Democratic People's Republic of the Congo

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Revision as of 11:55, 27 August 2008

République Populaire Démocratique du Congo Democratic People's Republic of the Congo
Flag	Coat of arms
Motto "Travail, Égalité, Socialisme" (French) "Work, Equality, Socialism"
Anthem Congo, Le Fleuve Beau (French) (Congo, The Beautiful River)
Capital Largest city	Nkuna 4°14′S, 15°14′E Kinchassa
Official languages	French
Recognized regional languages	Kongo/Kituba, Lingala, Swahili, Tshiluba
Government  - President  - Vice President  - Prime Minister  - General-Secretary of PSRC	Socialist state to be determined to be determined to be determined to be determined
Establishment  - Independence of Belgian Congo  - Independence of French Congo  - Unification  - Constitution adopted	June 30, 1960 August 15, 1960 August 11, 1964 January 3, 1970
Area  - Total  - Water (%)	2,686,858 km² 1,037,398 sq mi 3.3
Population  - July 2008 estimate  - Density	70,417,824 26.2 /km² 67.9 /sq mi
GDP (PPP)  - Total  - Per capita	2008 estimate $75.417 billion $1,071
GDP (nominal)  - Total  - Per capita	2008 estimate $96.402 billion $1,369
Gini (2006)	34.5 (medium)
HDI (2005)	0.699 (medium)
Currency	Ebale (COE)
Time zone - Summer (DST)	WAT, CAT (UTC +1 to +2) not observed (UTC +1 to +2)
Internet TLD	.cg
Calling code	+243

The Democratic People's Republic of the Congo (French: République Populaire Démocratique du Congo) is a large, developing nation in Central Africa. It borders Cameroon, Central African Republic, and Sudan to the north; Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, and Tanzania to the east; Zambia and Angola to the south; and Cabinda (an enclave of Angola) and Gabon to the west. Formed in 1964 by a merger of the former French and Belgian Congos, the Democratic People's Republic of the Congo has followed the principles of Marxism-Leninism for most of its existence, and remains one of the most militant, revolutionary states in the Third World.

History

Unification

The immediate post-independence years were difficult for both Congos; within days, the former Belgian Congo descended into chaos, plagued by secession, tribal warfare, white flight, economic upheaval, Cold War meddling that effectively internationalized the conflict, and a death toll that quickly mounted into the tens, and eventually hundreds, of thousands. Extreme instability ensued, with frequent coups and counter-coups, an insurgency growing like wildlife, and militant unrest among the young and disaffected. The country was ripe for revolution.

The former French Congo fared slightly better; while its government was hopelessly corrupt, and immensely unpopular, there was a tenuous peace. It did not last long, however. Three days of nation-wide protests prompted the resignation of President Fulbert Youlou; the shaky interim government that followed lasted less than a week before being toppled by a military coup staged by radical officers with pro-Soviet leanings.

In the former Belgian Congo, the officers' counterparts, Pierre Mulele, Christophe Gbenye, and Gaston Soumialot, secretly plotted with the new junta in Brazzaville to unite the two Congos as Africa's first Marxist-Leninist state. A multinational "Party of Social Progress" was formed in both countries. Mulele, Gbenye, and Soumialot maintained a hidden profile, as their radicalism and penchant for committing atrocities (they had tortured and massacred thousands in the east of the country) were well known. Easily amenable moderates, including some staunch anticommunists, were duped into assuming the "leadership" of the new party - where Mulele and his cohorts controlled it behind the scenes. The party, presenting itself as a moderate social democratic party committed to pan-Africanism, liberal democracy, a mixed economy, and neutrality in the Cold War, soon attracted broad support. Meanwhile, the ongoing unrest and violence continued to take their toll on the government of President Joseph Kasavubu, whose popularity plummeted.

In 1964, under increasing domestic and international pressure, Kasavubu resigned, and nationwide elections were held. The Party of Social Progress won a landslide victory, and within days of assuming power, arranged a binational referendum, to be held in both Congos. Voters were offered the question: "Do you support a union of Congo-Léopoldville and Congo-Brazzaville?" A majority of both countries' electorates voted "yes," and in August 1964, the United Republic of the Congo (French: République Unie du Congo) was born.

