Congo (Brazzaville)

presidential republic

Upon independence in 1960, the former French region of Middle Congo became the Republic of the Congo. From 1968 to 1992, the country was named the People’s Republic of the Congo.  A quarter-century of experimentation with Marxism was abandoned in 1990, and a democratically elected government took office in 1992, at which time the country reverted to "the Republic of the Congo" name.  A two-year civil war that ended in 1999 restored to power former President Denis SASSOU-Nguesso, who had ruled from 1979 to 1992.

Profile

CapitalBrazzaville

Population6.1M

GDP$39.1B

Area342,000 km²

LanguageFrench (official), French Lingala and Monokutuba (trade languages), many local languages and dialects (of which Kikongo is the most widespread)

CurrencyCooperation Financiere en Afrique Centrale francs (XAF) per US dollar -