More info on Wikipedia
Quick Facts
- Was temporarily named Zaire under Mobutu's rule.
- The five year war of the late 90s is called Africa's First World War .
- The conflict in the DRC has claimed more than 5 million lives since 1998.
- MONUC is the world's largest and most expensive peacekeeping group.
- Entered into first democratically elected government in 2006.
Expert summary
The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is a large nation located in sub-Saharan Africa. The country's history has been plagued by conflict, instability and corruption. Originally a Belgian colony, the country achieved independence in 1960 but failed to achieve stability. In 1965, the army chief, Mobutu, seized power and dominated the country until being ousted in 1997 by Laurent Kabila, who was backed by Rwanda and Uganda. A year later, war broke out and engulfed the region until a transitional government was instated in 2003. However, conflict among rebel and ethnic groups continued in the east where rebels from Uganda, Rwanda, and Sudan mixed with Congolese groups in a continuous battle for land and resources.
Recommended content by 2 experts
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BBC DR Congo
A nice concise profile of the Democratic Republic of Congo from the BBC world news website. -
World Bank: DRC
Check out the work being done through the World Bank to help build the DRC's infrastructure.
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DRC National Elections
This is a short video covering the first national elections held in the Democratic Republic of Congo. -
Mountain Gorillas of Congo
The World Wildlife Fund made this video to illuminate the danger the mountain gorillas of Congo face. -
Violence in Eastern Congo
Government forces and rebel militias continue to displace thousands of people in the DRC.
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DR Congo on the Map
This small picture shows the country of Congo and a few of the surrounding nations. -
Gorillas in the DR Congo
Gorillas in the Democratic Republic of Congo have been the target of violence. -
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DR Congo Picture Book
This hardcover book has a lot of excellent pictures from the Democratic Republic of Congo. -
Peace in the Congo
This political book examines the steps necessary to achieve lasting peace in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. -
Cultures of the World: Congo
This book covers the history, culture and geography of the Democratic Republic of Congo.
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