Demokratična republika Kongo - Democratic Republic of the Congo

	OPOZORILO: Zaradi širjenja COVID-19 pomanjkanje zdravstvenih ustanov za zdravljenje je nebistveno potovanje v Demokratično republiko Kongo ni priporočljivo. Junija 2020 je izbruhnil nov Virus ebole je bilo napovedano v provinci Équateur. Potniki bi morali pred potovanjem poiskati zdravniško pomoč. Moral bi izogibajte se vsem potovanjem v province Kasaï, Kasaï Central, Kasaï Oriental, Haut-Uele, Haut Lomami, Ituri, North Kivu, South Kivu, Maniema in Tanganyika v vzhodni Demokratični republiki Kongo, območja zahodno in vzhodno od Kanange, vključno s Tshikapo in Mwene-Ditu, ali znotraj 50 km od meje z Srednjeafriško republiko in Južnim Sudanom. V letu 2020 še vedno obstaja velika nevarnost, da bo vsako javno zbiranje postalo nasilno zaradi političnih razmer. In če bi se razmere poslabšale, bi bil odhod iz države verjetno težek. Priporočljivo je imeti zaloge osnovnih zalog. Več podrobnosti najdete v Ostani varen odsek.
	Vladna potovalna svetovanja Avstralija Kanada Nemčija Nova Zelandija Združeno kraljestvo Združene države
	(Podatki so bili nazadnje posodobljeni avgusta 2020)

The Demokratična republika Kongo (Francosko: République Démocratique du Congo (ali RDC); pogosto skrajšana na DRK ali D.R. Kongo) je največja in najbolj naseljena država v Srednja Afrika. Demokratična republika Kongo ostaja cilj le najbolj prekaljenega in trdega afriškega popotnika. je ne država za priložnostne turiste: povprečni nahrbtnik, dopustnik, še posebej tisti, ki iščejo luksuzne safarije ali organizirane kulturne izkušnje. Srce Demokratične republike Kongo je v veliki meri pokrito z bujnim tropskim deževnim gozdom Amazonka (edini večji deževni gozd na Zemlji). Mogočna reka Kongo predstavlja hrbtenico države, prevaža barke, preplavljene s Kongo (in občasno pustolovskim Evropejcem) in trgovci, ki pripeljejo svoje velike piroške natovorjen z blagom, sadjem in lokalnim mesom, ki ga prodajajo tistim na barkah.

Država ima obilico naravnih virov, ocenjujejo pa, da presegajo 24 bilijonov ameriških dolarjev. Država bi lahko postala veliko bogatejša od sedanje, vendar ostaja ena najrevnejših in najmanj razvitih držav na svetu, predvsem zaradi vsesplošne politične nestabilnosti, korupcije in vojskovanja.

Država je bila brutalno oropana Belgija med prerivanjem za Afriko so bili milijoni Kongovcev (vključno z otroki) mučeni, posiljeni in pobiti. Brazgotine kolonizacije se čutijo še danes, odnosi z Belgijo pa še naprej ostajajo nezdravi.

Tedni po osamosvojitvi leta 1960 je država razpadla, njeni voditelji pa so bili od takrat veliko bolj zavzeti za zatiranje upornikov in državo skupaj, kot pa za gradnjo infrastrukture, izboljšanje izobraževanja in zdravstva ali kar koli drugega za izboljšanje življenja Kongovcev, mnogi živijo v revščini. Med letoma 1994 in 2003 se je v vzhodnih džunglah države razvil najkrvavejši konflikt po koncu druge svetovne vojne, od takrat pa je trajalo občasno nasilje. Milijoni ljudi so bili razseljeni, bežijo pred množičnimi poboji in množičnimi posilstvi, stotisoči pa so še danes v begunskih taboriščih, zaščitenih z največjo mirovno misijo ZN (MONUC) na svetu.

Tisti, ki imajo pogumne prvine za potovanje sem, vas čaka prava dogodivščina. Na vzhodu se vulkanski vrhovi dvignejo na tisoče metrov nad okoliškim deževnim gozdom, pogosto zavit v meglo. Pohodniki se lahko povzpnejo na goro Nyiragongo, ki se kaže zgoraj Gomain prenočite na robu nad aktivnim jezerom iz lave (eno od štirih po vsem svetu!). V bližnjih džunglah je majhnemu številu turistov vsak dan dovoljeno, da se odpravijo do družin goril - najbližjih sorodnikov naše vrste. Ob mogočni reki Kongo peščica popotnikov vsako leto tedne preplava stotine kilometrov na barkah, naloženih s tovorom in kongojci. In ne pozabite pobrati mask in drugih rokodelskih izdelkov na živahnih trgih po državi.

To državo pogosto imenujejo tudi Kongo-Kinšasa da ga ločimo od severozahodne sosede, Republike Kongo (znan tudi kot "Kongo-Brazzaville"). V preteklosti je bila Demokratična republika Kongo znana kot Free Congo State, Belgijski Kongo, Republika Kongo, Congo-Leopoldville ali Zaire. V tem in drugih navodilih znotraj DR Kongo se "Kongo" nanaša na Demokratično republiko Kongo.

Regije

Zemljevid Demokratične republike Kongo z barvnimi oznakami regij

Mesta

• -4.331666666666715.3138888888891 Kinšasa - Kapital
• -2.528.8666666666672 Bukavu
• -1.679444444444429.2336111111113 Goma
• -5.89722.4488333333334 Kananga
• 0.5152777777777825.1911111111115 Kisangani
• -2.9525.9166666666676 Kindujski
• -11.66972222222227.4580555555567 Lubumbaši
• -5.816666666666713.4833333333338 Matadi
• 0.04861111111111118.2602777777789 Mbandaka

Druge destinacije

Na območju je več parkov Unescov seznam svetovne dediščine.

• -0.529.51 Narodni park Virunga
• -2.528.752 Narodni park Kahuzi-Biega
• 429.253 Narodni park Garamba
• -2214 Narodni park Salonga
• 228.55 Rezervat divjih živali Okapi
• -0.427.566666676 Narodni park Maiko

Razumeti

Kapital	Kinšasa
Valuta	Kongovski frank (CDF)
Prebivalstvo	86,7 milijona (2019)
Elektrika	220 voltov / 50 hercev (Europlug, AC vtiči in vtičnice: britanski in sorodni tipi, tip E)
Koda države	243
Časovni pas	UTC 01:00, UTC 02:00
Nujne primere	113 (gasilci), 114 (policija), 118 (policija)
Vozna stran	prav
uredi na Wikidata

Geografija

Mogočna reka Kongo

DRK resnično ogromno. S 2.345.408 kvadratnimi kilometri (905.567 kvadratnih kilometrov) je večje od skupnih površin Španija, Francija, Nemčija, Švedska, in Norveška- ali skoraj trikrat in pol večji od Teksas.

Opredelitev države je drugi največji deževni gozd na svetu. Reke velike in majhne kače po vsej državi in ​​s slabim cestnim omrežjem ostajajo glavno prevozno sredstvo do danes. Reka Kongo je tretja največja reka na svetu, merjena z izpustom - nadaljuje se celo v Atlantik in tvori podmorski kanjon, ki je približno 80 km oddaljen od roba celinskega pasu! Odlikuje ga tudi ena najglobljih rek na svetu z globinami do 220 m (720 ft). V reki Kongo je zaradi velike količine vode, globine in brzic dom številnim endemičnim vrstam. Reka Kongo se "začne" pri slapovih Boyoma v bližini Kisangani. Nad temi padci je reka znana kot reka Lualaba, katere najdaljši pritok se razteza v Zambija. Reka Obangui tvori mejo med Demokratično republiko Kongo in Demokratično republiko Kongo CAR / Kongo-Brazzaville pred izlivom v reko Kongo.

Albertinski razkol - podružnica vzhodnoafriškega razpoka - poteka vzdolž vzhodne meje DR Kongo. Odgovorna je za jezera Tanganjika, Kivu, Edward in Albert. Razkol obkrožajo številni ugasli vulkani in dva vulkana, ki delujeta še danes. Pogorje Rwenzori in pogorje Virunga ob meji z Ruanda so precej slikovite, dvigajo se sredi bujnih tropskih gozdov in so včasih srhljivo zavite v meglo. Več vrhov je več kot 4000 m (13.000 čevljev). Gora Nyiragongo vsebuje eno od samo štirih neprekinjenih jezer lave na svetu.

