Republic of the Congo
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/* History */
{{distinguish2|the [[Democratic Republic of the Congo]]; see also the disambiguation page [[Congo]]}}
{{Infobox Country
|native_name = ''République du Congo'' <small>{{fr icon}}</small><br>''Repubilika ya Kongo'' <small>([[Kituba]])</small><br>''Republiki ya Kongó'' <small>([[Lingala]])</small>
|conventional_long_name = Republic of the Congo
|common_name = the Republic of the Congo
|image_flag = Flag of the Republic of the Congo.svg
|image_coat = Congo rep coa.png
|national_motto = Unité, Travail, Progrès{{nbsp|2}}<small>{{fr icon}}</small><br/><small>"Unity, Work, Progress"</small>
|image_map = LocationRCongo.PNG
|national_anthem = [[La Congolaise]]
|official_languages = [[French language|French]]
|regional_languages = [[Kongo language|Kongo]]/[[Kituba language|Kituba]], [[Lingala language|Lingala]]
|demonym = Congolese
|capital = [[Brazzaville]]
|latd=4 |latm=14 |latNS=S |longd=15 |longm=14 |longEW=E
|largest_city = Brazzaville
|government_type = [[Republic]]
|leader_title1 = [[President of the Republic of the Congo|President]]
|leader_title2 = [[Prime Minister of the Republic of the Congo|Prime Minister]]
|leader_name1 = [[Denis Sassou Nguesso]]
|leader_name2 = [[Isidore Mvouba]]
|area_km2 = 342,000
|area_sq_mi = 132,047 <!--Do not remove per [[WP:MOSNUM]]-->
|area_rank = 64th
|area_magnitude = 1 E11
|percent_water = 3.3
|population_estimate = 3,999,000
|population_estimate_year = 2005
|population_estimate_rank = 128th
|population_census = n/a
|population_density_km2 = 12
|population_density_sq_mi = 31 <!--Do not remove per [[WP:MOSNUM]]-->
|population_density_rank = 204th
|GDP_PPP_year = 2005
|GDP_PPP = $4.585 billion| GDP_PPP_rank = 154th
|GDP_PPP_per_capita = $1,369
|GDP_PPP_per_capita_rank = 161st
|HDI_year = 2007
|HDI = {{increase}} 0.547
|HDI_rank = 139th
|HDI_category = <font color="#ffcc00">medium</font>
|FSI = 93.0
|FSI_year = 2007
|FSI_rank = 26th
|FSI_category = Alert
|sovereignty_type = [[Independence]]
|sovereignty_note = from [[France]]
|established_event1 = Date
|established_date1 = [[15 August]] [[1960]]
|currency = [[Central African CFA franc]]
|currency_code = XAF
|time_zone = [[West Africa Time|WAT]]
|cctld = [[.cg]]
|calling_code = 242
}}
The '''Republic of the Congo''' ({{lang-fr|République du Congo}}; [[Kongo language|Kongo]]: ''Repubilika ya Kongo''; [[Lingala]]: ''Republiki ya Kongó''), also known as '''Congo-Brazzaville''' or the '''Congo''', is a [[country]] in [[Central Africa]]. It is bordered by [[Gabon]], [[Cameroon]], the [[Central African Republic]], the [[Democratic Republic of the Congo]], the [[Angola]]n [[exclave]] province of [[Cabinda (province)|Cabinda]], and the [[Gulf of Guinea]].
The [[republic]] is a former [[France|French]] [[colony]]. Upon independence in 1960, the former French region of Middle Congo became the Republic of the Congo. After a quarter century of [[Marxism]], Congo became a [[multi-party democracy]] in 1992. However, a brief civil war in 1997 ended in the restoration of former Marxist President [[Denis Sassou Nguesso]] to power.
==History==
{{main|History of the Republic of the Congo}}
The earliest inhabitants of the area were [[Pygmy]] peoples. They were largely replaced and absorbed by [[Bantu]] tribes during [[Bantu#Bantu expansion|Bantu expansions]]. The Bakongo are Bantu groups that also occupied parts of present-day [[Angola]], [[Gabon]], and [[Democratic Republic of the Congo]], forming the basis for ethnic affinities and rivalries among those countries. Several Bantu kingdoms—notably those of the [[Kongo Empire|Kongo]], the [[Loango]], and the [[Teke]]—built trade links leading into the [[Congo River]] basin. The first European contacts came in the late [[15th century]] with [[Portuguese Empire|Portuguese explorations]], and commercial relationships were quickly established with the kingdoms—trading for slaves captured in the interior. The coastal area was a major source for the transatlantic slave trade, and when that commerce ended in the early 19th century, the power of the Bantu kingdoms eroded.
