Zaire (/zɑːˈɪər/, also UK: /zaɪˈɪər/), officially the Republic of Zaire (French: République du Zaïre, [ʁepyblik dy zaiʁ]), was the name of a sovereign state between 1971 and 1997 in Central Africa that was previously and is now again known as the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
What was the Republic of Congo called?
Formerly
the Belgian colony of the Belgian Congo
, the country’s post-independence name was the Republic of the Congo until August 1, 1964 , when its name was changed to Democratic Republic of the Congo (to distinguish it from the neighboring country of the same name).
What is the Democratic Republic of Congo?
The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is
a country located in Central Africa with a short Atlantic Ocean coastline
. Neighboring countries include Angola, Burundi, Central African Republic, Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zambia.
What was the capital city of the Democratic Republic of the Congo called before 1966?
From 1960 to 1966, the country was also known as Congo-Léopoldville (after its capital) to distinguish it from its northwestern neighbor, which is also called the Republic of the Congo, alternatively known as “Congo-Brazzaville”.
What happened to Mobutu in 1997?
Mobutu was the object of a pervasive cult of personality. … By 1990, economic deterioration and unrest led Mobutu to agree to share power with opposition leaders, but he used the army to thwart change until May 1997, when rebel forces led by Laurent-Désiré Kabila overran the country and forced him into exile.
Where is Democratic Republic of the Congo?
Democratic Republic of the Congo, country located in
central Africa
. Officially known as the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the country has a 25-mile (40-km) coastline on the Atlantic Ocean but is otherwise landlocked. It is the second largest country on the continent; only Algeria is larger.
Is there a difference between Congo and Democratic Republic of Congo?
The larger of the two countries, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, is located to the southeast, while the
smaller nation, the Republic of the Congo, is situated to the northwest
. While they share a name, each country has its own interesting history and statistics.
What divides Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo?
The Congo-Nile divide
runs southeast and then south along the border between South Sudan and Uganda to the east and the Central African Republic and Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) to the west.
Is the Democratic Republic of Congo in sub Saharan Africa?
With a surface area equivalent to that of Western Europe, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is
the largest country in Sub-Saharan Africa
(SSA).
When was Zaire renamed Congo?
A constitutional referendum the year before Mobutu’s coup of 1965 resulted in the country’s official name being changed to the “Democratic Republic of the Congo.” In 1971 Mobutu changed the name again, this time to “Republic of Zaire”.
What was Kinshasa called?
| Current Name | Kinshasa | Former name in French | Léopoldville | Former name in Dutch | Leopoldstad | Former Namesake | Named in honour of King Leopold II, King-Sovereign of the Congo Free State |
|---|
What does Kinshasa mean in English?
British Dictionary definitions for Kinshasa
Kinshasa. / (kɪnˈʃɑːzə, -ˈʃɑːsə) / noun.
the capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo
(formerly Zaïre), on the River Congo opposite Brazzaville: became capital of the Belgian Congo in 1929 and of Zaïre in 1960; university (1954).
Who was Stanleyville named after?
The city was established in 1883 by Europeans and was known first as Falls Station and then as Stanleyville (for
Sir Henry Morton Stanley
). It has been the major centre of the northern Congo since the late 1800s.
What was Gen Mobutu Sese Seko’s European name?
Mobutu Sese Seko, also called Mobutu Sese Seko Koko Ngbendu Wa Za Banga, original name
Joseph (-Désiré) Mobutu
, (born October 14, 1930, Lisala, Belgian Congo [now Democratic Republic of the Congo]—died September 7, 1997, Rabat, Morocco), president of Zaire (now the Democratic Republic of the Congo) who seized power in …
Who was the first president of Democratic Republic of Congo?
| Rank President Time in office | 1 Mobutu Sese Seko 31 years, 173 days | 2 Joseph Kabila 18 years, 7 days | 3 Joseph Kasa-Vubu 5 years, 146 days | 4 Laurent-Désiré Kabila 3 years, 245 days |
|---|
Why is there 2 Congos?
Both countries gained independence in 1960
, but they were colonized by different countries. Congo-Brazzaville was colonized by France while Congo-Kinshasa was colonized by Belgium. Congo-Kinshasa and Congo-Brazzaville also use different national currencies.
What is the capital of the Democratic Republic of the Congo?
Once it was Kin la Belle (beautiful Kinshasa) but today it is a monster of a city, home to 12-million-plus people on the banks of the mighty Congo River.
Is the Democratic Republic of Congo a democracy?
