|
Country Code |
CD |
Country Calling Code |
+243 |
Country Profile |
A virtual guide to Democratic Republic of the Congo, formerly known as Zaire, a vast country in central sub-Saharan Africa, today also known as DR Congo, DRC, DROC, Congo-Kinshasa, or just the Congo.
The DRC is bordered by 9 countries: Angola, Burundi, the Central African Republic, the Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zambia. A 45 km wide strip of coastline in west provides the country's narrow access to the Atlantic Ocean. Five of the the famous African Great Lakes are lined up on DR Congo's eastern border: Lake Albert, Lake Edward, Lake Kivu, Lake Tanganyika, and Lake Mweru. |
|
Country Area |
2,344,858 km² (905 000 sq. mi) |
Place to Visit |
Kinshasa, DRC
Lola Ya Bonobo
Kahuzi Biega National Park
Nyiragongo Volcano
Virunga National Park
Lake Kivu, Congo
Garamba National Park
Salonga National Park
Okapi Wildlife Reserve
Maiko National Park
Falls Of Zongo
Kisangani |
News |
Congo Vision
Recent news from the DR Congo (in French).
Groupe de Presse L'Avenir
DROC online news (in French)
Le Potentiel
DR Congo current news (in French)
Le Soft International
Online version of the newspaper (in French)
Radio/TV
Digitalcongo.net
Info Radio/TV Digital Congo portal site with current news (in French and English)
Radio Okapi
SIte of the radio station with current news (in French) |
|
Art Culture |
Congo. Nature & Culture
Exhibition to raise public awareness of the enormous natural and cultural diversity in the Democratic Republic of Congo and the protection of this unique heritage.
Nostalgie Ya Mboka
A weekly radio programme featuring the 'belle epoch' of music from the two Congos.
Papa Wemba
Listen to the last concert of the musician born in Congo-Kinshasa. |
Economy Business |
Ministére des Finances
Official website of the Ministry of Finance DRC (in French).
La Cellule Technique de Coordination et de Planification Minière.
Official website of the ministry of mining with information on mineral resources and mining in Congo-Kinshasa (in French).
Banque Centrale du Congo Central Bank of the DRC (in French).
Agence Nationale pour la Promotion des Investissements
The national agency for the promotion of investments in DRC (in French). |
Transport |
|
|
Tourism |
Country Profile: DRC World Heritage Sites
UNESCO information on DRC's five World Heritage Sites: Salonga National Park, Virunga National Park, Kahuzi-Biega National Park, Okapi Faunal Reserve in the Ituri forest and Garamba National Park.
Congo-Pages
An introduction to Congolese life and culture.
Kongo Kinshasa
A comprehensive guide to Congo-Kinshasa. (in German) |
Education |
Ministère de l'Enseignement primaire, secondaire et professionnel
Official website of the Ministry for Education. (in French)
Université de Kinshasa
The University of Kinshasa is the most important university in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It was founded in 1954 under the Belgian colonial rule as Université Lovanium. (Site is offline)
Université Kongo
Site with information about the Kongo University at Kinshasa.
Université Protestante au Congo
The confessional Protestant University in the Congo (UPC) is a university located in the city of Kinshasa. |
Visa Process |
NOTES FOR DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO TOURIST VISAS:
Maximum Stay: 30 days
May not be obtained upon arrival
Processing minimum 10 business days
TOURIST REQUIREMENTS FOR DRC VISAS:
One completed Democratic Republic of Congo visa application
One passport type photo
One invitation from DRC host. Must be notarized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Kinshasa.
One copy of "Engagement de Prise en Charge" from the Direction Generale de Migration
One copy of proof of vaccination for yellow fever
Physical passport with 6 months validity beyond trip completion and one blank visa page
Non-USA passport holders must provide a copy of green card or US Visa and I-94
One copy of flight itinerary
Copy of your passport information page |
|
Additional Information |
Climate: Equatorial; ranges from tropical rainforest in the Congo River basin, hot and humid in much of the north and west, cooler and drier in the south central area and the east.
Type: Republic; transitional regime highly centralized with executive power vested in the president.
Independence: 30 June 1960 (from Belgium). Constitution: 18 February 2006
Natural resources: Cobalt, copper, Columbite-tantalite (coltan) refined, coltan becomes tantalum, niobium, petroleum, industrial and gem diamonds, gold, silver, zinc, manganese, tin, uranium, coal, hydropower, timber.
Agriculture products: Coffee, sugar, palm oil, rubber, tea, quinine, cassava (tapioca), palm oil, bananas, root crops, corn, fruits; wood products.
Industries: mining (diamonds, copper, zinc), mineral processing, consumer products (including textiles, footwear, cigarettes, processed foods and beverages), cement, commercial ship repair. |
|
Democratic Republic of the Congo |
|