Edini del države, ki ni pokrit z bujnimi gozdovi, je jug okrog province Kasai, ki vsebuje večinoma savane in travnike.

Zgodovina

Nekaj ​​tisočletij je deželo, ki danes tvori Demokratično republiko Kongo, naselilo na stotine majhnih plemen lovcev / nabiralcev. Pokrajina gostih tropskih gozdov in deževno podnebje sta prebivalstvo regije ohranjala nizko in preprečevala ustanavljanje naprednih društev, zato je danes le malo ostankov teh društev. Prva in edina pomembna politična sila je bilo kraljestvo Kongo, ustanovljeno okrog 13. do 14. stoletja. Kraljevina Kongo, ki se je razširila po današnjem severnem delu Angola, Cabinda, Kongo-Brazzavillein Bas-Kongo sta postala precej bogata in močna s trgovanjem z drugimi afriškimi ljudstvi s slonovino, bakreno posodo, krpo, lončenino in sužnji (že dolgo pred prihodom Evropejcev). Portugalci so leta 1483 vzpostavili stik s Kongoji in kmalu so kralja lahko spreobrnili v krščanstvo, večina prebivalstva pa mu je sledila. Kraljevina Kongo je bila glavni vir sužnjev, ki so bili prodani v skladu z zakoni Konga in so bili večinoma vojni ujetniki. Po dosegu vrhunca v poznem 15. in zgodnjem 16. stoletju je kraljestvo Kongo videlo silovito tekmo za nasledstvo na prestolu, vojno s plemeni na vzhodu in vrsto vojn s Portugalci. Kraljevino Kongo so Portugalski leta 1665 premagali in dejansko prenehali obstajati, čeprav je večinoma ceremonijalen položaj kralja Konga ostal do osemdesetih let, Kongo pa je ostalo ime ohlapne zbirke plemen okoli delte reke Kongo. Kivu in območja v bližini Ugandi, Ruanda, & Burundi so bili vir sužnjev arabskim trgovcem iz Zanzibar. Federacija Kuba na jugu Demokratične republike Kongo je bila dovolj izolirana, da se je izognila suženjstvu in celo odvrnila belgijske poskuse, da bi vzpostavila stik z njimi, začenši leta 1884. Po vrhuncu moči v začetku 19. stoletja pa se je zveza Kuba do leta 1900 razpadla. , obstajala so le majhna plemena in kratkotrajna kraljestva.

Dežela, ki je zdaj Demokratična republika Kongo, je bila zadnja afriška regija, ki so jo Evropejci raziskali. Portugalcem nikoli ni uspelo prepotovati več kot sto do dvesto kilometrov od atlantske obale. Raziskovalci so na desetine poskusov potovali po reki Kongo, vendar brzice, neprehodna džungla okoli njih, tropske bolezni in sovražna plemena tudi najbolj dobro opremljenim strankam preprečile potovanje čez prvo mreno, oddaljeno 160 km po kopnem. Slavni britanski raziskovalec dr. Livingstone je sredi 1860-ih začel raziskovati reko Lualabo, za katero je menil, da je povezana z Nilom, a je dejansko zgornji Kongo. Po slavnem srečanju s Henryjem Mortonom Stanleyem leta 1867 je Livingstone potoval po reki Kongo do bazena Stanley, ki je Kinšasa & Brazzaville zdaj meja. Od tam je odpotoval po kopnem do Atlantika.

V Belgija, goreči kralj Leopold II si je močno želel, da bi Belgija dobila kolonijo, da bi sledila ostalim evropskim silam, vendar ga je belgijska vlada večkrat ovirala (bil je ustavni monarh). Nazadnje se je odločil, da si bo kolonijo pridobil sam kot navaden državljan, in organiziral "humanitarno" organizacijo, da bi ugotovil namen, da bi zahteval Kongo, nato pa ustanovil več lupinarskih podjetij, ki so to storila. Medtem je Stanley poiskal finančnika za svoj sanjski projekt - železnico mimo spodnje sive mrene reke Kongo, ki bi omogočila parnike na zgornjem delu milje Konga in odprla bogastvo "Srca Afrike". Leopold je v Stanleyju našel tekmo in mu naložil zgraditi vrsto utrdb vzdolž zgornje reke Kongo in kupiti suverenost od plemenskih voditeljev (ali ubiti tiste, ki niso želeli). V zgornjem Kongu je bilo zgrajenih več utrdb z delavci in materiali, ki so potovali iz Zanzibarja. Leta 1883 je Stanleyju uspelo potovati po kopnem od Atlantika do bazena Stanley. Ko je prišel do reke, je odkril, da je močan suženj iz Zanzibarija dobil vetra v svoje delo in zajel območje okoli reke Lualabe, kar je Stanleyu omogočilo, da je zgradil svojo končno utrdbo tik pod slapovi Stanley (mesto sodobnega Kisangani).

Kongo Free State

Ko so evropske sile na konferenci v Berlinu leta 1885 razdelile Afriko med seboj, pod okriljem Ljubljane Association internationale du Congo, Leopold, edini delničar, je formalno prevzel nadzor nad Kongom. The Kongo Free State je bil ustanovljen z vsemi sodobnimi DR Kongo. Leopold ga ni več potreboval, ga je zamenjal s skupino prijateljev in komercialnih partnerjev ter se hitro lotil bogastva Konga. Vsa zemljišča, ki ne vsebujejo naselja, so veljala za last Konga, država pa je bila razdeljena na zasebno cono (izključno last države) in cono proste trgovine, kjer je vsak Evropejec lahko kupil 10-15 let zakupa zemljišča in obdržal ves dohodek. iz njihove dežele. V strahu pred britansko kolonijo Cape, ki je priključila Katango (s trditvijo, da Kongo ni uveljavljal pravice do nje), je Leopold poslal ekspedicijo po stopnicah v Katango. Ko so se pogajanja z lokalnim kraljestvom Yeke prekinila, so Belgijci vodili kratko vojno, ki se je končala z odsekanjem glave njihovemu kralju. Leta 1894 se je vodila še ena kratka vojna z sužnji Zanzibarija, ki so zasedli reko Lualabo.

Ko so se vojne končale, so Belgijci zdaj poskušali povečati dobiček iz regij. Plače administratorjev so se znižale na najmanjšo možno mero s sistemom nagrajevanja velikih provizij na podlagi njihovega okrožnega dobička, ki so ga pozneje nadomestili s sistemom provizij ob koncu administratorske službe, odvisno od odobritve nadrejenih. Ljudem, ki živijo v "zasebni domeni" v lasti države, je bilo prepovedano trgovati z nikomer, razen z državo, in morali so dobavljati določene kvote gume in slonovine po nizki, fiksni ceni. Kavčuk v Kongu je prihajal iz divjih trt in delavci so ga posekali, si tekočo gumo podrgnili po telesu in jo strdili v bolečem postopku. Divje trte so med tem pobili, kar pomeni, da jih je postalo manj in jih je bilo težje najti, ko so se povečale kvote gume.

Vladine Force Publique uveljavil te kvote z zapori, mučenjem, bičanjem ter posilstvom in sežiganjem neposlušnih / uporniških vasi. Najbolj gnusno dejanje FP pa je bilo sprejemanje rok. Kazen za neupoštevanje kvot za gumo je bila smrt. V zaskrbljenosti, da so vojaki svoje dragocene krogle uporabljali za športni lov, je poveljstvo zahtevalo, da vojaki predložijo eno roko za vsako kroglo, ki je bila uporabljena kot dokaz, da so kroglo nekoga ubili. Obdane bi bile celotne vasi, prebivalci, pobiti s koši odsekanih rok, pa bi bili vrnjeni poveljnikom. Vojaki so lahko dobivali bonuse in se vrnili domov zgodaj, ker so vrnili več rok kot drugi, medtem ko bi nekatere vasi, ki se soočajo z nerealnimi gumijastimi kvotami, napadale sosednje vasi, da bi zbrale roke in jih predstavile FP, da bi se izognile isti usodi. Cene gume so v 19. stoletju narasle, Leopoldu in belcem v Kongu prinesle veliko bogastvo, vendar so sčasoma poceni gume iz Amerike in Azije znižale cene in delovanje v CFS je postalo nedonosno.