Following independence as the Congo Republic on [[August 15]] [[1960]], [[Fulbert Youlou]] ruled as the country's first president until labour elements and rival political parties instigated a three-day uprising that ousted him. The Congolese military took charge of the country briefly and installed a civilian provisional government headed by [[Alphonse Massamba-Débat]].
Under the 1963 constitution, Massamba-Débat was elected President for a five-year term but it was ended abruptly with an August 1968 [[coup d'état]]. Capt. [[Marien Ngouabi]], who had participated in the coup, assumed the presidency on [[December 31]], [[1968]]. One year later, President Ngouabi proclaimed Congo to be Africa's first "people's republic" and announced the decision of the National Revolutionary Movement to change its name to the Congolese Labour Party (PCT). On [[March 16]], [[1977]], President Ngouabi was assassinated. An 11-member Military Committee of the Party (CMP) was named to head an interim government with Col. (later Gen.) [[Joachim Yhombi-Opango]] to serve as President of the Republic.
After decades of turbulent politics bolstered by [[Marxism-Leninism|Marxist-Leninist]] rhetoric, and with the collapse of the [[Soviet Union]], Congo completed a transition to [[multi-party]] democracy with elections in August 1992. [[Denis Sassou Nguesso]] conceded defeat and Congo's new president, Prof. [[Pascal Lissouba]], was inaugurated on [[August 31]], [[1992]].
However, Congo's democratic progress was derailed in 1997. As presidential elections scheduled for July 1997 approached, tensions between the Lissouba and Sassou camps mounted. On [[June 5]], President Lissouba's government forces surrounded Sassou's compound in Brazzaville and Sassou ordered members of his private militia (known as "Cobras") to resist. Thus began a four-month conflict that destroyed or damaged much of Brazzaville and caused tens of thousands of civilian deaths. In early October, [[Angola]]n troops invaded Congo on the side of Sassou and, in mid-October, the Lissouba government fell. Soon thereafter, Sassou declared himself President. The [[Congo (Brazzaville) Civil War|Congo Civil War]] continued for another year and a half until a peace deal was struck between the various factions in December 1999.
Sham elections in 2002 saw Sassou win with almost 10% of the vote cast. His two main rivals Lissouba and [[Bernard Kolelas]] were prevented from competing and the only remaining credible rival, [[Andre Milongo]], advised his supporters to boycott the elections and then withdrew from the race. A new [[constitution]], agreed upon by referendum in January 2002, granted the president new powers and also extended his term to seven years as well as introducing a new bicameral assembly. International observers took issue with the organization of the presidential election as well as the constitutional referendum, both of which were reminiscent in their organization of Congo's era of the single-party state.
==Government and politics==
{{main|Politics of the Republic of the Congo}}<!--Please add new information into relevant articles of the series-->
The most important of the many political parties are the Democratic and Patriotic Forces or FDP [Denis Sassou Nguesso, president], an alliance consisting of:
* Convention for Alternative Democracy
* [[Congolese Labour Party]] (PCT)
* Liberal Republican Party
* National Union for Democracy and Progress
* Patriotic Union for the National Reconstruction
* National Republic Party of Helasia
* Union for the National Renewal
Other significant parties include:
* Congolese Movement for Democracy and Integral Development or MCDDI [Michel Mampouya]
* [[Pan-African Union for Social Development]] or UPADS [Martin Mberi]
* Rally for Democracy and Social Progress or RDPS [Jean-Pierre Thystere Tchicaya, president]
* Rally for Democracy and the Republic or RDR [Raymond Damasge Ngollo]
* Union for Democracy and Republic or UDR [[leader NA]]
* Union of Democratic Forces or UFD, [[Sebastian Ebao]]
==Regions and districts==
{{main|Regions of the Republic of the Congo|Districts of the Republic of the Congo}}
[[Image:Congo regions named.png|thumb|Regions of the Republic of the Congo]]
The Republic of the Congo is divided into 10 [[Regions of the Republic of the Congo|''régions'']] (regions) and one [[commune (subnational entity)|commune]], the [[capital]] [[Brazzaville]]. These are:
{{columns
|col1 =
* [[Bouenza]]
* [[Cuvette Region|Cuvette]]
* [[Cuvette-Ouest]]
* [[Kouilou Region|Kouilou]]
* [[Lékoumou]]
* Commune of ''[[Brazzaville]]''
|col2 =
* [[Likouala Region|Likouala]]
* [[Niari Region|Niari]]
* [[Plateaux Region, Congo|Plateaux]]
* [[Pool Region|Pool]]
* [[Sangha Region|Sangha]]
}}
The regions are subdivided into forty-six [[Districts of the Republic of the Congo|districts]].
