day.
17 Nov Army Day.
25 Dec Christmas.

2008
1 Jan New Year’s Day.
4 Jan Commemoration of the Martyrs of Independence.
17 Jan National Heroes’ Day.
1 May Labor Day.
17 May National Liberation Day.
30 Jun Independence Day.
1 Aug Parents’ Day.
14 Oct Youth Day.
17 Nov Army Day.
25 Dec Christmas.

Contact Information:

Office National du Tourisme in Congo
2 A/B Avenue des Oranges, BP 9502, Kinshasa-Gombe, Democratic Republic of Congo
Tel: (12) 30070.

Embassy of the Democratic Republic of Congo in the UK
281 Gray’s Inn Road, London WC1 X8QF, UK
Tel: (020) 7278 9825.
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 0930-1400.

Embassy of the Democratic Republic of Congo in the USA
1726 M Street, Suite 601, NW, Washington, DC 20036, USA
Tel: (202) 234 7690/1.


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