Do konca stoletja so poročila o teh grozodejstvih prišla v Evropo. Po nekaj letih uspešnega prepričevanja javnosti, da gre za posamezne incidente in obrekovanja, so druge evropske države začele preiskovati dejavnosti Leopolda v svobodni državi Kongo. Objave omembe vrednih novinarjev in avtorjev (kot je Conrad's Srce teme in Doyle's Zločin iz Konga) je vprašanje predstavil evropski javnosti. Osramočena je belgijska vlada končno priključila Svobodno državo Kongo, prevzela Leopoldove posesti in preimenovala državo Belgijski Kongo (za razlikovanje od francoskega Konga, zdaj Republike Kongo). Popisa prebivalstva ni bilo, zgodovinarji pa ocenjujejo, da je bila med letoma 1885 in 1908 pobita približno polovica prebivalstva Konga, do 10 milijonov ljudi.

Belgijski Kongo

Poleg odprave prisilnega dela in s tem povezanih kazni belgijska vlada sprva ni bistveno spremenila. Da bi izkoristili ogromno rudninsko bogastvo Konga, so Belgijci začeli graditi ceste in železnice po vsej državi (večina jih je danes ohranjena le malo stoletja). Belgijci so si tudi prizadevali, da bi Kongovcem omogočili dostop do izobraževanja in zdravstvenega varstva. Med 2. svetovna vojnaje Kongo ostal zvest belgijski vladi v izgnanstvu leta London in poslal čete, da bi napadle Italijane v Etiopiji in Nemce leta Vzhodna Afrika. Kongo je postal tudi eden glavnih svetovnih dobaviteljev gume in rude. Uran, izkopan v belgijskem Kongu, je bil poslan v ZDA in uporabljen pri padcu atomskih bomb Hirošima in Nagasaki ki je končal Pacifiška vojna.

Po drugi svetovni vojni je belgijski Kongo uspeval in petdeseta leta so bila nekaj najmirnejših let v zgodovini Konga. Belgijska vlada je vlagala v zdravstvene ustanove, infrastrukturo in stanovanja. Kongojci so pridobili pravico do nakupa / prodaje nepremičnin in segregacija je skoraj izginila. V večjih mestih se je celo razvil majhen srednji sloj. Belgijci niso pripravili izobraženega razreda temnopoltih voditeljev in javnih uslužbencev. Prve volitve za temnopolte volivce in kandidate so bile leta 1957 v večjih mestih. Do leta 1959 so uspešna gibanja za neodvisnost drugih afriških držav navdihnila Kongovce in pozivi k neodvisnosti so postajali vedno glasnejši. Belgija ni želela, da bi kolonialna vojna obdržala nadzor nad Kongom, in je januarja 1960 na pogovore v Bruselj povabila peščico kongovskih političnih voditeljev. Belgijci so imeli v mislih 5-6-letni načrt prehoda za parlamentarne volitve leta 1960 in postopoma upravna odgovornost kongovcev z neodvisnostjo sredi 1960. Kongoanski predstavnik je skrbno oblikovan načrt zavrnil in Belgijci so na koncu priznali volitve maja in 30. junija podelili naglo neodvisnost. Pojavile so se regionalne in nacionalne politične stranke z nekoč zaprtim voditeljem Patriceom Lumumbo, izvoljenim za predsednika vlade in vodjo vlade.

Neodvisnost je bila podeljena "Republiki Kongo" (isto ime sosednja francoska kolonija Srednji Kongo je bila sprejeta) 30. junija 1960. Dan je zaznamoval posmeh in ustni napad na belgijskega kralja, potem ko je pohvalil genija kralja Leopolda II. . V nekaj tednih po neodvisnosti se je vojska uprla belim častnikom in vse večje nasilje, usmerjeno proti preostalim belcem, je prisililo skoraj vseh 80.000 Belgijcev, da so pobegnili iz države.

Kongovska kriza

Po osamosvojitvi je država hitro razpadla. Regija Južni Kasai je neodvisnost razglasila 14. junija, regija Katanga pa je neodvisnost razglasila 11. julija pod vodstvom Moisea Tshombeja. Čeprav Belgija ni bila marioneta, mu je bila v veliko pomoč belgijska finančna in vojaška pomoč. Katanga je bila v bistvu neokolonialna država, ki so jo podpirali Belgija in interesi belgijskih rudarskih podjetij. 14. julija je Varnostni svet OZN sprejel resolucijo, s katero je pooblastil mirovne sile OZN, Belgija pa naj umakne preostale čete iz Konga. Belgijske čete so odšle, a mnogi častniki so ostali plačani plačanci in so bili ključni pri preprečevanju napadov kongovske vojske (ki so bili slabo organizirani in so bili krivi za množične poboje in posilstva). Predsednik Lumumba se je za pomoč obrnil na ZSSR, ki je prejel vojaško pomoč in 1000 sovjetskih svetovalcev. Prispele so sile OZN, da bi ohranile mir, vendar sprva niso storile veliko. Južni Kasai je bil ponovno ujet po krvavi kampanji decembra 1961. Evropski plačanci so prispeli iz celotne Afrike in celo iz Evrope, da bi pomagali katanganski vojski. Sile OZN so poskušale zbrati in vrniti najemnike, vendar niso vplivale. Misija ZN je bila sčasoma spremenjena, da je Katango s silo ponovno vključila v Kongo. Več kot eno leto so se sile ZN in Katange borile v različnih spopadih. Sile OZN so obkolile in zavzele glavno mesto Katange Elisabethville (Lubumbaši) decembra 1962. Do januarja 1963 je bil Tshombe poražen, zadnji tuji plačanci so pobegnili v Angolo, Katanga pa je bila ponovno vključena v Kongo.

Medtem so se v Leopoldvilleu (Kinshasa) odnosi med premierjem Lumumbo in predsednico nasprotnimi stranmi Kaso-Vubu vedno bolj zaostrovali. Septembra 1960 je Kasa-Vubu razrešil Lumumbo s položaja predsednika vlade. Lumumba je izpodbijal zakonitost tega in razrešil Kasa-Vubuja kot predsednika. Lumumba, ki je hotel socialistično državo, se je obrnil na ZSSR, da bi prosil za pomoč. 14. septembra - le dva meseca in pol po neodvisnosti - je bil na načelnika generalštaba kongovske vojske generala Mobutuja prisiljen, da je posredoval, sprožil državni udar in Lumumbo postavil v hišni pripor. Mobutu je od belgijskega in ameriškega veleposlaništva prejel denar za plačilo svojim vojakom in njihovo zvestobo. Lumumba je pobegnil in pobegnil v Stanleyville (Kisangani), preden so ga prijeli in odpeljali v Elizabethville (Lubumbashi), kjer so ga javno pretepli, izginili in tri tedne pozneje razglasili za mrtvega. Kasneje je bilo razkrito, da je bil januarja 1961 usmrčen v prisotnosti belgijskih in ameriških uradnikov (ki so ga oba poskušali prikriti ubiti, odkar je zaprosil za pomoč ZSSR) in da sta bili pri njegovi usmrtitvi sokrivci CIA in Belgija.

Predsednik Kasa-Vubu je ostal na oblasti in Katangin Tshombe je sčasoma postal premier. Lumumbist in maoist Pierre Mulele je leta 1964 vodil upor in uspešno zasedel dve tretjini države ter se po pomoč obrnil na maoistično Kitajsko. ZDA in Belgija so se spet vključile, tokrat z majhno vojaško silo. Mulele je zbežal k Kongo-Brazzaville, a pozneje bi ga Mobutu obljubil nazaj v Kinšaso. Mobutu se je obljubil in Muleleja so javno mučili, mu izkopali oči, odrezali genitalije in še živega amputirali okončine. njegovo telo so nato odvrgli v reko Kongo.

V celotni državi so bili med 1960 in 1965 vsesplošni konflikti in upori, zaradi česar je bilo to obdobje imenovano "kriza Konga".

