Research Library: Congo, Democratic Republic of
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Last Updated Feb 16, 2009
Country Information
Government
- The Democratic Republic of Congo functions on a republic with a president as head of state and a prime minister as chief of government. Under the new constitution, the president is elected by popular vote to serve a five-year term (eligible for a second term), and the prime minister is appointed by the president. There is also a bicameral legislature consisting of a National Assembly and a Senate.
- President Joseph Kabila became Congo¿s president when his father was assassinated in 2001. He was then re-elected in 2006 in the Democratic Republic of Congo¿s first historic presidential election. Prime Minister Adolphe Muzito has been in office since October 10, 2008.
Political Stability
- Within the first year of independence from Belgium there were numerous destabilizing problems for the country: the army mutinied, the governor of Katanga province attempted secession, a UN peacekeeping force was called in to restore order, and the prime minister died under unusual circumstances. Unrest and rebellion plagued the D.R.C. until 1965 when Lieutenant General Mobuto installed himself as president for the next five years.
- Mobuto¿s regime was destroyed in 1997 by a rebellion fronted by Laurent Kabila with the support of Uganda and Rwanda. In 1998, Kabila¿s regime was then challenged by Uganda and Rwanda in a second insurrection. A cease-fire was signed in 1999, but sporadic fighting continued and Kabila was assassinated in 2001. A transitional government was set up in 2003 under Joseph Kabila, and since then the D.R.C. has been relatively stable.
Current Government Policies
- Currently, the government is primarily concerned with dealing with corruption, violence, and human rights problems, while increasing political stability in a time of fragile peace for the country.
International Reputation
- The location of the D.R.C in the center of Africa has made it a key player in the region since independence. Their relations with neighboring countries have often been driven by security concerns, leading to intricate and interconnected alliances. Domestic conflicts throughout the area at various times have led to bilateral and regional tensions.
Economics
- Conflict, which began in 1998, dramatically diminished national output and government revenue and increased external debt. Also, as a result, foreign business curtailed operations. Conditions did not begin to improve until 2002 when a large portion of the invading foreign troops began to withdrawal.
- Currently, the economy is slowly recovering from nearly two decades of decline. Much economic activity still occurs in the informal sector, and is not reflected in GDP data. However, President Kabila has begun implementing reforms with the help of the World Bank and the IMF which have drastically improved inflation rates and restructuring of the Congolese economy. Renewed activity in the mining sector has boosted the country¿s fiscal position and GDP growth. An uncertain legal framework, corruption, and a lack of transparency in government policy are problems that remain for the economy.
Foreign Aid
Statistics
Click on statistic name for source information.
Web Resources
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