AFRICA/DR CONGO - Democratic Republic of Congo - info

Kinshasa (Fides Service)- The Democratic Republic of Congo with its area of 2,345,410 sq. km., is the third largest country in Africa after Sudan and Algeria. It has borders with the Republic of Congo (Congo Brazzaville), Central African Republic, Sudan, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Tanzania, Zambia and Angola.
The population of over 56 million belongs to more than 200 ethnic groups mainly Bantu. The 4 most numerous tribes, Mongo, Luba, Kongo and Mangbetu-Azande (Hamitic) comprise 45% of the population. French is the official language with four other local languages Lingala (for trade franca), Kingwana (dialect of Kiswahili or Swahili), Kikongo and Tshiluba. At least 250 community languages and dialects are also spoken. Catholics form 50% of the population, protestants 20%, Muslims 10%, Kimbanguisti (religious movement founded in 1921 by Simon Kimbangu) 10% , followers of traditional African religions and sects 10%.
History.
After the Conference of Berlin (1885), Congo was assigned to the King of Belgium, Leopold II, who made it his own personal domain with the name Independent State of Congo. In 1908 an international public opinion campaign denouncing the inhuman conditions and exploitation of the people forced the Belgian parliament to declare the state no longer property of the King, but subject to the Kingdom. The country changed its name to Belgian Congo. In 1960, it became independent with the name Congo-Leopoldville. Between 1961 and 1964 the country was devastated by a series of civil wars (one was a secessionist attempt in Katanga, rich in mines, where Premier Patrice Lumumba was assassinated). In 1965 army chief Joseph Désiré Mobutu staged a coup and declared himself president. Mobutu enacted a policy to affirm national identity, changing the name of the country to Zaire, and also changing the names of some towns. In 1990 after decades of one party rule, there was an opening towards a multi-party situation and a National Sovereign Conference was held presided by Archbishop Laurent Monsengwo Pasinya, Catholic archbishop of Kisangani. In 1996, civil war exploded in the east of the country, a rebel group led by Laurent Désiré Kabila supported by armies of neighbour countries launched a military campaign which led in the Spring of 1997 to the overthrowing of the regime of Mobutu who died a few months later in exile in Morocco. Zaire took the name of Democratic Republic of Congo (RDC). In 1998, a civil war breaks out when a series of guerrilla movements are born supported by Uganda and Rwanda attempt to detach the east from the rest of the country. Kabila receives support from Angola, Zimbabwe and other African countries which send troops to fight alongside the DR Congo army. This leads many observers to refer to DR Congo’s civil war as “The first African World War”. On 6 January 2001 Kabila was assassinated at the presidential residence. His son Joseph took his place. A series of negotiations started 2001-2002 lead in 2003 to the formation of a national unity government with the participation of representatives of the guerrillas of the east. This is the beginning of a long period of transition to prepare the country for free democratic elections. Although formally ended, the conflict continues in various parts of the country, particularly in the north eastern Ituri region rich in mines and timber. The soldiers of a UN peacekeeping mission MONUC, charged with supervising respect for the treaty, have clashed several times with local guerrillas.
On 18 December 2005 in a referendum the people voted ‘yes’ to a new Constitution. General political elections to be held in June this year will mark the end of the period of transition. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 20/1/2006 righe 48 parole 646)