{{clear}}
==Geography==
{{clear}}
[[Image:Congo republic sm04.png|thumb|Map of the Republic of the Congo]]
{{MapLibrary|Congo_sat.png|Congo}}
{{main|Geography of the Republic of the Congo}}
Congo is located in the central-western part of [[sub-Saharan Africa]], along the [[Equator]]. To the south and east of it is the [[Democratic Republic of Congo]]. It is also bounded by [[Gabon]] to the west, [[Cameroon]] and the [[Central African Republic]] to the north, and [[Cabinda (province)|Cabinda]] ([[Angola]]) to the southwest. It has a short [[Atlantic Ocean|Atlantic]] coast.
The capital, [[Brazzaville]], is located on the Congo River, in the south of the country, immediately across from [[Kinshasa]], the capital of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
The southwest of the country is a coastal plain for which the primary drainage is the [[Kouilou-Niari River]]; the interior of the country consists of a central plateau between two basins to the south and north.
==Economy==
{{main|Economy of the Republic of the Congo}}
The economy is a mixture of village agriculture and handicrafts, an industrial sector based largely on [[petroleum]],<ref name="eia">{{cite web| url=http://www.eia.doe.gov/emeu/cabs/congo.html| title=Congo-Brazzaville| publisher=Energy Information Administration, U.S. Government| accessdate=2007-11-08}}</ref> support services, and a government characterized by budget problems and overstaffing. Petroleum extraction 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 petroleum earnings, contributing to a shortage of revenues. The [[January 12]], [[1994]] devaluation of [[CFA franc|Franc Zone]] currencies by 50% resulted in inflation of 46% in 1994, but inflation has subsided since.<ref>{{cite web
| url = http://www.econstats.com/weo/CV039V025.htm
| title = Congo, Republic of. Inflation, annual percent change
| publisher = EconStats
| accessdate = 2008-06-11}}</ref>
Economic reform efforts continued with the support of international organizations, notably the [[World Bank]] and the [[IMF]]. The reform program came to a halt in June 1997 when civil war erupted. When Sassou Nguesso returned to power at the war ended in October 1997, he publicly expressed interest in moving forward on economic reforms and privatization and in renewing cooperation with international financial institutions. However, 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 problems of stimulating recovery and reducing poverty, despite record-high oil prices since 2003. Natural gas and diamonds are also recent major Congolese exports, although Congo was excluded from the [[Kimberley Process]] in 2004 amid allegations that most of its diamond exports were in fact being smuggled out of the neighboring [[Democratic Republic of Congo]]; it was re-admitted to the group in 2007.<ref>{{cite web
| url = http://www.kimberleyprocess.com/download/getfile/310
| title= Kimberley Process Removes the Republic of Congo from the List of Participants
| publisher = [[Kimberley Process]]
| date = 2004-07-09
| accessdate = 2008-06-11}}</ref><ref>{{cite web
| url= http://www.kimberleyprocess.com/download/getfile/678
| title= 2007 Kimberley Process Communiqué
| publisher = [[Kimberley Process]]
| date = 2007-11-08
| accessdate = 2008-06-11}}</ref>
==Demographics==
[[Image:Congo-Rep-demography.png|thumb|Population of the Republic of the Congo ([[FAO]], 2005); number of inhabitants given in thousands.]]
{{main|Demographics of the Republic of the Congo}}
The Republic of the Congo's sparse population is concentrated in the southwestern portion of the country, leaving the vast areas of tropical [[jungle]] in the north virtually uninhabited. Thus, Congo is one of the most urbanized countries in Africa, with 85% of its total population living in a few urban areas, namely in [[Brazzaville]], [[Pointe-Noire]], or one of the small cities or villages lining the {{convert|332|mi|km|0|sing=on}} railway which connects the two cities. In rural areas, industrial and commercial activity has declined rapidly in recent years, leaving rural economies dependent on the government for support and subsistence. Before the 1997 war, about 15,000 [[Europe]]ans and other non-Africans lived in Congo, most of whom were [[France|French]]. Presently, only about 9,500 remain.
