Congo, Republic of the
Official Country Name
Republic of the Congo
Congo, Republic of the Overview
Upon independence in 1960, the former French region of Middle Congo became the Republic of the Congo. A quarter century of experimentation with Marxism was abandoned in 1990 and a democratically elected government took office in 1992. A brief civil war in 1997 restored former Marxist President Denis SASSOU-NGUESSO, and ushered in a period of ethnic and political unrest. Southern-based rebel groups agreed to a final peace accord in March 2003, but the calm is tenuous and refugees continue to present a humanitarian crisis. The Republic of Congo was once one of Africa's largest petroleum producers, but with declining production it will need to hope for new offshore oil finds to sustain its oil earnings over the long term.
Congo, Republic of the Economy
The economy is a mixture of village agriculture and handicrafts, an industrial sector based largely on oil, support services, and a government characterized by budget problems and overstaffing. Oil has supplanted forestry as the mainstay of the economy, providing a major share of government revenues and exports. In the early 1980s, rapidly rising oil revenues enabled the government to finance large-scale development projects with GDP growth averaging 5% annually, one of the highest rates in Africa. The government has mortgaged a substantial portion of its oil earnings through oil-backed loans that have contributed to a growing debt burden and chronic revenue shortfalls. Economic reform efforts have been undertaken with the support of international organizations, notably the World Bank and the IMF. However, the reform program came to a halt in June 1997 when civil war erupted. Denis SASSOU-NGUESSO, who returned to power when the war ended in October 1997, publicly expressed interest in moving forward on economic reforms and privatization and in renewing cooperation with international financial institutions. Economic progress was badly hurt by slumping oil prices and the resumption of armed conflict in December 1998, which worsened the republic's budget deficit. The current administration presides over an uneasy internal peace and faces difficult economic challenges of stimulating recovery and reducing poverty. Recovery of oil prices has boosted the economy's GDP and near-term prospects. In March 2006, the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) approved Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) treatment for Congo.
Congo, Republic of the Location
Congo, Republic of the is located in Western Africa, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean, between Angola and Gabon
Region
Congo, Republic of the is located in Africa
Congo, Republic of the Population
Congo, Republic of the has population of 3,702,314 note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS
Congo, Republic of the Climate
Congo, Republic of the has tropical; rainy season (March to June); dry season (June to October); persistent high temperatures and humidity; particularly enervating climate astride the Equator
Congo, Republic of the Terrain
coastal plain, southern basin, central plateau, northern basin
Congo, Republic of the Natural Resources
petroleum, timber, potash, lead, zinc, uranium, copper, phosphates, gold, magnesium, natural gas, hydropower
Ethnic Groups in Congo, Republic of the
Congo, Republic of the has the following ethnic groups - Kongo 48%, Sangha 20%, M'Bochi 12%, Teke 17%, Europeans and other 3%
Congo, Republic of the Religions
Christian 50%, animist 48%, Muslim 2%
Congo, Republic of the Languages
French (official), Lingala and Monokutuba (lingua franca trade languages), many local languages and dialects (of which Kikongo is the most widespread)
Congo, Republic of the Capital
Congo, Republic of the capital is Brazzaville
Congo, Republic of the Currency
Congo, Republic of the currency is Communaute Financiere Africaine franc
Map of Congo, Republic of the
