Axion 3D Atlas/ATLAS.iso/stats/259.txt

Text File | 1998-01-23 | 13KB | 331 lines

{bitmap= 26,50,"flags\zaire2.bmp"}
{bigtext=150,120,"Zaire"}
{4}(Also known as Democratic Republic of the Congo)


{1}Geography{4}
{4}To see a map of Zaire, click {z,"9.480197,-13.654463,37.337509,7.529066",here}{4}!

{2}Location:{4} Central Africa, northeast of Angola

{2}Area:{4}
{3}total area:{4} 2,345,410 sq km
{3}land area:{4} 2,267,600 sq km
{3}comparative area:{4} slightly more than one-fourth the size of US

{2}Land boundaries:{4}
{3}total:{4} 10,271 km
{3}border countries:{4} Angola 2,511 km, Burundi 233 km, Central African Republic 1,577 km, Congo
2,410 km, Rwanda 217 km, Sudan 628 km, Uganda 765 km, Zambia 1,930 km

{2}Coastline:{4} 37 km

{2}Maritime claims:{4}
{3}exclusive economic zone:{4} boundaries with neighbors
{3}territorial sea:{4} 12 nm

{2}International disputes:{4} Tanzania-Zaire-Zambia tripoint in Lake Tanganyika may no longer be
indefinite since it has been informally reported that the indefinite section of the Zaire-Zambia
boundary has been settled; long section with Congo along the Congo river is indefinite (no division
of the river or its islands has been made)

{2}Climate:{4} tropical; hot and humid in equatorial river basin; cooler and drier in southern highlands;
cooler and wetter in eastern highlands; north of Equator - wet season April to October, dry season
December to February; south of Equator - wet season November to March, dry season April to
October

{2}Terrain:{4} vast central basin is a low-lying plateau; mountains in east
{3}lowest point:{4} Atlantic Ocean 0 m
{3}highest point:{4} Margherita Peak (Mount Stanley) 5,110 m

{2}Natural resources:{4} cobalt, copper, cadmium, petroleum, industrial and gem diamonds, gold, silver,
zinc, manganese, tin, germanium, uranium, radium, bauxite, iron ore, coal, hydropower potential

{2}Land use:{4}
{3}arable land:{4} 3%
{3}permanent crops:{4} 0%
{3}meadows and pastures:{4} 4%
{3}forest and woodland:{4} 78%
{3}other:{4} 15%

{2}Irrigated land:{4} 100 sq km (1989 est.)

{2}Environment:{4}
{3}current issues:{4} poaching threatens wildlife populations; water pollution; deforestation; 1.2 million
Rwandan refugees are responsible for significant deforestation, soil erosion, and wildlife poaching
in eastern Zaire

{2}natural hazards:{4} periodic droughts in south; volcanic activity

{2}international agreements:{4} party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species,
Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection,
Tropical Timber 83; signed, but not ratified - Desertification, Environmental Modification

{2}Geographic note:{4} straddles Equator; very narrow strip of land that controls the lower Congo river
and is only outlet to South Atlantic Ocean; dense tropical rain forest in central river basin and
eastern highlands


{1}People{4}

{2}Population:{4} 46,498,539 (July 1996 est.)

{2}Age structure:{4}
{3}0-14 years:{4} 48% (male 11,161,347; female 11,124,583)
{3}15-64 years:{4} 49% (male 11,197,097; female 11,783,524)
{3}65 years and over:{4} 3% (male 539,775; female 692,213) (July 1996 est.)

{2}Population growth rate:{4} 1.67% (1996 est.)

{2}Birth rate:{4} 48.1 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)

{2}Death rate:{4} 16.9 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)

{2}Net migration rate:{4} -14.56 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)
{3}note:{4} in 1994, more than one million refugees fled into Zaire to escape the fighting between the
Hutus and the Tutsis in Rwanda and Burundi; a small number of these returned to their homes in
1995 despite fear of the ongoing violence; additionally, Zaire is host to about 100,000 Angolan,
and about 100,000 Sudanese refugees

{2}Sex ratio:{4}
{3}at birth:{4} 1.03 male(s)/female
{3}under 15 years:{4} 1 male(s)/female
{3}15-64 years:{4} 0.95 male(s)/female
{3}65 years and over:{4} 0.78 male(s)/female
{3}all ages:{4} 0.97 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

{2}Infant mortality rate:{4} 108 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)

{2}Life expectancy at birth:{4}
{3}total population:{4} 46.7 years
{3}male:{4} 44.97 years
{3}female:{4} 48.47 years (1996 est.)

{2}Total fertility rate:{4} 6.64 children born/woman (1996 est.)

