Congo, Republic of the
Introduction Congo, Republic of the
-----------------------------------
Background: 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 installed in 1992. A
brief civil war in 1997 restored
former Marxist President SASSOU-
NGUESSO.
Geography Congo, Republic of the
--------------------------------
Location: Western Africa, bordering the South
Atlantic Ocean, between Angola and
Gabon
Geographic coordinates: 1 00 S, 15 00 E
Map references: Africa
Area: total: 342,000 sq km
water: 500 sq km
land: 341,500 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly smaller than Montana
Land boundaries: total: 5,504 km
border countries: Angola 201 km,
Cameroon 523 km, Central African
Republic 467 km, Democratic Republic
of the Congo 2,410 km, Gabon 1,903
km
Coastline: 169 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 200 NM
Climate: tropical; rainy season (March to
June); dry season (June to October);
constantly high temperatures and
humidity; particularly enervating
climate astride the Equator
Terrain: coastal plain, southern basin,
central plateau, northern basin
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mount Berongou 903 m
Natural resources: petroleum, timber, potash, lead,
zinc, uranium, copper, phosphates,
natural gas, hydropower
Land use: arable land: 0.5%
permanent crops: 0.13%
other: 99.37% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land: 10 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards: seasonal flooding
Environment - current issues: air pollution from vehicle
emissions; water pollution from the
dumping of raw sewage; tap water is
not potable; deforestation
Environment - international party to: Biodiversity, Climate
agreements: Change, Desertification, Endangered
Species, Ozone Layer Protection,
Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber
94, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Law of the
Sea
Geography - note: about 70% of the population lives in
Brazzaville, Pointe-Noire, or along
the railroad between them
People Congo, Republic of the
-----------------------------
Population: 2,958,448
note: estimates for this country
explicitly take into account the
effects of excess mortality due to
AIDS; this can result in lower life
expectancy, higher infant mortality
and death rates, lower population
and growth rates, and changes in the
distribution of population by age
and sex than would otherwise be
expected (July 2002 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 42.4% (male 630,985;
female 622,024)
15-64 years: 54.3% (male 783,238;
female 823,882)
65 years and over: 3.3% (male
39,369; female 58,950) (2002 est.)
Population growth rate: 2.18% (2002 est.)
Birth rate: 37.91 births/1,000 population (2002
est.)
Death rate: 16.1 deaths/1,000 population (2002
est.)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2002
est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.67 male(s)/
female
total population: 0.97 male(s)/
female (2002 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 97.91 deaths/1,000 live births (2002
est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 47.71 years
female: 51.24 years (2002 est.)
male: 44.27 years
Total fertility rate: 4.94 children born/woman (2002 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: 6.43% (1999 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/ 86,000 (1999 est.)
AIDS:
HIV/AIDS - deaths: 8,600 (1999 est.)
Nationality: noun: Congolese (singular and
plural)
adjective: Congolese or Congo
Ethnic groups: Kongo 48%, Sangha 20%, M'Bochi 12%,
Teke 17%, Europeans and other 3%
note: Europeans estimated at 8,500,
mostly French, before the 1997 civil
war; may be half that in 1998,
following the widespread destruction
of foreign businesses in 1997
Religions: Christian 50%, animist 48%, Muslim
2%
Languages: French (official), Lingala and
Monokutuba (lingua franca trade
languages), many local languages and
dialects (of which Kikongo has the
most users)
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read
and write
total population: 74.9%
male: 83.1%
female: 67.2% (1995 est.)
