Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC)

1885 – King Leopold II establishes the Congo Free State: Leopold II of Belgium assumes control over the Congo as his personal property, marking the beginning of brutal colonial exploitation

1908 – Belgian colonial rule: The Belgian government takes control from King Leopold II, and the territory becomes the Belgian Congo

1960 – Independence from Belgium (Thursday, June 30, 1960): The Congo gains independence from Belgium, and Patrice Lumumba becomes the first prime minister

1965 – Mobutu Sese Seko seizes power: Mobutu leads a military coup, renaming the country Zaire and ruling for over 30 years

1997 – Mobutu overthrown: Laurent-Désiré Kabila ousts Mobutu and renames the country the Democratic Republic of the Congo

1998–2003 – Second Congo War: A complex, multi-national war that led to millions of deaths and widespread destruction

2006 – First democratic elections: After years of conflict, the country holds its first democratic elections, electing Joseph Kabila as president

2019 – Félix Tshisekedi elected president: Félix Tshisekedi wins the presidential election, marking the first peaceful transfer of power since independence

Continent: Africa (Central Africa)
Location: Bordered by Angola to the southwest, Zambia to the southeast, Tanzania to the east, Uganda, Rwanda, and Burundi to the northeast, the Central African Republic to the north, Republic of the Congo to the west, and the Atlantic Ocean to the southwest
Capital: Kinshasa
Language: French (official), Lingala, Swahili, Kikongo, and Tshiluba (national languages)
Currency: Congolese franc (CDF)
Population: ~102 million (last updated: April 2025)
Time Zone: West Africa Time (WAT, UTC+1)

Borders: Angola, Zambia, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Central African Republic, Republic of the Congo
Landscape: Dense tropical rainforests, savannas, plateaus, and the Congo River basin
Major Rivers: Congo River (second longest river in Africa), Lualaba River, Kasai River, Sankuru River
Major Mountains: Mount Nyiragongo (active volcano), Mount Rwenzori (the “Mountains of the Moon”)
Deserts: None
Lakes: Lake Tanganyika, Lake Tanganyika, Lake Albert
Volcanoes: Mount Nyiragongo (active volcano), Mount Nyamuragira
Notable Features: The country is known for its vast rainforests, the Congo River, and the Great Rift Valley that runs through the eastern part of the country. The DRC is one of the richest countries in terms of natural resources, including minerals and wildlife.

Ethnic Groups: Over 200 ethnic groups, including Bantu-speaking groups (such as Mongo, Luba, and Kongo) and Nilotic groups (such as Tutsi, Hutu)
Religion: Christianity (about 95%), indigenous religions (about 2%), Islam (about 1%)
Urban Population: ~45% (last updated: 2023)
Population Notes: The DRC is one of the most ethnically diverse countries in Africa, with a large number of languages and tribes.

Famous For: Traditional music, dance, arts, and cuisine
Cuisine: Moambe chicken, Pondu (cassava leaves stew), Saka Saka (cassava leaves dish)
Arts: Traditional art forms, including music (especially Rumba), drumming, dance, and craftwork
Sports: Football (soccer), basketball, and volleyball

Economy Type: Resource-rich, but underdeveloped and facing challenges in infrastructure and governance
GDP: Approx. $70.4 billion USD (last updated: 2024)
Major Industries: Mining (cobalt, copper, diamonds, gold), agriculture (cassava, maize), forestry
Key Exports: Cobalt, copper, diamonds, gold, crude oil
Unemployment Rate: ~9.5% (last updated: 2024)
Economic Regions: The economy is concentrated around the mining regions in the south and southeast, while agriculture and forestry are key in the north and northeast.

Government Type: Semi-presidential republic
Head of State: President Félix Tshisekedi (last updated: April 2025)
Head of Government: Prime Minister Jean-Michel Sama Lukonde (last updated: April 2025)
Legislature: Bicameral Parliament (National Assembly and Senate)
Constitution: Adopted in 2006

Virunga National Park: A UNESCO World Heritage Site, known for its biodiversity, including endangered mountain gorillas
Kinshasa: The capital city, known for its vibrant music scene, cultural heritage, and nightlife
Lake Tanganyika: One of the world’s largest freshwater lakes, popular for its beaches and fishing
Mount Nyiragongo: An active volcano near Goma, with a crater lake of lava
UNESCO World Heritage Sites: 6 (including Virunga National Park, Kahuzi-Biéga National Park, and others)