LocationCentral Africa.
Area2,345,410 sq km (905,563 sq miles).
Population60.1 million (UN estimate 2005).
Population Density26 per sq km.
CapitalKinshasa.
Population: 6.5 million (UN estimate 2005).
GovernmentRepublic. Gained independence from Belgium in 1960.
LanguageThe official language is French. There are many local languages, the most widely spoken being Lingala, Swahili, Tshiluba and Kikongo.
ReligionRoman Catholic 50%, Islam 10%, Protestant 20%,
indigenous beliefs 10% and Kimbanguist 10%.
TimeKinshasa and Mbandaka: GMT + 1.
Haut-Zaïre, Kasai, Kivu and Shaba: GMT + 2.
Electricity220 volts AC, 50Hz.
Head of GovernmentPrime Minister Antoine Gizenga since 2006.
Head of StatePresident Joseph Kabila since 2001.
Recent HistoryKabila took over as president following the assassination of his father, Laurent-Désiré Kabila. The first democratic poll since the country gained independence in 1960 was held in July 2006 and went to a second round, in which incumbent President Joseph Kabila took a 58% share against rival Jean-Pierre Bemba’s 42%. Bemba’s supporters rejected the results and claimed electoral fraud. Tensions remain high, with the country split between the east (Kabila supporters) and west (Bemba voters).
TelephoneCountry 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 TelephoneRoaming 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.
InternetAvailable, though power shortages may cause difficulties. There are Internet cafes in Kinshasa.
MediaThe 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.
PostThe 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 2009-December 2010 period.
20091 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.
2010 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 Tourisme2 A/B Avenue des Oranges, BP 9502, Kinshasa-Gombe, Congo (Dem Rep)
Tel: (12) 30070.
Embassy of the Democratic Republic of Congo in the UK281 Gray’s Inn Road, London WC1X 8QF, UK
Tel: (020) 7278 9825.
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 0930-1400.
Embassy of the Democratic Republic of Congo in the USA1726 M Street, Suite 601, NW, Washington, DC 20036, USA
Tel: (202) 234 7690/1.
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