Government Congo, Republic of the
---------------------------------
Country name: conventional long form: Republic of
the Congo
conventional short form: Congo
(Brazzaville)
local short form: none
former: Middle Congo, Congo/
Brazzaville, Congo
local long form: Republique du Congo
Government type: republic
Capital: Brazzaville
Administrative divisions: 9 regions (regions, singular -
region) and 1 commune*; Bouenza,
Brazzaville*, Cuvette, Kouilou,
Lekoumou, Likouala, Niari, Plateaux,
Pool, Sangha
Independence: 15 August 1960 (from France)
National holiday: Independence Day, 15 August (1960)
Constitution: constitution approved by referendum
in January 2002
Legal system: based on French civil law system and
customary law
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: President Denis
SASSOU-NGUESSO (since 25 October
1997, following the civil war in
which he toppled elected president
Pascal LISSOUBA); note - the
president is both the chief of state
and head of government
elections: president elected by
popular vote for a seven-year term
(eligible for a second seven-year
term); election last held 10 March
2002 (next to be held NA 2009)
head of government: President Denis
SASSOU-NGUESSO (since 25 October
1997, following the civil war in
which he toppled elected president
Pascal LISSOUBA); note - the
president is both the chief of state
and head of government
cabinet: Council of Ministers
appointed by the president
election results: Denis SASSOU-
NGUESSO reelected president; percent
of vote - Denis SASSOU-NGUESSO
89.4%, Joseph Kignoumbi Kia MBOUNGOU
2.7%
Legislative branch: unicameral National Transitional
Council (75 seats, members elected
by reconciliation forum of 1,420
delegates in January 1998); note -
the National Transitional Council
will be replaced by a bicameral
Parliament, with a National Assembly
and Senate, following elections in
2002
elections: National Transitional
Council - last held NA January 1998
(next to be held in 2002); note - at
that election the National
Transitional Council is to be
replaced by a bicameral legislature
election results: National
Transitional Council - percent of
vote by party - NA%; seats by party
- NA
Judicial branch: Supreme Court or Cour Supreme
Political parties and leaders: the most important of the many
parties are the Democratic and
Patriotic Forces or FDP (an alliance
of Convention for Alternative
Democracy, Congolese Labor Party or
PCT, Liberal Republican Party,
National Union for Democracy and
Progress, Patriotic Union for the
National Reconstruction, and Union
for the National Renewal) [Denis
SASSOU-NGUESSO, president];
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 [leader NA]; Union of
Democratic Forces or UFD [Sebastian
EBAO]
Political pressure groups and Congolese Trade Union Congress or
leaders: CSC; General Union of Congolese
Pupils and Students or UGEEC;
Revolutionary Union of Congolese
Women or URFC; Union of Congolese
Socialist Youth or UJSC
International organization ACCT, ACP, AfDB, BDEAC, CCC, CEEAC,
participation: CEMAC, ECA, FAO, FZ, G-77, IBRD,
ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC,
IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC,
IOM, ITU, NAM, OAU, OPCW
(signatory), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO,
WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Serge
MOMBOULI
FAX: [1] (202) 726-1860
telephone: [1] (202) 726-5500
chancery: 4891 Colorado Avenue NW,
Washington, DC 20011
Diplomatic representation from the chief of mission: Ambassador David
US: H. KAEUPER
embassy: NA
mailing address: NA
telephone: [243] (88) 05176
FAX: [243] (88) 41036
note: the embassy is temporarily
collocated with the US Embassy in
the Democratic Republic of the Congo
(US Embassy Kinshasa, 310 Avenue des
Aviateurs, Kinshasa)
Flag description: divided diagonally from the lower
hoist side by a yellow band; the
upper triangle (hoist side) is green
and the lower triangle is red; uses
the popular pan-African colors of
Ethiopia
Economy Congo, Republic of the
------------------------------
Economy - overview: 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, contributing to a shortage
of revenues. The 12 January 1994
devaluation of Franc Zone currencies
by 50% resulted in inflation of 61%
in 1994, but inflation has subsided
since. 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.
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. 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. Given a fragile peace,
agreements with the IMF and the
World Bank, and general
international support for
reconstruction and development,
prospects for structural reform and
4% growth in 2002-03 appear strong.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $2.5
billion (2001 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: 4.2% (2001 est.)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $900 (2001
est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 10%
industry: 48%
services: 42% (2001 est.)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by lowest 10%: NA%
percentage share: highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 3% (2001 est.)