Mobutu

Velika tržnica Kinshasa leta 1974

General Mobutu, zapriseženi protikomunist, se je v času hladne vojne spoprijateljil z ZDA in Belgijo in še naprej dobival denar za nakup zvestobe svojih vojakov. Novembra 1965 je Mobutu med še enim bojem za moč med predsednikom in premierjem sprožil državni udar z ameriško in belgijsko podporo v zakulisju. Trdil je, da so "politiki" potrebovali pet let, da bi uničili državo, in razglasil "Pet let v državi ne bo več političnih strank." Država je bila postavljena v izredno stanje, parlament je bil oslabljen in kmalu odpravljen, neodvisni sindikati pa ukinjeni. Leta 1967 je Mobutu ustanovil edino dovoljeno politično stranko (do leta 1990), Narodno gibanje revolucije (MPR), ki se je kmalu združila z vlado, tako da je vlada dejansko postala funkcija stranke. Do leta 1970 so bile odpravljene vse grožnje Mobutujevi moči in na predsedniških volitvah je bil edini kandidat, volivci pa so imeli na izbiro zeleno za upanje ali rdečo za kaos (Mobutu, zeleni, zmagal z 10,131.699 proti 157). Novo ustavo, ki so jo pripravili Mobutu in njegovi prijatelji, je odobrilo 97%.

V zgodnjih sedemdesetih letih je Mobutu začel kampanjo, znano kot Pristnost, ki je nadaljevala nacionalistično ideologijo, ki se je začela v njegovem Manifest N’Sele leta 1967. V okviru programa Authenticité so Kongovci ukazali, naj sprejmejo afriška imena, moški so se odrekli evropskim oblekam za tradicionalne abakoste, geografska imena pa so se iz kolonialnih preimenovala v afriška. Država je postala Zaire leta 1972 je Leopoldville postal Kinshasa, Elisabethville je postala Lubumbashi, Stanleyville pa Kisangani. Najbolj impresiven od vseh je postal Joseph Mobuto Mobutu Sese Seko Nkuku Ngbendu Wa Za ​​Banga ("Vsemogočni bojevnik, ki zaradi svoje vzdržljivosti in nefleksibilne volje po zmagi prehaja od osvajanja do osvajanja, pušča ogenj za seboj.") Ali preprosto Mobutu Sese Seko. Med drugimi spremembami so bili vsi Kongovci razglašeni za enakovredne in odpravljene so bile hierarhične oblike nagovarjanja, pri čemer so morali Kongo druge nagovarjati kot "državljane", tuji veljaki pa so bili bolj kot z evropskim pozdravom z 21 puškami deležni afriškega petja in plesa.

V sedemdesetih in osemdesetih letih je vlada ostala v tesnem oklepu Mobutuja, ki je nenehno mešal politične in vojaške voditelje, da bi se izognil konkurenci, medtem ko je uveljavljanje predpisov Authenticité upadalo. Mobutu je postopoma preusmeril svoje metode od mučenja in ubijanja tekmecev do odkupa. Le malo pozornosti je bilo namenjeno izboljšanju življenja Kongovcev. Enopartijska država je v bistvu delovala v službi Mobutuja in njegovih prijateljev, ki so zoprno bogatili. Med Mobutujevimi presežki je bila vzletno-pristajalna steza v njegovem kraju, ki je bila dovolj dolga za upravljanje z letali Concorde, ki jih je občasno najemal za uradna potovanja v tujino in nakupovanje v Evropi; po odhodu s funkcije je imel na tujih računih več kot 5 milijard ameriških dolarjev. Prav tako je poskušal zgraditi kult osebnosti s svojo podobo povsod, prepovedjo medijem, da poimenujejo katerega koli drugega vladnega uradnika (samo naslov), in uvedel naslove, kot so "Oče naroda", "Odrešenik ljudstva". in "Vrhovni bojevnik." Kljub svoji enopartijski državi in ​​avtoritarnem vladanju v sovjetskem slogu je bil Mobutu glasovno protikomunist in s strahom pred vzponom sovjetskih marionetskih vlad v Afriki (kot je sosednja Angola) so ZDA in druge sile zahodnega bloka še naprej zagotavljale ekonomsko pomoč in politično podporo Mobutujev režim.

Ko je hladna vojna popustila, je mednarodna podpora Mobutuju zamenjala kritiko njegove vladavine. Pokrito so začele naraščati domače opozicijske skupine in prebivalci Konga so začeli protestirati proti vladi in propadajočemu gospodarstvu. Leta 1990 so bile izvedene prve večstrankarske volitve, vendar le malo vplivalo na spremembe. Neplačani vojaki so leta 1991 začeli izganjati in pleniti Kinšaso, večina tujcev pa je bila evakuirana. Sčasoma je iz pogovorov z opozicijo nastala rivalska vlada, ki je privedla do zastoja in disfunkcionalne vlade.

Prva in druga vojna v Kongu

Sredi devetdesetih let je bilo jasno, da se Mobutujeva vlada bliža koncu. Medtem ko politika hladne vojne ni več vplivala, se je mednarodna skupnost obrnila proti njemu. Medtem je bilo gospodarstvo Zaira v razsulu (in do danes še vedno malo izboljšano). Centralna vlada je imela šibek nadzor nad državo in številne opozicijske skupine so se oblikovale in našle zatočišče v vzhodnem Zairu, daleč od Kinšase.

V regiji Kivu so že dolgo obstajali etnični spopadi med različnimi "domačimi" plemeni in Tutsi, ki so jih Belgijci pripeljali iz Ruande konec 19. stoletja. Po osamosvojitvi se je zgodilo več majhnih konfliktov, ki so povzročili na tisoče smrtnih žrtev. Ko pa se je leta 1994 v sosednji Ruandi zgodil genocid v Ruandi, je v vzhodni Zair priteklo več kot 1,5 milijona beguncev Tutsi in Hutu. Militantni Huti - glavni agresorji v genocidu - so začeli napadati begunce Tutsi in prebivalstvo Kongov Tutsi ( Banyamulenge) in ustanovili milice za napad na Ruando v upanju, da se bodo tam vrnili na oblast. Mobutu ni le ustavil nasilja, temveč je podprl Hute za invazijo na Ruando. Leta 1995 je zairski parlament odredil vrnitev vseh ljudi ruandskega ali burundskega porekla, da se vrnejo domov. Ruandska vlada pod vodstvom Tutsija je medtem začela usposabljati in podpirati milice Tutsi v Zairu.

Avgusta 1996 so izbruhnili boji in Tutsi, ki so prebivali v provincah Kivu, so začeli upor s ciljem, da bi prevzeli nadzor nad Severnim in Južnim Kivujem in se borili proti milicam Hutu, ki jih še vedno napadajo. Upor je kmalu dobil podporo domačinov in zbral številne zairske opozicijske skupine, ki so se sčasoma združile kot Zavezništvo demokratičnih sil za osvoboditev Konga (AFDL) s ciljem odstavitve Mobutuja. Do konca leta so s pomočjo Ruande in Ugande upornikom uspeli nadzorovati velik del vzhodnega Zaira, ki je Ruando in Ugando varoval pred napadi Hutuja. Zairska vojska je bila šibka in ko je Angola v začetku leta 1997 poslala vojake, so uporniki pridobili zaupanje, da bodo zajeli preostali del države in odstavili Mobutuja. Do maja so bili uporniki blizu Kinshase in zajeli Lubumbashi. Ko so se mirovni pogovori med stranmi prekinili, je Mobutu pobegnil, vodja AFDL Laurent-Desire Kabila pa je odkorakal v Kinšaso. Kabila je državi spremenil ime v Demokratična republika Kongo, poskušal vzpostaviti red in leta 1998 izgnal tuje čete.

