The Democratic Republic of Congo is the second largest country in Africa with a population of 80 million people, located in central Africa. Kinshasa is the capital of the DRC and is the third largest urban area in Africa. The DRC was established in 1908 under Belgium rule and was first called the Belgian Congo. The country later gained its independence after the Congolese Civil War in 1960 and was renamed Zaire when Colonel Mobutu took power in 1965. During his time as President, Mobutu weakened the country’s social and political standing, using brutal force on all who opposed him. In 1997, Laurent Kabila, the leader of Rwanda and Burundi, rebelled against Mobutu and won. The country was once again renamed as the Democratic Republic of the Congo and received support from numerous neighboring countries. A traditional government was set up in 2003 with a structured constitution in hopes of reinstating order amongst the country. Today, the DRC is run by Kabila’s son, Joseph Kabila and continues to recuperate from its humble beginnings.
National Anthem
Bibliography
“The World Factbook: CONGO, DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE.” Central Intelligence Agenct. Central Intelligence Agency, n.d. Web. 03 Oct. 2016. "Congo, Democratic Republic of the." Infoplease. Infoplease, n.d. Web. 05 Oct. 2016.