Democratic Republic of the CongoThe Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), also known as the DR Congo, Congo-Kinshasa, or simply the Congo, and formerly named Zaire, is a country in Central Africa. By land area, it is the second-largest country in Africa and the eleventh-largest in the world. With a population of about 124 million people, the Democratic Republic of the Congo is the fourth-most populous country in Africa and the most populous Francophone country in the world.
Republic of the CongoFlagCoat of armsMotto: "Unité, Travail, Progrès"(French)(English: "Unity, Work, Progress")Anthem:"La Congolaise"(French)Besi Kôngo(Kongo)(English: "The Congolese")Show globeShow map of AfricaCapitaland largest cityBrazzaville4°16′S15°17′E / 4.267°S 15.283°E / -4.267; 15.283Official languagesFrenchRecognised national languagesKitubaLingalaEthnic groups41% Bakongo16.9% Bateke13.1% Mbochi5.6% Sangha2% Mbenga Pygmiesand othersReligion (2025)87.2% Christianity8.1% no religion2.7% Islam0.4% traditional faiths1.6% othersDemonymsCongoleseCongoGovernmentUnitary semi-presidential republic under an authoritarian dictatorship• PresidentDenis Sassou Nguesso• Prime MinisterAnatole Collinet Makosso• President of SenatePierre Ngolo• President of the National AssemblyIsidore MvoubaLegislatureParliament• Upper houseSenate• Lower houseNational AssemblyIndependence from France• Kingdom of Loangoc.
CICM MissionariesThe CICM Missionaries, officially known as the Congregation of the Immaculate Heart of Mary (Latin: Congregatio Immaculati Cordis Mariae) and often abbreviated as C.I.C.M, is a Catholic clerical religious congregation of Pontifical Right for men established in 1862 by the Belgian Catholic priest Theophile Verbist (1823–1868). Its members add the post-nominal letters C.I.C.M. to their names to indicate membership in the congregation.
KinshasaKinshasa (; French: [kinʃasa]; Lingala: Kinsásá), formerly named Léopoldville (Dutch: Leopoldstad) from 1881 to 1966, is the capital and largest city of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Kinshasa is one of the world's fastest-growing megacities, with an estimated population of 18.5 million in 2026.
Bantu languagesLarge language family spoken in Sub-Saharan AfricaThe Bantu languages (UK: , US: Proto-Bantu: *bantʊ̀) are a language family, or a branch of the proposed Niger-Congo language family, containing about 600 languages that are spoken by the Bantu peoples of Central, Southern, Eastern and SoutheastAfrica. They form the largest branch of the Southern Bantoid languages.
Congolese AmericansAmericans of Congolese birth or descent Ethnic group Congolese AmericansTotal populationBy ancestry or ethnic origin: 145,768 (2024 ACS) Congolese-born:105,000 (2023 ACS)Regions with significant populationsTexas (especially the Dallas–Fort Worth Metroplex followed by the Houston Metropolitan Area), Georgia (Atlanta Metropolitan Area), Arizona (especially in the Phoenix Metropolitan Area and Tucson), Kentucky, North Carolina, Illinois, Ohio, California (SoCal), New York, and Michigan.
Central African RepublicCountry in Central AfricaThe Central African Republic (CAR) is a landlocked country in Central Africa. It is bordered by Chad to the north, Sudan to the northeast, South Sudan to the east, the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the south, the Republic of the Congo to the southwest, and Cameroon to the west. The CAR covers a land area of about 620,000 square kilometres (240,000 sq mi). As of 2024, it has a population of 5,357,744, consisting of about 80 ethnic groups.
AngolaAngola, officially the Republic of Angola, is a country on the western coast of Southern Africa. It is the second-largest Portuguese-speaking (Lusophone) country after Brazil in both total area and population and is the seventh-largest country in Africa. It is bordered by Namibia to the south, the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the north, Zambia to the east, and the Atlantic Ocean to the west.
BrazzavilleBrazzaville (French pronunciation: [bʁazavil]) is the capital and largest city of the Republic of the Congo. Administratively, it is a department and a commune. Constituting the financial and administrative centre of the country, it is located on the north side of the Congo River, opposite Kinshasa, the capital city of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DR Congo).
FranceCountry primarily in Western EuropeFrance, officially the French Republic, is a country primarily located in Western Europe. Its overseas regions and territories include French Guiana in South America, Saint Pierre and Miquelon in the North Atlantic, the French West Indies, and many islands in Oceania and the Indian Ocean.
BelgiumCountry in Northwestern EuropeBelgium, officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a country in Northwestern Europe. Situated in a coastal lowland region known as the Low Countries, it is bordered by the Netherlands to the north, Germany to the east, Luxembourg to the southeast, France to the south, and the North Sea to the west.
MakanzaMakanza or Mankanza is a town in the Équateur province of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, headquarters of Makanza territory. HistoryMakanza was formerly known as Bangala Station and then as Nouvelle-Anvers / Nieuw-Antwerpen (New Antwerp). It is a port on the River Congo. Located midway between Kinshasa and Kisangani, the location housed a trading post from the 1890s. The town was one of the main stages of the .
LingalaRelated word or term.Appendix:Lingala Swadesh listRelated word or term.Appendix:Swadesh listsRelated word or term.*As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.