{{clear}}
==Weather and Climate==
[[Image:Climate Brazzaville.svg|thumb|Climate diagram for Brazzaville]]
Since the country is located on the Equator, the climate is consistent year-round, with the average day temperature being a humid {{nowrap|24 °C}} ({{nowrap|75 °F}}) and nights generally between {{nowrap|16-21 °C}} ({{nowrap|60-70 °F}}). The average yearly rainfall ranges from {{convert|1100|mm|in|0}} in south in the [[Kouilou-Niari River|Niari]] valley to over {{convert|2000|mm|in|0}} in central parts of the county. The dry season is from June to August while in the majority of the country the wet season has two rainfall maxima: one in March–May and another in September–November.<ref>{{cite journal
| url=http://www.springerlink.com/content/ah8jx745740m4353/
| title = Rainfall and temperature variations over Congo-Brazzaville between 1950 and 1998
| author = Samba G., Nganga D., Mpounza M.
| journal = Theoretical and Applied Climatology
| volume = 91
| issue = 1–4
| pages = 85–97
| accessdate = 2008-06-11
| year = 2008
| doi=10.1007/s00704-007-0298-0}}</ref>
{{Sectstub|date=May 2008}}
==Culture==
{{main|Culture of the Republic of the Congo}}
* [[List of Congolese]]
* [[List of African writers (by country)#Congo (-Brazzaville)|List of writers from the Republic of the Congo]]
* [[Music of the Republic of the Congo]]
* [[Public holidays in the Republic of the Congo]]
==See also==
* [[Communications in the Republic of the Congo]]
* [[Foreign relations of the Republic of the Congo]]
* [[Military of the Republic of the Congo]]
* [[Transport in the Republic of the Congo]]
* [[Scouting in Congo-Brazzaville]]
* [[List of cities in the Republic of the Congo]]
* [[List of Democratic Republic of the Congo-related topics]]
* [[List of Republic of the Congo-related topics]]
* [[French Congo]]
* [[French Equatorial Africa]]
* [[Um Bongo]]
==References==
{{reflist|2}}
==Further reading==
* Maria Petringa, ''Brazza, A Life for Africa'' (2006) ISBN 9781-4259-11980
==External links==
{{sisterlinks|Republic of the Congo}}
; News
*[http://allafrica.com/congo_brazzaville/ AllAfrica.com - ''Congo-Brazzaville''] news headline links
*[http://www.irinnews.org/frontpage.asp?SelectRegion=Great_Lakes&SelectCountry=Congo IRIN News for Congo, from the United Nations]
; Overviews
*[https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/cf.html CIA World Factbook - ''Congo, Republic of the'']
*[http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_1092.html U.S. State Department overview of Congo]
*[http://info.worldbank.org/governance/wgi2007/sc_country.asp Governance Indicators] for the Republic of Congo
; Culture
*[http://www.arts.uwa.edu.au/AFLIT/CountryCongoEN.html Congolese literature at a glance]
; Directories
*[http://dmoz.org/Regional/Africa/Congo/ Open Directory Project - ''Republic of the Congo''] directory category
*[http://www-sul.stanford.edu/depts/ssrg/africa/congob.html Stanford University - Africa South of the Sahara: ''Congo-Brazzaville''] directory category
*[http://www.afrika.no/index/Countries/Congo_Brazzaville/ The Index on Africa - ''Congo-Brazzaville''] directory category
*[http://www.sas.upenn.edu/African_Studies/Country_Specific/Congo.html University of Pennsylvania - African Studies Center: ''Congo''] directory category
