Congo, Democratic Republic of the Government 1997

Country name
conventional long form: Democratic Republic of the Congo
conventional short form: none
local long form: Republique Democratique du Congo
local short form: none
former : Belgian Congo, Congo/Leopoldville, Congo/Kinshasa, Zaire

Data code CG

Government type republic with a strong presidential system

National capital Kinshasa

Administrative divisions 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

Independence 30 June 1960 (from Belgium)

National holiday Anniversary of the Regime (Second Republic), 24 November (1965)

Constitution 24 June 1967, amended August 1974, revised 15 February 1978, amendedApril 1990; transitional constitution promulgated in April 1994; new draftconstitution approved by Transitional Parliament in October 1996, subjectto ratification by popular referendum scheduled for February 1997; draft constitutionprovides for multiparty elections by July 1997

Legal system based on Belgian civil law system and tribal law; has not accepted compulsoryICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage 18 years of age; universal and compulsory

Executive branch
chief of state: Gen. Laurent-DESIRE KABILA (since 17 May 1997); note - the presidentis both chief of state and head of government
head of government: Gen. Laurent-DESIRE KABILA (since 17 May 1997); note - the presidentis both chief of state and head of government
cabinet : National Executive Council normally appointed by mutual agreement ofthe president and the prime minister; note - Gen. KABILA's cabinet was appointedby him and has no prime minister
elections: president elected by popular vote for a seven-year term; election lastheld 29 July 1984 (next was to be held in May 1997); prime minister electedby the High Council of the Republic; note - the term of the former government expired in 1991, elections were not held, and MOBUTU continued in officeuntil his government was militarily defeated by Gen. Laurent-DESIRE KABILAon 17 May 1997
election results: MOBUTU Sese Seko Kuku Ngbendu wa Za Banga reelected president in 1984without opposition
note: Marshal MOBUTU Sese Seko Kuku Ngbendu wa Za Banga was president from24 November 1965 until forced into exile on 17 May 1997 when his governmentwas overturned in a coup by Gen. Laurent-DESIRE KABILA, who immediately assumedsole governing authority

Legislative branch unicameral parliament consisting of the combined High Council of theRepublic and the Parliament of the Transition (739 seats)
elections: the country's first multi-party presidential and legislative electionshad been scheduled for May 1997 but were not held; instead the MOBUTO governmentwas overthrown and control of the governing apparatus was seized by Gen. Laurent-DESIREKABILA

Judicial branch Supreme Court (Cour Supreme)

Political parties and leaders sole legal party until January 1991 - Popular Movement of the Revolutionor MPR; other parties include Union for Democracy and Social Progress or UDPS[Etienne TSHISEKEDI wa Mulumba]; Democratic Social Christian Party or PDSC;Union of Federalists and Independent Republicans or UFER; Unified LumumbastParty or PALU [Antoine GIZENGA]; Union of Independent Democrats or UDI [LeonKENGO wa Dondo]

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

Diplomatic representation in the US
chief of mission : Charge d'Affaires ad interim Etienne B. J. K. MUKENDI
chancery: 1800 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009
telephone: [1] (202) 234-7690, 7691
FAX: [1] (202) 686-3631

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

Flag description light blue with a large yellow five-pointed star in the center and acolumnar arrangement of six small yellow five-pointed stars along the hoistside

NOTE: The information regarding Congo, Democratic Republic of the on this page is re-published from the 1997 World Fact Book of the United States Central Intelligence Agency. No claims are made regarding the accuracy of Congo, Democratic Republic of the Government 1997 information contained here. All suggestions for corrections of any errors about Congo, Democratic Republic of the Government 1997 should be addressed to the CIA.