CONGO, DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF

Congo commonly refers to either one of the two neighbouring countries in Central Africa drained by the river from which they get their name. "The Congos" is used to refer collectively to both countries, and the adjective "Congolese" (as in "Congolese music" or "Congolese culture") can refer to either or both countries. The Congos are usually distinguished by their full official names and occasionally by adding their capital cities. The Republic of the Congo (ROC), also known as Congo-Brazzaville (and locally as Brazza), is the smaller of the two countries and lies to the west. It was called the People's Republic of Congo from 1970 to 1992. The Democratic Republic of the Congo is commonly abbreviated as DRC or DR Congo, and sometimes known as "Congo-Kinshasa".Between 1960 and 1964 it as known as the Republic of the Congo.Between 1964 and 1971 it was renamed the Democratic Republic of the Congo.Between 1971 and 1997 it was known as Zaire, during which time the other Congo (ROC) was referred to simply as "Congo".The Congo River, Africa's second longest and largest by discharge (volume of water).The entire subregion between the Gulf of Guinea and the African Great Lakes drained by the Congo River.
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