Labor force: NA
Unemployment rate: NA%
Budget: revenues: $870 million
expenditures: $970 million,
including capital expenditures of
$NA (1997 est.)
Industries: petroleum extraction, cement,
lumber, brewing, sugar, palm oil,
soap, flour, cigarettes
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity - production: 302 million kWh (1999)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 0.66%
hydro: 99.34%
other: 0% (1999)
nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption: 406.9 million kWh (1999)
Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (1999)
Electricity - imports: 126 million kWh (1999)
Agriculture - products: cassava (tapioca), sugar, rice,
corn, peanuts, vegetables, coffee,
cocoa; forest products
Exports: $2.6 billion (f.o.b., 2001)
Exports - commodities: petroleum 90%, lumber, plywood,
sugar, cocoa, coffee, diamonds
Exports - partners: US 20.9%, South Korea 15.5%, China
6.7%, Germany 3.2% (2000)
Imports: $725 million (f.o.b., 2001)
Imports - commodities: petroleum products, capital
equipment, construction materials,
foodstuffs
Imports - partners: France 20.5%, US 9.8%, Italy 7.5%,
Belgium 3.8% (2000)
Debt - external: $5 billion (1999 est.)
Economic aid - recipient: $159.1 million (1995)
Currency: Communaute Financiere Africaine
franc (XAF); note - responsible
authority is the Bank of the Central
African States
Currency code: XAF
Exchange rates: Communaute Financiere Africaine
francs (XAF) per US dollar - 742.79
(January 2002), 733.04 (2001),
711.98 (2000), 615.70 (1999), 589.95
(1998), 583.67 (1997); note - from 1
January 1999, the XAF is pegged to
the euro at a rate of 655.957 XAF
per euro
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications Congo, Republic of the
-------------------------------------
Telephones - main lines in use: 22,000 (1997)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 250,000 (2001)
Telephone system: general assessment: services barely
adequate for government use; key
exchanges are in Brazzaville,
Pointe-Noire, and Loubomo; intercity
lines frequently out-of-order
domestic: primary network consists
of microwave radio relay and coaxial
cable
international: satellite earth
station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic
Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 5, shortwave 3 (2001)
Radios: 341,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations: 1 (2002)
Televisions: 33,000 (1997)
Internet country code: .cg
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 1 (2000)
Internet users: 500 (2000)
Transportation Congo, Republic of the
-------------------------------------
Railways: total: 894 km
narrow gauge: 894 km 1.067-m gauge
(2000 est.)
Highways: total: 12,800 km
paved: 1,242 km
unpaved: 11,558 km (1996)
Waterways: 1,120 km
note: the Congo and Ubangi
(Oubangui) rivers provide 1,120 km
of commercially navigable water
transport; other rivers are used for
local traffic only
Pipelines: crude oil 25 km
Ports and harbors: Brazzaville, Impfondo, Ouesso, Oyo,
Pointe-Noire
Airports: 33 (2001)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 4
over 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 (2001)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 29
1,524 to 2,437 m: 7
914 to 1,523 m: 10
under 914 m: 12 (2001)
Military Congo, Republic of the
-------------------------------
Military branches: Army, Air Force, Navy, Gendarmerie,
National Police
Military manpower - military age: 20 years of age (2002 est.)
Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 702,048 (2002 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military males age 15-49: 356,388 (2002 est.)
service:
Military manpower - reaching males: 32,350 (2002 est.)
military age annually:
Military expenditures - dollar $84 million (FY01)
figure:
Military expenditures - percent of 2.8% (FY01)
GDP:
Transnational Issues Congo, Republic of the
-------------------------------------------
Disputes - international: most of the Congo River boundary
with the Democratic Republic of the
Congo is indefinite (no agreement
has been reached on the division of
the river or its islands, except in
the Stanley Pool/Pool Malebo area)