Democratic Republic of the Congo

n. Congo, country in central Africa on the coast of the Atlantic Ocean, formerly Zaire

The Democratic Republic of the Congo (French: République démocratique du Congo), also often referred to as DR Congo, DRC, RDC or formerly as Congo Free State, Belgian Congo, The Congo, Congo-Leopoldville, Congo-Kinshasa, and Zaire (or Zaïre in French), is the third largest country by area on the African continent. Though it is located in the Central African UN subregion, the nation is economically and regionally affiliated with Southern Africa as a member of the Southern African Development Community (SADC). It borders the Central African Republic and Sudan on the north, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, and Tanzania on the east, Zambia and Angola on the south, and the Republic of the Congo on the west. The country enjoys access to the ocean through a forty-kilometre stretch of Atlantic coastline at Muanda and the roughly nine-kilometre wide mouth of the Congo river which opens into the Gulf of Guinea. The name "Congo" (meaning "hunter") is coined after the Bakongo ethnic group, living in the Congo river basin.
See more at Wikipedia.org...

Flag of the Democratic Republic of the Congo
Background Established as a Belgian colony in 1908, the Republic of the Congo gained its independence in 1960, but its early years were marred by political and social instability. Col. Joseph MOBUTU seized power and declared himself president in a November 1965 coup. He subsequently changed his name - to MOBUTU Sese Seko - as well as that of the country - to Zaire. MOBUTU retained his position for 32 years through several subsequent sham elections as well as through the use of brutal force. Ethnic strife and civil war, touched off by a massive inflow of refugees in 1994 from fighting in Rwanda and Burundi, led in May 1997 to the toppling of the MOBUTU regime by a rebellion led by Laurent KABILA. He renamed the country the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DROC), but in August 1998 his regime was itself challenged by an insurrection backed by Rwanda and Uganda. Troops from Zimbabwe, Angola, Namibia, Chad, and Sudan intervened to support the Kinshasa regime. A cease-fire was signed in July 1999 by the DROC, Zimbabwe, Angola, Uganda, Namibia, Rwanda, and Congolese armed rebel groups, but sporadic fighting continued. Laurent KABILA was assassinated in January 2001 and his son Joseph KABILA was named head of state. In October 2002, the new president was successful in negotiating the withdrawal of Rwandan forces occupying eastern Congo; two months later, the Pretoria Accord was signed by all remaining warring parties to end the fighting and establish a government of national unity. A transitional government was set up in July 2003; Joseph KABILA remains as president and is joined by four vice presidents representing the former government, former rebel groups, and the political opposition. Map of the Democratic Republic of the Congo More about the Democratic Republic of the Congo: Geography People Government Economy Communications Transportation Military Transnational Issues

Noun
1. a republic in central Africa; achieved independence from Belgium in 1960
(synonym) Congo, Zaire, Belgian Congo
(hypernym) African country, African nation
(part-holonym) Africa
(member-meronym) Congolese
(part-meronym) Goma

Pres. ….. Joseph KABILAPrime Min. ….. Antoine GIZENGAMin. of State for Agriculture ….. Francois Joseph MOBUTU NZANGA NgbangaweMin. of State for Interior, Decentralization, & Security ….. Denis KALUME NumbiMin. of State at the Presidency ….. Nkulu MITUMBA KilomboMin. of Budget ….. Adolphe MUZITOMin. of Civil Service ….. Laurent-Simon IKENGE LisambolaMin. of Communications & Media ….. Emile BONGELIMin. of Culture & Arts ….. Esdras KAMBALEMin. of Defense & Veterans Affairs ….. Guyslain CHIKEZ DiemuMin. of Economy & External Trade ….. Andre-Phillipe FUTAMin. of Energy ….. Salomon BANAMUHERE BalieneMin. of the Environment & Tourism ….. Jose ENDUNDU BonongeMin. of Finance ….. Athanase MATENDA KyeluMin. of Foreign Affairs & Intl. Cooperation ….. Antipas MBUSA NyamwisiMin. of Gender, Women, & Children’s Affairs ….. Philomene Omatuku ATSHAKAWO AkatshiMin. of Health ….. Victorienne MELENGEMin. of Higher Education & Scientific Research ….. Leonard MASUGAMin. of Hydrocarbons ….. Lambert MENDE OmalangaMin. of Industry ….. Simon MBOSO KiamputuMin. of Infrastructure, Public Works, & Reconstruction ….. Pierre LUMBI OkongoMin. of Justice ….. Mutombo BAKAFWA NsendaMin. of Labor & Social Security ….. Marie-Ange LUKIANA MufwankoloMin. of Lands ….. Edouard KABUKABWA BitangilayMin. of Mines ….. Martin KABWELULU LabiloMin. of National Economy ….. Sylvain Joel BIFWILA TchamwalaMin. of Plan ….. Olivier KAMITATU EtsuMin. of Post, Telephones, & Telecommunications ….. Louisa MUNGAMin. of Primary & Secondary Education ….. Maker MWANGU FambaMin. at the Prime Min.’s Office ….. Godefroid Mayobo MPWENE NgantienMin. of Public Enterprises ….. Jeannine MABUNDA LiokoMin. of Relations With Parliament ….. Adolphe LUMANUMin. of Social & Humanitarian Affairs ….. Jean-Claude MUYAMBOMin. of Transportation ….. Charles MWANDO NsimbaMin. of Urban Planning & Housing ….. Sylvain NGABU ChumbuMin. of Youth & Sports ….. Willy BAKONGAGovernor, Central Bank ….. Jean-Claude MASANGU MulangoAmbassador to the US ….. Faida Maramuke MITIFUPermanent Representative to the UN, New York ….. Atoki Christian ILEKA