{2}Nationality:{4}
{3}noun:{4} Zairian(s)
{3}adjective:{4} Zairian

{2}Ethnic divisions:{4} over 200 African ethnic groups, the majority are Bantu; four largest tribes -
Mongo, Luba, Kongo (all Bantu), and the Mangbetu-Azande (Hamitic) make up about 45% of the
population

{2}Religions:{4} Roman Catholic 50%, Protestant 20%, Kimbanguist 10%, Muslim 10%, other syncretic
sects and traditional beliefs 10%

{2}Languages:{4} French (official), Lingala (a lingua franca trade language), Kingwana (a dialect of
Kiswahili or Swahili), Kikongo, Tshiluba

{2}Literacy:{4} age 15 and over can read and write in French, Lingala, Kingwana, or Tshiluba (1995 est.)
{3}total population:{4} 77.3%
{3}male:{4} 86.6%
{3}female:{4} 67.7%


{1}Government{4}

{2}Name of country:{4}
{3}conventional long form:{4} Republic of Zaire
{3}conventional short form:{4} Zaire
{3}local long form:{4} Republique du Zaire
{3}local short form:{4} Zaire
{3}former:{4} Belgian Congo Congo/Leopoldville Congo/Kinshasa

{2}Type of government:{4} republic with a strong presidential system

{2}Capital:{4} Kinshasa

{2}Administrative divisions:{4} 10 regions (regions, singular - region) and 1 town* (ville); Bandundu, Bas-
Zaire, Equateur, Haut-Zaire, Kasai-Occidental, Kasai-Oriental, Kinshasa*, Maniema, Nord-Kivu,
Shaba, Sud-Kivu

{2}Independence:{4} 30 June 1960 (from Belgium)

{2}National holiday:{4} Anniversary of the Regime (Second Republic), 24 November (1965)

{2}Constitution:{4} 24 June 1967, amended August 1974, revised 15 February 1978; amended April
1990; new transitional constitution promulgated in April 1994

{2}Legal system:{4} based on Belgian civil law system and tribal law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction

{2}Suffrage:{4} 18 years of age; universal and compulsory

{2}Executive branch:{4}
{3}chief of state:{4} President Marshal MOBUTU Sese Seko Kuku Ngbendu wa Za Banga (since 24
November 1965) elected for a seven-year term by popular vote; election last held 29 July 1984
(next to be held by 9 July 1997); results - President MOBUTU was reelected without opposition
{3}head of government:{4} Prime Minister Leon KENGO wa Dondo (since 14 June 1994) elected by the
High Council of the Republic
{3}cabinet:{4} National Executive Council, appointed by mutual agreement of the president and the
prime minister

{2}Legislative branch:{4} unicameral
parliament: 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

{2}Judicial branch:{4} Supreme Court (Cour Supreme)

{2}Political parties and leaders:{4} 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); Union of
Federalists and Independent Republicans (UFERI); Unified Lumumbast Party (PALU), Antoine
GIZENGA; Union of Independent Democrats (UDI), Leon KENGO wa Dondo

{2}International organization participation:{4} ACCT, ACP, AfDB, CCC, CEEAC, CEPGL, ECA, FAO, G-
19, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat,
Interpol, IOC, ITU, NAM, OAU, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WCL,
WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO

{2}Diplomatic representation in US:{4}
{3}chief of mission:{4} Ambassador TATANENE Manata
{3}chancery:{4} 1800 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009
{3}telephone:{4} [1] [phone], 7691

{2}US diplomatic representation:{4}
{3}chief of mission:{4} Ambassador Daniel H. SIMPSON
{3}embassy:{4} 310 Avenue des Aviateurs, Kinshasa
{3}mailing address:{4} Unit 31550, APO AE 09828
{3}telephone:{4} [243] (12) 21533 through 21535
{3}FAX:{4} [243] (88) 43805, ext. 2308 or 43467

{2}Flag:{4} 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


{1}Economy{4}

{2}Economic overview:{4} Zaire's economy has continued to disintegrate, although Prime Minister
KENGO has had some success in slowing the rate of economic decline. While meaningful
economic figures are difficult to come by, Zaire's hyperinflation, chronic large government deficits,
and plunging mineral production have made the country one of the world's poorest. Most formal
transactions are conducted in hard currency as indigenous bank notes have lost almost all value,
and a barter economy now flourishes in all but the largest cities. Most individuals and families
hang on grimly through subsistence farming and petty trade. The government has not been able to
meet its financial obligations to the IMF nor put in place the financial measures advocated by it.
Although short-term prospects for improvement remain doubtful, improved political stability would
boost Zaire's long-term potential to effectively exploit its vast mineral and agricultural resources.