Avgusta 1998 je v Gomi izbruhnil upor med vojaki Tutsi in ustanovila se je nova uporniška skupina, ki je prevzela nadzor nad večino vzhodne Demokratične republike Kongo. Kabila se je obrnila na milice Hutu, da bi pomagala zatreti nove upornike. Ruanda je v tem videla napad na prebivalstvo Tutsi in čez mejo poslala čete za njihovo zaščito. Do konca meseca so uporniki imeli večji del vzhodne Demokratične republike Kongo skupaj z majhnim območjem v bližini prestolnice, vključno z jezom Inga, ki jim je omogočil izklop električne energije v Kinšaso. Ko se je zdelo, da bo Kabilina vlada in glavno mesto Kinshasa padla med upornike, so se Angola, Namibija in Zimbabve dogovorili, da bodo Kabilo branili, in čete iz Zimbabveja so prispele ravno pravočasno, da bi prestolnico zaščitile pred napadi upornikov; Čad, Libija in Sudan so poslali vojsko tudi Kabili. Ko se je približeval zastoj, so se tuje vlade, ki so sodelovale v bojih v Demokratični republiki Kongo, januarja 1999 dogovorile za premirje, a ker uporniki niso bili podpisniki, se je boj nadaljeval.

Leta 1999 so se uporniki razpadli na številne frakcije, ki so se ujemale po etični ali prougandski / proruandski liniji. Julija je bila podpisana mirovna pogodba med šestimi vojskujočimi se državami (DR Kongo, Angolo, Namibijo, Zimbabvejem, Ruando in Ugando) in eno uporniško skupino, ki so se dogovorile, da bodo končale boj in izsledile in razorožile vse uporniške skupine, zlasti tiste, povezane z letom 1994. Genocid v Ruandi. Boji so se nadaljevali, ko so se proruandske in prougandske frakcije obrnile druga na drugo, ZN pa so v začetku leta 2000 pooblastili mirovno misijo (MONUC).

Januarja 2001 je telesnega stražarja ustrelil predsednik Laurent Kabila, ki je kasneje umrl. Zamenjal ga je sin Joseph Kabila. Uporniki so se še naprej razpadali na manjše frakcije in se poleg DR Kongo in tujih vojsk borili med seboj. Številnim upornikom je uspelo pridobiti sredstva s tihotapljenjem diamantov in drugih "konfliktnih mineralov" (kot so baker, cink in koltan) iz regij, ki so jih zasedli, večkrat s prisilnim in otroškim delom v nevarnih razmerah. DRK je podpisala mirovne pogodbe z Ruando in Ugando leta 2002. Decembra 2002 so glavne frakcije podpisale pogodbo z EU Globalni in vseobsegajoči sporazum da konča boj. Sporazum je ustanovil prehodno vlado Demokratične republike Kongo, ki bo znova združila državo, vključila in razorožila uporniške frakcije ter leta 2005 izvedla volitve za novo ustavo in politike, predsednik Joseph Kabila pa bo ostal. Mirovne sile OZN so se precej povečale in so bile zadolžene za razorožitev upornikov, od katerih so mnogi obdržali lastne milice že dolgo po letu 2003. Konflikti ostajajo v provincah Severni in Južni Kivu, Ituri in severna Katanga.

Med bojem je prva vojna v Kongu povzročila 250.000-800.000 mrtvih. Druga vojna v Kongu je povzročila več kot 350.000 nasilnih smrtnih žrtev (1998-2001) in 2,7-5,4 milijona "odvečnih smrtnih žrtev" zaradi lakote in bolezni med begunci zaradi vojne (1998-2008), zaradi česar je bil najbolj smrtonosni konflikt v svetu od konca druge svetovne vojne.

Sodobna DR Kongo

Kongovski državljani na demonstracijah v Kinšasi

Joseph Kabila je ostal predsednik prehodne vlade, dokler niso leta 2006 potekale državnozborske volitve za novo ustavo, parlament in predsednika z veliko finančno in tehnično podporo mednarodne skupnosti. Kabila je zmagala (in bila ponovno izvoljena leta 2011). While corruption has been greatly reduced and politics have become more inclusive of minority political views, the country remains little improved from its condition at the end of Mobutu's rule. The DRC has the dubious distinction of having the lowest or second-lowest GDP per capita in the world (only Somalia ranks lower) and the economy remains poor. China has sought a number of mining claims, many of which are paid for by building infrastructure (railroads, roads) and facilities like schools & hospitals. The UN and many NGOs have a very large presence in the Kivu provinces, but despite a large amount of aid money, many still live in refugee camps and survive on foreign/UN aid. Fighting in Kivu & Ituri waned by the end of the decade, although many former militia members remain militant. Few have been tried and convicted for war crimes, although many former rebel leaders are accused of crimes against humanity & the use of child soldiers.

Soldiers formerly members of a militia that fought in Kivu from 2006 until a peace agreement in 2009 mutinied in April 2012 and a new wave of violence followed as they took control of a large area along the Uganda/Rwanda borders. Rwanda has been accused of backing this M23 movement and the UN is investigating their possible involvement.

Podnebje

The country straddles the Equator, with one-third to the north and two-thirds to the south. As a result of this equatorial location, the Congo experiences large amounts of precipitation and has the highest frequency of thunderstorms in the world. The annual rainfall can total upwards of 80 inches (2,032 mm) in some places, and the area sustains the second largest rain forest in the world (after that of the Amazon). This massive expanse of lush jungle covers most of the vast, low-lying central basin of the river, which slopes toward the Atlantic Ocean in the west. This area is surrounded by plateaus merging into savannahs in the south and southwest, by mountainous terraces in the west, and dense grasslands extending beyond the Congo River in the north. High, glaciated mountains are found in the extreme eastern region.

Preberite

• Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad. A short novel published in 1903 based on the experiences of Conrad while working in the Congo Free State.
• Through the Dark Continent by Henry Morton Stanley. An 1878 book documenting his trip down the Congo River.
• King Leopold's Ghost by Adam Hochschild. A non-fiction popular history book which examines the activities of Leopold and the men who ran the Congo Free State. A best-seller with 400,000 copies printed since publication in 1998. It is the basis of a 2006 documentary of the same name.
• Blood River: A Journey to Africa's Broken Heart by Tim Butcher. The author carefully retraces the route of Stanley's expedition in Through the Dark Continent and describes the challenges he faces.
• Dancing in the Glory of Monsters by Jason Stearns. Written by a member of the UN panel investigating Congolese rebels, this is a meticulously researched yet accessible account of the Congo wars.

Ljudje

More than 200 ethnic groups live in the Democratic Republic of Congo, including the Kongo, Mongo, Mangbetu, Azande, and Luba, who constitute 45% of the population of the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Holidays

• January 1 - New Year's Day
• January 4 - Martyrs Day
• Easter - moveable
• May 17 - Liberation Day
• June 30 - Independence Day
• August 1 - Parents Day
• November 17 - Army Day
• December 25 - Christmas
• December 30 - St. Paul's Day

Vstopi

A map showing the visa requirements of Democratic Republic of the Congo

Railway between Kinshasa in Matadi

Entry requirements

As with a lot of countries in Africa, the DRC offers very few visa-free arrangements, and thus visas are required for virtually all nationalities.

Citizens of Burundi, Rwanda in Zimbabwe can enter the DRC visa free for up to 90 days. Citizens of Kenya, Mauritius in Tanzania can obtain a visa on arrival, valid for only 7 days.

You can find the visa requirements on the Interior Ministry website (in French). However, getting a visa—like most government services—isn't straightforward and can be a messy process, with different officials telling you different stories in different places around the country and at different embassies/consulates worldwide. And then there are immigration officials trying to get more money out of you for their own gain. What follows are the requirements that seem to be in place as of June 2012, although you may hear stories telling you otherwise.

If arriving by air (Kinshasa or Lubumbashi), you will need to have a visa before arrival and proof of yellow fever vaccination. Visas on arrival are not issued, or at least not commonly enough that you risk being placed on the next plane back. You should also have one passport-sized photograph, and evidence that you have sufficient funds to cover your stay, which includes evidence of a hotel reservation. The requirements and costs for visas vary from embassy to embassy, with some requiring a letter of invitation, others an onward air ticket, proof of funds for travel, and others nothing beyond an application. If planning to get a visa in a third country (e.g.: an American arriving by air from Ethiopia), wait for a visa before booking the airfare, since DRC embassies in some African countries only issue visas to citizens or residents of that country.

