<item><hi format=bold>Independence:</hi> 30 June 1960 (from Belgium)
<item><hi format=bold>National holiday:</hi> Anniversary of the Regime (Second Republic), 24 November (1965)
<item><hi format=bold>Constitution:</hi> 24 June 1967, amended August 1974, revised 15 February 1978; amended April 1990; new transitional constitution promulgated in April 1994
<item><hi format=bold>Legal system:</hi> based on Belgian civil law system and tribal law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
<item><hi format=bold>Suffrage:</hi> 18 years of age; universal and compulsory
<item><hi format=bold>Executive branch:</hi>
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<item>• <hi format=ital>chief of state:</hi> President Marshal MOBUTU Sese Seko Kuku Ngbendu wa Za Banga (since 24 November 1965) election last held 29 July 1984 (next to be scheduled by High Council, the opposition-controlled transition legislature); results—President MOBUTU was reelected without opposition
<item>• <hi format=ital>head of government:</hi> Prime Minister Etienne TSHISEKEDI (since NA 1993); note—de facto executive authority is exercised by President MOBUTU
<item>• <hi format=ital>cabinet:</hi> National Executive Council; appointed by the president on recommendation of the prime minister
<item>• <hi format=ital>parliament:</hi> a single body consisting of the High Council of the Republic and the Parliament of the Transition with membership equally divided between presidential supporters and opponents
<item><hi format=bold>Political parties and leaders:</hi> sole legal party until January 1991—Popular Movement of the Revolution (MPR); other parties include Union for Democracy and Social Progress (UDPS), Etienne TSHISEKEDI wa Mulumba; Democratic Social Christian Party (PDSC), Joseph ILEO; Union of Federalists and Independent Republicans (UFERI), NGUZ a Karl-I-Bond; Unified Lumumbast Party (PALU), Antoine GIZENGA
<item>• <hi format=ital>FAX:</hi> [243] (12) 21232 or 21534/5, ext. 2308
<item>• <hi format=ital>consulate(s) general:</hi> Lubumbashi (closed and evacuated in October 1991 because of the poor security situation)
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<item><hi format=bold>Flag:</hi> light green with a yellow disk in the center bearing a black arm holding a red flaming torch; the flames of the torch are blowing away from the hoist side; uses the popular pan-African colors of Ethiopia