Portal:Democratic Republic of the Congo

Topics Culture Geography Health History Mathematics Nature People Philosophy Religion Society Technology The Democratic Republic of the Congo (French: République Démocratique du Congo), also referred to as DRC, RDC, DR Congo or formerly as Congo Free State, Belgian Congo, Congo-Léopoldville, Congo-Kinshasa, and formerly Zaire (or Zaïre in French), is a state in Central Africa and the second largest country on the continent. It borders the Central African Republic and South Sudan on the north, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, and Tanzania on the east, Zambia and Angola on the south, and the Republic of the Congo on the west. The country enjoys access to the sea through a narrow forty kilometre stretch, following the Congo river into the Gulf of Guinea. The name "Congo" (meaning "hunter") is coined after the Kongo ethnic group, living in the lower Congo river area. As many as 250 ethnic groups have been distinguished and named. The most numerous people are the Kongo, Luba, and Mongo. Although 700 local languages and dialects are spoken, the linguistic variety is bridged both by the use of French and the intermediary languages Kikongo, Tshiluba, Swahili, and Lingala. More about the Democratic Republic of the Congo ... Error creating thumbnail: File missing The involvement of the Belgian Congo in World War II began with the German invasion of Belgium in May 1940. Despite Belgium's surrender, the Congo remained in the conflict on the Allied side, administered by the Belgian government in exile, and provided much-needed raw materials, most notably gold and uranium, to Britain and the United States. Congolese troops of the Force Publique fought alongside British forces in the East African Campaign, and a Congolese medical unit served in Madagascar and in the Burma Campaign. Congolese formations also acted as garrisons in Egypt, Nigeria and Palestine. The increasing demands placed on the Congolese population by the colonial authorities during the war, however, provoked strikes, riots and other forms of resistance, particularly from the indigenous Congolese. These were repressed, often violently, by the Belgian colonial authorities. The Congo's comparative prosperity during the conflict led to a wave of post-war immigration from Belgium, bringing the white population to 100,000 by 1950, as well as a period of industrialisation that continued throughout the 1950s. The role played by Congolese uranium during the hostilities caused the country to be of interest to the Soviet Union during the Cold War. (Read more...) File:Female Face Mask (Gambanda), early 1900s, Central Africa, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Pende people, wood, fiber - Cleveland Museum of Art - DSC08700.JPG A traditional mask from the Pende people of the central Congo, c.1900 ...that Dedeline Mibamba Kimbata, a member of DR Congo's first Paralympic team, competed in a wheelchair donated by Kenyan Paralympian Anne Wafula Strike? ...that the 2008 Congo football riots were sparked by accusations of witchcraft? ...that the original owners of Air Brousse were distributors for Aero Commander, Hughes, and Piper aircraft in the Congo? 120px Reverend William Henry Sheppard (1865–1927) was one of the earliest African Americans to become a missionary for the Presbyterian Church. He spent 20 years in Africa, primarily in and around the Congo Free State, and is best known for his efforts to publicize the atrocities committed against the Kuba and other Congolese peoples by King Leopold II's Force Publique. Sheppard's efforts contributed to the contemporary debate on European colonialism and imperialism in the region, particularly amongst those of the African American community. However, it has been noted that he traditionally received little attention in literature on the subject. (Read more...) "In our African tradition...can anyone tell me that he has ever known a village that has two chiefs?" — Mobutu Sese Seko, explaining the dominance of his ruling party Template:/box-header Subcategories of Democratic Republic of the Congo: Cities - Companies - Conservation areas - Geography - History - Communications - Culture - Military - Politics - Provinces - Transportation - Universities and colleges - Kongo Template:/box-footer WikiProject Democratic Republic of the Congo WikiProject Africa The following Wikimedia sister projects provide more on this subject: What are portals? List of portals Featured portals