The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is a nominally centralized constitutional republic. Voters popularly elect the president and the lower house of parliament (National Assembly). Under the constitution, President Joseph Kabila’s second and final term in office expired in 2016.
Who colonized Democratic Republic of Congo?
Belgian colonization of DR Congo began in 1885 when King Leopold II founded and ruled the Congo Free State. However, de facto control of such a huge area took decades to achieve. Many outposts were built to extend the power of the state over such a vast territory.
Is Congo and Zaire the same?
Zaire (/zɑːˈɪər/, also UK: /zaɪˈɪər/), officially the Republic of Zaire (French: République du Zaïre, [ʁepyblik dy zaiʁ]), was the name of a sovereign state between 1971 and 1997 in Central Africa that was previously and is now again known as the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Is Congo the richest country in the world?
The Democratic Republic of Congo is widely
considered to be the richest country in the world regarding natural resources
; its untapped deposits of raw minerals are estimated to be worth in excess of U.S. $24 trillion.
Why is Uganda called Uganda?
Uganda is named after the Buganda kingdom, which encompasses a large portion of the south of the country, including the capital Kampala. The people of Uganda were hunter-gatherers until 1,700 to 2,300 years ago, when Bantu-speaking populations migrated to the southern parts of the country.
How many borders does Uganda have?
Uganda is bordered by
South Sudan to the north
, Kenya to the east, Tanzania and Rwanda to the south, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the west. The capital city, Kampala, is built around seven hills not far from the shores of Lake Victoria, which forms part of the frontier with Kenya and Tanzania.
What is the name of the zone that divides the Sahara from the grasslands?
The Sahel
is a narrow band of semi-arid land that forms a transition zone between the Sahara to the north and the savannas to the south.
What is the alternative name of the sub Saharan African region?
Sub-Saharan Africa is the term used to describe those countries of the African continent that are not considered part of North Africa. In 19th Century Europe and the Western world, the area was sometimes referred to as Black Africa.
What is the meaning of Sub-Saharan Africa?
Sub-Saharan Africa is,
geographically, the area of the continent of Africa that lies south of the Sahara
. According to the United Nations, it consists of all African countries and territories that are fully or partially south of the Sahara.
When did DRC became a democracy?
One particularity of the Regime was the claim to be thriving for an authentic system, different from Western or Soviet influences. This lasted roughly between the establishment of Zaire in 1971, and the official beginning of the transition towards democracy, on 24 April 1990.
Is Stanleyville a real place?
Stanleyville is
an unincorporated community between northern Winston-Salem and Rural Hall in Forsyth County, North Carolina
. Most of the community has been annexed by Winston-Salem. Stanleyville is located along North Carolina Highway 66 near the future Interstate 74 interchange with U.S. Highway 52.
Where was the ER episode Kisangani filmed?
Along with the Season 10 episodes “Makemba” and “The Lost,”
Hawaii
doubled as a location shoot for this Congo-based episode.
What is the old name of Zaire?
(former Republic of Zaire) In accordance with the announcement on May 17 that the Republic of Zaire had changed its name, the new name, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, will be used from now on.
What is Zaire mean?
An African place name (the former name of the Democratic Republic of the Congo), Zaire comes from the Portuguese interpretation of the Bantu word “nzere” – meaning “
the river that swallows all rivers
,” in reference to the Congo River.
In which province is Kinshasa?
| Map Province Capital | 1 Kinshasa Kinshasa | 2 Kongo Central Matadi | 3 Kwango Kenge | 4 Kwilu Bandundu |
|---|
Who founded Kinshasa?
Formerly known as Leopoldville, it was founded and named by
Henry Morton Stanley
in 1881 in honor of King Leopold II of Belgium who controlled the vast territory known as the Congo Free State. Kinshasa is located on the southern bank of the Congo River.
Is Kinshasa a port city?
| Port Location and Contacts | Country DRC | Province or District Kinshasa | Town or City (Closest location) with Distance (km) Name: Kinshasa km: n/a | Port’s Complete Name Port de Kinshasa |
|---|
Is Kinshasa rich?
Kinshasa is one of the
top 10 most expensive African cities to live
in according to a 2014 study by the US research firm Mercer. The Gombe neighbourhood of Kinshasa, the capital of the DRC, is home to rich locals and expatriates.
Who was the first president of Congo Brazzaville?
| President of the Republic of the Congo | Residence Presidential Palace, Brazzaville | Term length 5 years | Inaugural holder Fulbert Youlou | Formation 15 August 1960 |
|---|