Dictatorship and civil war

Shortly afterwards, the party showed its true colors, and announced that henceforth the new country would be a one-party state aligned with the forces of "progress and anti-colonialism." Moderate politicians were arrested in droves, the media was gagged, and even the mildest protests against the regime were met with extreme brutality. Soviet and Eastern bloc money poured in, Cuban advisors arrived to begin training a secret police force, and both the U.S.S.R. and the People's Republic of China provided extensive military aid. An attempted coup by Lieutenant General Joseph Mobutu in November 1965 prompted the government to begin a nation-wide purge of anticommunists, "capitalist roaders," and other "counterrevolutionaries." Massacres on a scale unseen since the hey-day of Nazi Germany soon followed, embroiling the country in a five year civil war. When it ended in 1970, more than 3 million Congolese had died, almost all of them civilians. All opponents of the government were either dead, in exile, or in prison.

The 1970s: The boom decade

to be continued

Politics

The DPRC is a unitary single-party socialist republic.

Congolese Revolutionary Socialist Party

The only legal political party in the Congo is the Congolese Revolutionary Socialist Party (Parti Socialiste Révolutionnaire Congolaise), better known by its French language acronym, PSRC. The central role of the party is codified in the constitution. The PSRC is a Marxist-Leninist party run on democratic centralist lines.

Party policy is set by the twelve-member Political Bureau (Politburo), headed by the General-Secretary. Politburo members are elected by the party's 150-member Central Committee, and the Central Committee is elected by the National Congress. The National Congress of the PSRC is held every five years. The Party Secretariat, which consists of five Politburo members (including the General-Secretary), oversees day-to-day policy implementation.

President

The head of state of the Congo is the President, who is elected to a five year term by the National Revolutionary Assembly. His functions are mainly ceremonial. The President is responsible for appointing the Prime Minister and the Council of Ministers from among the members of the National Revolutionary Assembly, basing his decision upon indications from the National Revolutionary Assembly itself. Other offices the president holds include (nominal) commander-in-chief of the Congolese People's Armed Forces (Forces armées Populaire Congolaise) and Head of the Council on National Defense and Security.

There are no term limits for the presidency, but he can be removed from office by a majority vote of the National Revolutionary Assembly.

Prime Minister

The head of government of the Democratic People's Republic of the Congo is the President of the Council of Ministers (Président du Conseil des ministres), otherwise known as the Prime Minister (Premier ministre), in whom the constitution invests with central executive authority. The Prime Minister and the Council of Ministers are appointed by the President from among the members of the National Revolutionary Assembly. The Prime Minister determines the composition of the Council of Ministers (cabinet). The President formally appoints and dismisses Ministers, at the recommendation of the National Revolutionary Assembly. The Prime Minister dictates the Ministers' specific duties and is responsible for all government policies. Any formal policy guidelines issued by him are legally binding directives that Ministers must implement. Ministers are expected to introduce specific policies at the ministerial level that reflect the Prime Minister's broader guidelines.

National Revolutionary Assembly

The National Revolutionary Assembly (Assemblee Nationale Revolutionnaire, or "ANR") is a unicameral parliament and the only body in the Congo that is invested with constituent and legislative authority. It has 219 members elected from single-member electoral districts for a term of five years.

It holds two regular sessions a year, which are public unless the ANR itself votes to hold them behind closed doors for reasons of state. It has permanent commissions to look after issues of legislative interest at times when it is not in session.

The ANR has the power to amend the constitution; to pass, amend, and repeal laws; and to recommend guidelines for domestic and foreign policies.

The Prime Minister and the Council of Ministers must report regularly to the ANR on all their work and tasks.

People's Supreme Court

The People's Supreme Court (Cour Supreme Populaire) is the highest court and the court of final appeal in the Congo. Its members are appointed by the National Revolutionary Assembly for five year terms. The court supervises the work of lower courts and gives interpretation of laws and elucidations concerning their implementations, which are compulsory for lower courts.