As for arriving overland, you're best off if your home country doesn't have a DRC embassy (such as Australia & New Zealand) in which case you can apply for a visa in neighbouring countries without too much trouble. If your passport is from a country with a DRC embassy then embassies in neighbouring countries (Uganda, Rwanda, etc.) may tell you that you can only apply for a visa in your country of citizenship or residence.

If you're entering the DRC from Uganda or Rwanda (especially at Goma), the visa process seems different for everyone. You can apply for a visa at the embassies in Kigali, Kampala, or Nairobi with a 1-7 day turnaround for US$50–80. Applying for a transit visa at the border no longer appears to be practical. Travellers trying to get a visa at the border have been asked for as much as US$500! (2012). The actual cost depends on who's working at the post that day, your nationality, and how persistent you are, with US$100 seeming to be the real price, but many being told US$200–300 either as just the "fee" or a fee plus "tip" for the officials. These visas are either "transit" visas valid for 7 days or visas only valid to visit the Goma and border areas. Given the bad security situation in North/South Kivu, you probably shouldn't venture outside Goma or the national parks anyways. If you visit Virunga National Park (official site), you can get a visa for USD50 and apply on-line or through your tour operator. If you can't get a visa at Goma for a reasonable price, you can travel south and try to cross at Bukavu and take a boat across the lake to Goma (do not go by road: too dangerous). Also, be sure if you cross the border to the DRC immigration post, you have officially left Uganda or Rwanda, so ensure you have a multiple-entry visa before leaving.

When exiting the country by air, there is a US$50 departure tax that you'll need to pay in cash at the airport. If you travel by boat from Kinshasa to Brazzaville, you must have a special exit permit and a visa for Congo-Brazzaville. To save time, money and stress, you should probably contact your embassy in Kinshasa before taking the ferry.

Z letalom

Kinshasa-N'djili Airport

The main gateway to the DRC is Kinshasa-N'djili airport (FIH ^IATA). Built in 1953, it hasn't had much in the way of upgrades and certainly doesn't rank among the continent's better airports.

Od Africa: South African Airways, Kenyan Airways, Ethiopian Airlines, & Royal Air Maroc serve Kinshasa-N'djili multiple times a week from Johannesburg, Nairobi, Addis Ababa, & Casablanca (via Douala), respectively.

Other African airlines serving Kinshasa-N'Djili are: Afriqiyah Airways (Tripoli); Air Mali (Douala, Bamako); Benin Gulf Air (Cotonou, Pointe-Noire); Camair-co (Douala); CAA (Entebe); Ethiopian/ASKY (Brazzaville, Cotonou, Douala, Lagos, Lome); RwandAir (Kigali); TAAG Angola Airways (Luanda); Zambezi Airlines (Lusaka).

Od Evropi: Air France & Brussels Airlines have regular direct flights. Turkish Airlines will begin service from Istanbul in August 2012. You can also try booking travel through one of the major African airlines like Eithiopian, South African, Kenyan, or Royal Air Maroc.

The DRC's second city Lubumbashi (FBM ^IATA) has an international airport served by Ethiopian Airlines (Lilongwe, Addis Ababa), Kenya Airways (Harare, Nairobi), Korongo (Johannesburg), Precision Air (Dar es Salaam, Lusaka), & South African Express (Johannesburg).

Other airports with international service are Goma (GOM ^IATA) with service by CAA to Entebbe (Kampala) & Kisangani (FKI ^IATA) which is served by Kenya Airways from Nairobi.

Z vlakom

There are no international passenger trains from neighboring countries, and limited freight traffic, despite two international railway lines, one from Angola and one from Zambia into the Katanga region. Lines are in various state of disrepair and others are simple abandoned. While some repairs, mainly with Chinese help, have taken place it's unlikely that new cross-border services will materialize in the next few years. However, for the intrepid traveler it's possible to catch a train to the border town of Luao, in Eastern Angola, and cross the border by other means. There are also trains to Kitwe in Ndola v Copperbelt of northern Zambia, from where it's possible to cross the border.

Z avtom

The roads as a whole are too rocky or muddy for cars without 4 wheel drive. Decent paved roads connect the Katanga region with Zambia and Kinshasa down to Matadi and Angola. Roads enter the DRC from Uganda, Rwanda, & Burundi, although travelling far past the border is very difficult and parts of the Eastern DRC remain unsafe. There are ferries to take vehicles across the Congo River from Congo-Brazzaville and it may be possible to find a ferry from the CAR to the remote, unpaved roads of the northern DRC. Do not entirely trust your map. Many display an unfortunate wishful thinking. Roads are frequently washed out by rains, or were simply never built in the first place. Ask a local or a guide whether or not a route is passable.

Z avtobusom

From Uganda to Congo via Bunagana Kisoro Border.There are many buses which operate daily between Bunagana /Uganda and Goma every day 07:00-13:00. Prices for the bus is USD5. A valid visa for both countries is required in either direction. Entry and exit procedures at Bunagana border are "easy" and straight forward, and people are very helpful in assisting visitors to get through without troubles.

Moj čoln

Passenger and VIP ferries also locally known as 'Carnot Rapide' operate daily between Brazzaville and Kinshasa roughly every two hours 08:00-15:00. Prices for the ferries are: USD15 for the passenger and USD25 for the VIP ferry (Carnot Rapide). The latter is recommended as these are brand new boats and not cramped. A valid visa for both countries is required in either direction as well as (at least "officially") a special permit. The bureaucracy at either end require some time. Entry and exit procedures in Brazzaville are "easy" and straight forward and people are very helpful in assisting to get through without troubles. In contrast, these procedures are a bit difficult in Kinshasa and depend much on whether you are an individual traveller or assisted by an organisation or an official government representative.

There are also speed boats to hire, either in a group or alone (price!), however, it is not advisable to book them as they really speed across the river along the rapids.

Obiti

Map of ground & water transport.

Z letalom

Due to the immense size of the country, the terrible state of the roads and the poor security situation, the only way to get around the country quickly is by plane. This is not to say that it's safe — Congolese planes crash with depressing regularity, with eight recorded crashes in 2007 alone — but it's still a better alternative to travelling overland or by boat.

The largest and longest-operating carrier is Compagnie Africain d'Aviation, with service to Goma, Kananga, Kindu, Kinshasa-N'djili, Kisangani, Lubumbashi, Mbandaka, Mbuji-Maya, & Entebbe(Kampala), Uganda.

Formed in 2011, Stellar Airlines operates one Airbus A320 plane between Kinshasa-N'djili and Goma and Lubumbashi.

FlyCongo was formed in 2012 from the remnants of former national airline Hewa Bora, operating from Kinshasa-N'djili to Gemena, Goma, Kisangani, Lubumbashi, & Mbandaka.

Air Kasaï operates from Kinshasa-N'Dolo to Beni, Bunia, Goma, & Lubumbashi.

Congo Express was formed in 2010 and flies only between Lubumbashi and Kinshasa.

Wimbi Dira Airways was once the second-largest carrier, but does not appear to be operating as of June 2012. Others that may or may not be operating are: Air Tropiques, Filair, Free Airlines, and Malift Air all operating out of Kinshasa-N'Dolo airport.

By truck

As smaller vehicles are unable to negotiate what remains of the roads, a lot of travel in the Congo is done by truck. If you go to a truck park, normally near the market, you should be able to find a truck driver to take you where ever you want, conflict zones aside. You travel on top of the load with a large number of others. If you pick a truck carrying bags of something soft like peanuts it can be quite comfortable. Beer trucks are not. If the trip takes days then comfort can be vital, especially if the truck goes all night. It helps to sit along the back, as the driver will not stop just because you want the toilet. The cost has to be negotiated so ask hotel staff first and try not to pay more than twice the local rate. Sometimes the inside seat is available. Food can be bought from the driver, though they normally stop at roadside stalls every 5/6 hours. Departure time are normally at the start or end of the day, though time is very flexible. It helps to make arrangements the day before. It is best to travel with a few others. Women should never ever travel alone. Some roads have major bandit problems so check carefully before going.

At army checkpoints locals are often hassled for bribes. Foreigners are normally left alone, but prepare some kind of bribe just in case. By the middle of the afternoon the soldiers can be drunk so be very careful and very polite. Never lose your temper.