*[http://dir.yahoo.com/Regional/Countries/Congo__Brazzaville_/ Yahoo! - ''Congo (Brazzaville)''] directory category
; Ethnic groups
* [http://www.pygmies.info/ Baka Pygmies of Cameroon and Congo] Culture and music of the first inhabitants of Congo
; Human Rights
* [http://web.amnesty.org/report2006/cog-summary-eng Amnesty International Human Rights Report, 2006]
; Tourism
* {{wikitravel}}
{{Countries of Africa}}
{{Member states of the African Union}}
{{UN Security Council}}
{{South Atlantic Peace and Cooperation Zone}}
{{La Francophonie}}
{{Niger-Congo-speaking}}
<!--Categories-->
[[Category:Republic of the Congo| ]]
[[Category:African Union member states|Congo, Republic of the]]
[[Category:Member states of La Francophonie|Congo, Republic of the]]
[[Category:French-speaking countries|Congo, Republic of the]]
<!--Other languages-->
[[af:Republiek van die Kongo]]
[[als:Republik Kongo]]
[[am:ኮንጎ ሪፑብሊክ]]
[[ar:جمهورية الكونغو]]
[[an:Republica d'o Congo]]
[[frp:Rèpublica du Congô]]
[[ast:Congo]]
[[az:Konqo]]
[[bm:Kongo-Brazaville]]
[[bn:কঙ্গো প্রজাতন্ত্র]]
[[zh-min-nan:Congo Kiōng-hô-kok]]
[[be-x-old:Рэспубліка Конґа]]
[[bo:ཀོང་ཀོ]]
[[bs:Republika Kongo]]
[[br:Republik Kongo]]
[[bg:Република Конго]]
[[ca:República del Congo]]
[[ceb:Republika sa Congo]]
[[cs:Republika Kongo]]
[[cy:Gweriniaeth y Congo]]
[[da:Republikken Congo]]
[[de:Republik Kongo]]
[[dv:ކޮންގޯ (ޖުމްހޫރިއްޔާ)]]
[[et:Kongo Vabariik]]
[[el:Δημοκρατία του Κονγκό]]
[[es:República del Congo]]
[[eo:Respubliko Kongo]]
[[eu:Kongoko Errepublika]]
[[fa:جمهوری کنگو]]
[[fr:République du Congo]]
[[fy:Republyk Kongo]]
[[ga:Poblacht an Chongó]]
[[gv:Pobblaght y Chongo]]
[[gd:Poblachd na Congo]]
[[gl:Congo]]
[[ko:콩고 공화국]]
[[hr:Republika Kongo]]
[[io:Republiko Kongo]]
[[bpy:কঙ্গো প্রজাতন্ত্র]]
[[id:Republik Kongo]]
[[ia:Republica del Congo]]
[[ie:Republic de Congo]]
[[os:Республикæ Конго]]
[[is:Vestur-Kongó]]
[[it:Repubblica del Congo]]
[[he:הרפובליקה של קונגו]]
[[jv:Republik Kongo]]
[[pam:Republic of the Congo]]
[[ka:კონგოს რესპუბლიკა]]
[[kk:Конго Республикасы]]
[[kw:Repoblek Kongo]]
[[sw:Jamhuri ya Kongo]]
[[kg:Repubilika ya Kongo]]
[[ht:Kongo (Brazavil)]]
[[la:Respublica Congensis]]
[[lv:Kongo (valsts)]]
[[lt:Kongo Respublika]]
[[lij:Repubbrica Do Congo]]
[[ln:Kongó-Brazzaville]]
[[hu:Kongói Köztársaság]]
[[mk:Република Конго]]
[[ml:റിപ്പബ്ലിക്ക് ഓഫ് കോംഗോ]]
[[ms:Republik Congo]]
[[nah:Tlācatlahtohcāyōtl in Congo]]
[[na:Republik Congo]]
[[nl:Congo-Brazzaville]]
[[ja:コンゴ共和国]]
[[no:Republikken Kongo]]
[[nn:Kongo-Brazzaville]]
[[nov:Kongo]]
[[oc:Republica de Còngo]]
[[uz:Kongo Respublikasi]]
[[ps:د کانګو جمهوريت]]
[[pms:Còngo]]
[[nds:Republiek Kongo]]
[[pl:Kongo]]
[[pt:Congo]]
[[crh:Kongo (Brazzavil)]]
[[ro:Republica Congo]]
[[qu:Kungu Republika]]
[[ru:Республика Конго]]
[[se:Kongo dásseváldi]]
[[sq:Republika e Kongos]]
[[scn:Concu]]
[[simple:Republic of the Congo]]
[[sk:Kongo (štát)]]
[[sl:Republika Kongo]]
[[sr:Република Конго]]
[[sh:Republika Kongo]]
[[fi:Kongon tasavalta]]
[[sv:Kongo-Brazzaville]]
[[tl:Republika ng Congo]]
[[ta:கொங்கோ குடியரசு]]
[[te:కాంగో రిపబ్లిక్]]
[[th:สาธารณรัฐคองโก]]
[[vi:Cộng hoà Congo]]
[[tg:Ҷумҳӯрии Конго]]
[[tr:Kongo Cumhuriyeti]]
[[uk:Республіка Конго]]
[[ur:کانگو]]
[[vec:Republica del Congo]]
[[vo:Kongoän (Repüblikän)]]
[[wo:Kongóo-Brasaawiil]]
[[ts:Republic of the Congo]]
[[diq:Kongo]]
[[bat-smg:Kuongs]]
[[zh:刚果共和国]]