{2}GDP:{4} purchasing power parity - $16.5 billion (1995 est.)

{2}GDP real growth rate:{4} -7.4% (1995 est.)

{2}GDP per capita:{4} $400 (1995 est.)

{2}GDP composition by sector:{4}
{3}agriculture:{4} NA%
{3}industry:{4} NA%
{3}services:{4} NA%

{2}Inflation rate (consumer prices):{4} 12% monthly average (1995 est.)

{2}Labor force:{4} 14.51 million (1993 est.)
{3}by occupation:{4} agriculture 65%, industry 16%, services 19% (1991 est.)

{2}Unemployment rate:{4} NA%

{2}Budget:{4}
{3}revenues:{4} $479 million
{3}expenditures:{4} $479 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1996 est.)

{2}Industries:{4} mining, mineral processing, consumer products (including textiles, footwear, cigarettes,
processed foods and beverages), cement, diamonds

{2}Industrial production growth rate:{4} -20% (1993)

{2}Electricity:{4}
{3}capacity:{4} 2,830,000 kW
{3}production:{4} 6.2 billion kWh
{3}consumption per capita:{4} 133 kWh (1993)

{2}Agriculture:{4} coffee, sugar, palm oil, rubber, tea, quinine, cassava (tapioca), palm oil, bananas, root
crops, corn, fruits; wood products

{2}Illicit drugs:{4} illicit producer of cannabis, mostly for domestic consumption

{2}Exports:{4} $419 million (f.o.b., 1994)
{3}commodities:{4} copper, coffee, diamonds, cobalt, crude oil
{3}partners:{4} US, Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, UK, Japan, South Africa

{2}Imports:{4} $382 million (c.i.f., 1994)
{3}commodities:{4} consumer goods, foodstuffs, mining and other machinery, transport equipment,
fuels
{3}partners:{4} South Africa, US, Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, UK

{2}External debt:{4} $11.3 billion (December 1993 est.)

{2}Economic aid:{4}
{3}recipient:{4} ODA, $NA

{2}Currency:{4} 1 zaire (Z) = 100 makuta

{2}Exchange rates:{4} new zaires (Z) per US$1 - 10,618 (October 1995), 1,194 (1994), 3 (1993); zaire
(Z) per US$1 - 645,549 (1992), 15,587 (1991)
{3}note:{4} on 22 October 1993 the new zaire, equal to 3,000,000 old zaires, was introduced

{2}Fiscal year:{4} calendar year


{1}Transportation{4}

{2}Railways:{4}
{3}total:{4} 5,138 km (1995); note - severely reduced trackage in use because of civil strife
narrow gauge: 3,987 km 1.067-m gauge (858 km electrified); 125 km 1.000-m gauge; 1,026 km
0.600-m gauge

{2}Highways:{4}
{3}total:{4} 145,000 km
{3}paved:{4} 290 km
{3}unpaved:{4} 144,710 km (1991 est.)

{2}Waterways:{4} 15,000 km including the Congo, its tributaries, and unconnected lakes

{2}Pipelines:{4} petroleum products 390 km

{2}Ports:{4} Banana, Boma, Bukavu, Bumba, Goma, Kalemie, Kindu, Kinshasa, Kisangani, Matadi,
Mbandaka

{2}Merchant marine:{4} none

{2}Airports:{4}
{3}total:{4} 217
{3}with paved runways over 3,047 m:{4} 4
{3}with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m:{4} 3
{3}with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m:{4} 15
{3}with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m:{4} 2
{3}with paved runways under 914 m:{4} 82
{3}with unpaved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m:{4} 17
{3}with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m:{4} 94 (1995 est.)


{1}Communications{4}

{2}Telephones:{4} 34,000 (1991 est.)

{2}Telephone system:{4}
{3}domestic:{4} barely adequate wire and microwave radio relay service in and between urban areas;
domestic satellite system with 14 earth stations
{3}international:{4} satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

{2}Radio broadcast stations:{4} AM 10, FM 4, shortwave 0

{2}Radios:{4} 3.87 million (1992 est.)

{2}Television broadcast stations:{4} 18

{2}Televisions:{4} 55,000 (1992 est.)


{1}Defense{4}

{2}Branches:{4} Army, Navy, Air Force, National Gendarmerie, paramilitary Civil Guard, Special
Presidential Division

{2}Manpower availability:{4}
{3}males age 15-49:{4} 10,025,536
{3}males fit for military service:{4} 5,108,385 (1996 est.)

{2}Defense expenditures:{4} exchange rate conversion - $46 million, 1.5% of GDP (1990)