By ferry

A ferry on the Congo River operates, if security permits, from Kinshasa to Kisangani, every week or two. You can pick it up at a few stops en route, though you have to rush as it doesn't wait. A suitable bribe to the ferry boss secures a four bunk cabin and cafeteria food. The ferry consists of 4 or so barges are tied around a central ferry, with the barges used as a floating market. As the ferry proceeds wood canoes paddled by locals appear from the surrounding jungle with local produce - vegetables, pigs, monkeys, etc. - which are traded for industrial goods like medicine or clothes. You sit on the roof watching as wonderful African music booms out. Of course it is not clean, comfortable or safe. It is however one of the world's great adventures.

Z vlakom

Embarking at the railway station in Matadi for the capital Kinshasa, this is the best railway service in Democratic Republic of the Congo.

The few trains which still operate in the DRC are in very poor condition and run on tracks laid by the Belgian colonial government over a half century ago. The rolling stock is very old and dilapidated. You are lucky to get a hard seat and even luckier if your train has a dining car (which probably has limited options that run out halfway through the trip). Expect the car to be overcrowded with many sitting on the roof. Trains in the DRC operate on an erratic schedule due to lack of funds or fuel and repairs/breakdowns that are frequent. On many lines, there can be 2–3 weeks between trains. If there's any upside, there haven't been too many deaths due to derailments (probably less than have died in airplane crashes in the DRC). There's really no way to book a train ride in advance; simply show up at the station and ask the stationmaster when the next train will run and buy a ticket on the day it leaves. The Chinese government in return for mining rights has agreed to construct US$9 billion in railroads and highways, but there is little to show for this as of 2012.

As of 2019, the following lines are in operation...but as mentioned above, that doesn't imply frequent service:

• Kinshasa-Matadi — The busiest and best equipped route in the whole country. As of 2019 there is one "express" service per week in each direction. Trains are semi-modern and has both a first-class carriages and a dining car. The railway line was first built in the 1890s and is infamous for the enormous human cost, where thousands of the forced laborers perished.
• Lubumbashi-Ilebo — Possible weekly service, with the journey taking 6–8 days. In 2007, the Chinese agreed to extend the line to Kinshasa, but current progress in unknown. Ilebo lies at the end of the navigable portion of the Kasai River, allowing travellers to transfer to ferry to reach Western DRC.
• Kamina-Kindu — Unusable after the war, this line has been rehabilitated. The line connects with the Lubumbashi-Ilebo line, so there may be trains running from Lubumbashi-Kindu.
• Kisangani-Ubundu — A portage line to bypass the Stanley Falls on the Congo, service only runs when there is freight to carry when a boat arrives at either end which may be once every 1–2 months. There are no passenger ferries from Ubundu to Kindu, but you may be able to catch a ride on a cargo boat.
• Bumba-Isiro — An isolated, narrow-gauge line in the northern jungles, service has restarted on a small western section from Bumba-Aketi (and possibly Buta). There were reports of trains running in the eastern section in 2008, but this part is most likely abandoned.

Lines that are most likely inoperable or very degraded/abandoned are:

• A branch of the Lubumbashi-Ilebo line that runs to the Angolan border. It once connected with Angola's Benguela railway and ran to the Atlantic until the 1970s when the Angolan side was destroyed by a civil war. The western half of the Benguela railway, in Angola has been rehabilitated and trains run up to the border with DRC.
• The Kabalo-Kalemie line runs from the Kamina-Kindu line at Kabalo to Kalemie on Lake Tanganyika. The easternmost section has been abandoned. Although unlikely, there may be service on the western half of the line.

Govori

French is the lingua franca of the country and nearly everyone has a basic to moderate understanding of French. In Kinshasa and much of the Western DRC, nearly everyone is fluent in French with Kinshasa being the second or third largest French-speaking city in the world (depending on your source), although locals may be heard speaking Lingala amongst themselves. Much of the eastern half speaks Swahili as a regional language. The other major regional languages in the country are Kikongo in Tshiluba, and the Congo also has a wide range of smaller local languages. Like the regional languages, the local languages are mostly in the Bantu family. If you are travelling to the southwestern border near Angola you can find some Portuguese speakers.

Glej

Epulu River

The "Academie des Beaux-Arts" is often considered a touristic site and is in itself and with its gallery a good place to meet the famous artists of this country. Big names like Alfred Liyolo, Lema Kusa oder Roger Botembe are teaching here as well as the only purely abstract working artist Henri Kalama Akulez, whose private studio is worth a visit.

Ali

Congo is the centre of popular African music. Try visiting a local bar or disco, in Bandal or Matonge (both in Kinshasa), if possible with live soukouss music, and just hit the dance floor!

Nakup

There are some supermarkets in Gombe commune of Kinshasa that sell food and drinks, soap, kitchen devices and bazar: City Market, Peloustore, Kin Mart, Hasson's.

SIM cards and prepaid recharge for mobile phones are available in the street and at Ndjili airport, at a reasonable price.

Money

The local currency is the Congolese franc, sometimes abbreviated FC and sometimes just with a capital F placed after the amount (ISO international currency code: CDF). The currency is freely convertible (but impossible to get rid of outside the country).

Banknotes are issued in denominations of FC50, 100, 200, 500, 1,000, 5,000, 10,000 and 20,000. The only Congolese bank notes in circulation in most places are the 50, 100, 200 and 500 franc notes. They are almost worthless, as the highest valued banknote (the 500 franc note) is worth only about US$0.55.

US dollars in denominations above US$2 are much preferred to francs. In contrast, US coins and one and two US dollar bills are considered worthless. If you pay in dollars, you will get change in francs. Though francs may sometimes come as notes so old they feel like fabric, US dollar bills must be crisp (less than 3 folds) and be printed in or after 2003, or they will not be accepted.

In some shops, the symbol FF is used to mean 1,000 francs.

MasterCard/Maestro ATMs are available now in Kinshasa at the "Rawbank" on boulevard du 30 Juin (Gombe District), and in Grand Hotel. It dispenses US dollars. Visa card is also usable with "Procredit" bank ATMs in Kinshasa, avenue des Aviateurs, or outside in front of Grand Hotel (only US$20 and US$100 bills).

You can withdraw money with a Mastercard or Visa card at all Ecobank or Equity banks ATMs in DRC.

Jej

"Bread bike"

Congo has one national dish: moambe. It's made of eight ingredients (moambe is the Lingala word for eight): palm nuts, chicken, fish, peanuts, rice, cassave leaves, bananas and hot pepper sauce.

Pijte

The usual soft drinks (called sucré in Congo) such as Coke, Pepsi and Mirinda are available in most places and are safe to drink. Local drinks like Vitalo are amazing. Traditional drinks like ginger are also common.

The local beer is based on rice, and tastes quite good. It comes in 75 cl bottles. Primus, Skol, Castel are the most common brands. Tembo, Doppel are the local dark beers.

In rural areas, you may try the local palm wine, an alcoholic beverage from the sap of the palm tree. It is tapped right from the tree, and begins fermenting immediately after collection. After two hours, fermentation yields an aromatic wine of up to 4% alcohol content, mildly intoxicating and sweet. The wine may be allowed to ferment longer, up to a day, to yield a stronger, more sour and acidic taste, which some people prefer.

Beware of the local gin. Sometimes unscrupulous vendors mix in methanol which is toxic and can cause blindness. Some people believe that the methanol is a by product of regular fermentation. This is not the case as regular fermentation can not yield methanol in toxic amounts.

Spi

There are more and more hotels in Kinshasa, with smaller hotels available in Gombe and Ngaliema area.In many small towns the local church or monastery may have beds available. You may also encounter the occasional decaying colonial hotel. Not all are safe.

Ostani varen

See also War zone safety in Tips for travel in developing countries.

UN peacekeepers near Goma

DR Congo remains one of the most underdeveloped countries in Africa and a significant portion of the DRC is not safe for any travel or sightseeing. In addition to active conflicts, the country has very limited health care and tourism facilities, even by African standards.

The Democratic Republic of the Congo has seen more than its fair share of violence. A number of ongoing wars, conflicts, and episodes of fighting have occurred since independence, with sporadic, regional violence continuing today. As a result, significant sections of the country should be considered off-limits to travellers.

