Democratic Republic of the Congo flag

Democratic Republic of the Congo

History

The Kingdom of Kongo and later Luba and Lunda states organised the region.
Leopold II of Belgium held the territory as a personal possession, the Congo Free State.
Belgium annexed the colony after international outcry over forced labour.
Independence came on 30 June, with Patrice Lumumba as first prime minister.
Mobutu Sese Seko ruled, renaming the country Zaire.
Two wars drew in neighbouring states and caused vast loss of life.
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CapitalKinshasa
Population112.8M
Area2.3M km2
CurrencyCongolese franc

Short facts

RegionCentral Africa
LanguageFrench, Kikongo
Time zoneMultiple (UTC+1 to UTC+2)
Drives onRight

Worth seeing

  • Virunga National Park: Africa's oldest national park, with mountain gorillas and the Nyiragongo lava lake.
  • Congo River: The river route between Kinshasa and Kisangani, the country's historic artery.
  • Garamba National Park: Northern savannah reserve, a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Find a city in Democratic Republic of the Congo

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Kinshasa thumbnailKinshasaCity

Planning questions

What is Democratic Republic of the Congo known for?Virunga National Park, Congo River, Garamba National Park.
What is the capital?Kinshasa.
Which language is useful?French, Kikongo.
When is the national day?30 June.
How should I browse it here?Start with the facts, jump to linked cities, then check events and topics.

Upcoming events

Use Kinshasa as the first planning anchor for Democratic Republic of the Congo, then compare the city, food and worth-seeing notes on this page.

Food & drink

Street food thumbnailStreet foodSignature dishCoffee thumbnailCoffeeLocal drink

Known for

Virunga National ParkCongo RiverGaramba National ParkKinshasaStreet foodCoffee
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