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Monday, June 30, 2008

Independence Day of the Democratic Republic of the Congo




Today is the Independence Day of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The Democratic Republic of the Congo gained her independence on June 30, 1960 from Belgium.


Official Name: Democratic Republic of the Congo (former name – Zaire)
Area: 905,564 sq miles. (2,345,410 sq. km)
Cities: Capital – Kinshasa; major cities – Lubumbashi (Elizabethville); Mbuji-Mayi (Bakwanga); Kananga (Luluabourg); Kisangani (Stanleyville)
Population: 62.6 million (UN, 2007)
Religions: 50% Roman Catholic, 20% Protestant, 10% Kimbanguist, 10% Muslim, 10% other syncretic sects and traditional beliefs
Languages: French (official), Lingala, Kingwana, Kikongo, Tshiluba
Type of Government: dictatorship; presumably undergoing a transition to representative government
GDP: $ 40.67 billion (2005 est.)
Monetary Unit: 1 Congolese = 100 centimes
President: Joseph Kabila
Internet domain: .cd
International Dialing Code: +243
Official Web Pages: http://www.presidentrdc.cd/

Sources:

The New York Times Almanac 2007


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