In the northeastern part of the country, the LRA (of child-soldier & 'Kony' fame) continues to roam the jungles near the border with the CAR/South Sudan/Uganda. Although a few areas very close to the Ugandan border are relatively safe to visit, travel anywhere north and east of Kisangani & Bumba is dangerous.

The regions of North & South Kivu have been in a state of continuous conflict since the early 1990s. The days of the notoriously bloody violence that occurred during the First and Second Congo Wars (during which 5 million died in fighting or through resulting disease/famine) officially ended with a peace treaty in 2003. However, low-level violence spurred by several warlords/factions has occurred ever since and this region is home to the largest UN peacekeeping mission in the world (as of 2012). Hundreds of thousands live in refugee camps near Goma. In April 2012, a new faction—"M23"—arose, led by Gen.Ntaganda (wanted by the ICC for war crimes) and has captured/attacked many towns in the region, where they are accused of killing civilians and raping women. This has been the most serious crisis since the end of war in 2003. In mid-July, they threatened to invade Goma to protect the Tutsi population there from "harassment"; the UN peacekeeping mission quickly responded that they would reposition 19,000 peacekeepers to protect Goma & nearby refugee camps. How serious the threat of fighting in Goma remains to be seen BBC report) The only safe areas in North/South Kivu are the cities of Goma & Bukavu and Virunga National Park, all on the Rwandan border.

The dangers to visitors are far beyond conflicts, though. After Somalia, the DRC is most likely the least developed country in Africa. The road network is pathetic. The country's roads are in zelo poor condition and travel over long distances by road can take weeks, especially during the wetter months. Even some of the country's "main" roads are little more than mud tracks that can only be travelled by 4x4 or 6x6 trucks. The DRC has just 2250 km of sealed roads, of which the UN considers only 1226 km to be in "good" condition. To put this in perspective, the road distance east-west across the country in any direction is over 2500 km (e.g. Matadi to Lubumbashi is 2700 by road)! Another comparison is that there are just 35 km of paved highway per 1 000 000 people—Zambia (one of the poorest African countries) and Botswana (one of the richest) have 580 km and 3427 km per 1 000 000 people, respectively. Public transportation is almost non-existent and the primary means of travel is catching a ride on an old, overloaded truck where several paying passengers are allowed to sit atop the cargo. This is very dangerous.

Congolese planes crash with depressing regularity, with eight recorded crashes in 2007 alone. Despite this, the risks of air travel remain on par with travel by road, barge, or rail. The notorious Hewa Bora airlines has gone out of business and the creation of a handful of new airlines between 2010 and 2012 should lead to improvement in the safety of air travel in the DRC. Avoid at all costs, old Soviet aircraft that are often chartered to carry cargo and perhaps a passenger or two and stick with the commercial airlines operating newer aircraft (listed above under "Get around/By plane"). If you are still fearful of getting on a Congolese plane and aren't as concerned about cost, you can try flying with a foreign carrier such as Kenyan Airways (which flies to Kinshasa, Lubumbashi, & Kisangani) or Ethiopian (Kinshasha, Lubumbashi). Just be sure to check the visa requirements to transit.

Travel by river boat or barge remains somewhat risky, although safer than by road. Overcrowded barges have sunk and aging boats have capsized travelling along the Congo River, resulting in hundreds of deaths. Before catching a ride, take a look at the vessel you will be boarding and if you don't feel safe, it is better to wait for the next boat, even if you must wait several days. Most of the country's rail network is in disrepair, with little maintenance carried out since the Belgians left. A few derailings have occurred, resulting in large numbers of casualties. Trains in the DRC are also overloaded, don't even think about joining the locals riding on the roof!

Crime is a serious problem across much of the country. During the waning years of Mobutu's rule, Kinshasa had one of the highest murder rates in the world and travel to Kinshasa was comparable to Baghdad during the Iraq War! While violence has subsided considerably, Kinshasa remains a high crime city (comparable to Lagos or Abidjan). Keep anything that can be perceived as valuable by a Congolese out of sight when in vehicles, as smash-and-grab crime at intersections occurs. Markets in larger cities are rife with pickpockets. Keep in mind that the DRC remains among the 3-4 poorest countries in Africa and compared to the locals, every white person is perceived as rich. Be vigilant of thieves in public places. If travelling in remote areas, smaller villages are usually safer than larger ones. Hotel rooms outside the biggest cities often don't have adequate safety (like flimsy locks on doors or ground-level windows that don't lock or have curtains).

Taking photos in public can be cause for suspicion. By some accounts, an official permit is needed to take photos in the DRC. Actually they will likely be difficult or impossible to find or obtain. Do not photograph anything that can be perceived as a national security threat, such as bridges, roadblocks, border crossings, and government buildings.

Additionally, the DRC has very poor health care infrastructure/facilities. Outside the capital Kinshasa, there are very few hospitals or clinics for sick or injured travellers to visit. If you are travelling on one of the country's isolated, muddy roads or along the Congo River, you could be over a week away from the nearest clinic or hospital! A number of tropical diseases are present—see "Stay healthy" below.

Those visiting for business, research, or international aid purposes should consult with their organization and seek expert guidance before planning a trip. Travellers visiting on their own should consult the advice of your embassy for any travel to the DRC.

Stay healthy

See also: Tropical diseases, Malaria, Dengue fever, Yellow fever, & Mosquitoes.

Medical facilities in the DRC are in extremely poor condition.

Ebola Virus – a virus which killed 49 people in DRC during a three-month outbreak in 2014 – remains present in the equatorial forest region of Bas-Uele province (bordering Central African Republic/CAR). On 1 August 2018, the Ministry of Health of the Democratic Republic of the Congo declared a new outbreak of Ebola virus disease in North Kivu and Ituri Provinces. Travellers should avoid eating bushmeat, avoid contact with persons that appear ill, practice good personal hygiene and seek medical advice before travel. As of September 2019, this outbreak is still ongoing with more than 3,000 cases and 2,000 deaths.

You will need a yellow fever vaccination in order to enter the country by air (this requirement is often ignored at land entry points, particularly the smaller ones). There are health officials at some major entry points, such as the airport in Kinshasa, who check this before you are allowed to enter.

Congo is malarial, although slightly less in the Kivu region due to the altitude, so use insect repellent and take the necessary precautions such as sleeping under mosquito nets. The riverside areas (such as Kinshasa) are quite prone to malaria.

If you need emergency medical assistance, it is advised that you go to your nation's embassy. The embassy doctors are normally willing and skilled enough to help. There are safe hospitals in Kinshasa, like "CMK" (Centre Medical de Kinshasa), which is private and was established by European doctors (a visit costs around US$20). Another private and non-profit hospital is Centre Hospitalier MONKOLE, in Mont-Ngafula district, with European and Congolese doctors. Dr Léon Tshilolo, a paediatrician trained in Europe and one of the African experts in sickle-cell anaemia, is the Monkole Medical Director.

Drink lots of water when outside. The heat and close proximity to the equator can easily give those not acclimated heatstroke after just a few hours outside without water. There are many pharmacies that are very well supplied but prices are a few times higher than in Europe.

Do not drink tap water. Bottled water seems to be cheap enough, but sometimes hard to find for a good price.

Spoštovanje

Tower of Limete and OPatrice Lumumba statue in Kinshasa

Photography is officially illegal without an official permit — the last known price for it was US$60. Even with this permit, photography is very difficult with the Congolese becoming extremely upset when photographed without permission or when one is taking a picture of a child. These confrontations can be easily diffused by apologizing profusely and not engaging in the argument. Sometimes a small bribe might be needed to "grease the wheels" as well.

Never under any circumstances photograph government buildings or structures. This includes but is not limited to police stations, presidential palaces, border crossings, and anywhere in the airport. You will be detained by police if caught and unable to bribe them for your transgression.

When motorcades pass, all vehicular traffic is expected to provide a clear path. Do not photograph these processions.

At dawn and dusk (c. 06:00 and 18:00 daily), the national flag is raised and lowered. All traffic and pedestrians are required to stop for this ceremony, with reports indicating that those who do not are detained by security personnel.

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