 | Capital city: Kinshasa, largest city
(main river port and international airport). |
 | Area: 2344885 square km |
 | National day: |
 | Independence: 30 June 1960. Formerly
Belgian Congo. Known as Zaire from 1971 to 1997. |
 | Population: 50 million as of 2000 |
 | Leader: Joseph Kabila, born 1971.
President since 2001, after the assisanation of his father Lauent-Desire
Kabila. |
 | Languages: French (official), Kongo,
Lingala, Luba, Mongo, Swahili. |
 | Currency: Congolese franc. |