An Introduction to Republic of Congo
Until independence in 1960, the Republic of the Congo spent three quarters of a century under French sovereignty. Portuguese expeditions arrived in the 16th century and for centuries the Congo River Delta was a major commercial hub for transatlantic trade between European Merchants and the inland Bantu Kingdoms - including slaves captured from the hinterlands. After independence the country was Marxist until 1990, then elected its first democratic government in 1992, but civil war followed in 1997 and a ceasefire, signed in 2003, has a tenuous hold, while the number of refugees in the country constitutes a humanitarian crisis. See full country profile.Latest Research News from Africa
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GOVERNMENT: Republic
AREA: 342,000 sq km
POPULATION: 4,243,929 (July 2011 est)
MAJOR LANGUAGE: French and Recognised Regional Languages: Kongo/Kituba, Lingala
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Trade and Industry in Republic of Congo
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Until independence in 1960, the Republic of the Congo spent three quarters of a century under French sovereignty. Portuguese expeditions arrived in the 16th century and for centuries the Congo River Delta was a major commercial hub for transatlantic trade between European Merchants and the inland Bantu Kingdoms - including slaves captured from the hinterlands. After independence the country was Marxist until 1990, then elected its first democratic government in 1992, but civil war followed in 1997 and a ceasefire, signed in 2003, has a tenuous hold, while the number of refugees in the country constitutes a humanitarian crisis.
Congo has recently (30th December 2010) passed a law for the promotion and protection of the rights of indigenous peoples, the first of its kind in Africa, partly in response to concern from international human rights groups over conditions for the country's many Pygmies.
GDP: $17.11 billion (2010 est) - $4,100 per capita (PPP 2010 est)
Religions Christian 50%, animist 48%, Muslim 2%
Currency: Central African Franc (XAF) - GBP 1 = XAF 746.25
Telephone Code: +242
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Congo has no MR association. If you know differently, please get in touch! chris@mrweb.comThe economy of Congo is a mixture of agriculture, handicrafts, and an industrial sector based largely on petroleum. However, the government is characterised by budget problems and overstaffing. The production of petroleum has recently surpassed forestry as the mainstay of the economy - the oil sector accounts for around 65% of GDP, 85% of government revenue and 92% of exports.
Congo also has base metal, gold, iron and phosphate deposits. The country is a member of the Organization for the Harmonization of Business Law in Africa (OHADA). The Congolese government has signed an agreement to lease 200,000 hectares of land to South African farmers to reduce its dependence on imports.
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