The Country

The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) also referred to as Congo-Kinshasa and formerly known as Zaire is the 12^th largest country in the world, and the third largest on the African continent. The population of DRC is estimated at 63 million. The country is located in central Africa, in the Great Lakes region; it borders the Republic of the Congo (Congo-Brazzaville) and an angolese enclave to the west, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi and Tanzania to the east, the Central African Republic and Sudan to the north, and Zambia and Angola to the south.

DRC is a former Belgian colony that received its independence in 1960. The country was governed by President Mobutu Sesse Seko from 1965 to 1997, and later by President Laurent-Désiré Kabila. DRC is now run by elected President Joseph Kabila. A new constitution was adopted by referendum in 2006. At the administrative level, DRC territory is divided into eleven provinces. Among the eastern provinces are the Oriental Province, North and South Kivu, Ituri, Oriental Kasai, Maniema and Katanga.

There are as many as 450 different tribes in DRC and an estimated 242 dialects spoken around the country. French is the official language and other national languages are Swahili, used in the East, Kongo, Lingala and Tshiluba. The Ituri province contains a great variety of ethnic groups: it is home to the Lendu, who are traditionally farmers, the Hema, who engage in pastoral activities, the Nande, who belong to the shopkeeper ethnic group, the Alur, the Bira, the Nyali, the Ndo-okelo, the Pygmies, the Nlese and the Libaru, a group comprised of various other ethnicities.

DRC is one of the richest countries of Africa in terms of natural resources, such as timber and minerals. Its subsoil is rich in diamonds, cobalt, copper, manganese, gold, tin, bauxite, iron, as well as coltan, which is in high demand in the high-technology industry. DRC also has abundant energy resources, such as coal, petroleum, methane and tar sands.

French

Petition Without your support, our action will lose momentum. Without our partnership, your action will have little impact. Help us change the direction of the fight against sexual violence in the DRC. Thank you for reading and signing our petition by clicking here.	Skip to Main Content Campuni ya wanawake wa kongomani kwa kupiganisha ubakaji katika jamuhuri ya Congo Congolese Women’s Campaign Against Sexual Violence in the DRC Every day, 40 women are raped in the Eastern Congo. It's a well-known reality that has been documented and reported by media, NGOs, international institutions and States. But nothing changes, sexual violence is still widespread. So what more can be done?
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	The Country The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) also referred to as Congo-Kinshasa and formerly known as Zaire is the 12^th largest country in the world, and the third largest on the African continent. The population of DRC is estimated at 63 million. The country is located in central Africa, in the Great Lakes region; it borders the Republic of the Congo (Congo-Brazzaville) and an angolese enclave to the west, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi and Tanzania to the east, the Central African Republic and Sudan to the north, and Zambia and Angola to the south. DRC is a former Belgian colony that received its independence in 1960. The country was governed by President Mobutu Sesse Seko from 1965 to 1997, and later by President Laurent-Désiré Kabila. DRC is now run by elected President Joseph Kabila. A new constitution was adopted by referendum in 2006. At the administrative level, DRC territory is divided into eleven provinces. Among the eastern provinces are the Oriental Province, North and South Kivu, Ituri, Oriental Kasai, Maniema and Katanga. There are as many as 450 different tribes in DRC and an estimated 242 dialects spoken around the country. French is the official language and other national languages are Swahili, used in the East, Kongo, Lingala and Tshiluba. The Ituri province contains a great variety of ethnic groups: it is home to the Lendu, who are traditionally farmers, the Hema, who engage in pastoral activities, the Nande, who belong to the shopkeeper ethnic group, the Alur, the Bira, the Nyali, the Ndo-okelo, the Pygmies, the Nlese and the Libaru, a group comprised of various other ethnicities. DRC is one of the richest countries of Africa in terms of natural resources, such as timber and minerals. Its subsoil is rich in diamonds, cobalt, copper, manganese, gold, tin, bauxite, iron, as well as coltan, which is in high demand in the high-technology industry. DRC also has abundant energy resources, such as coal, petroleum, methane and tar sands. French Navigation Emergency
	(c) 2008 - Coalition for Women's Rights in Conflict Situations

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