Infoplease has everything you need to know about congo, democratic republic of the. Esteemed scholar david van reybrouck balances hundreds of interviews with a diverse range of. Roger casement and the congo the journal of african. Article 3 the national sovereignty belongs to the people who exercise it by means of universal suffrage, by their elected representatives or by way of. Jan 10, 2019 a chronology of key events in the history of the democratic republic of congo, from the 1200s to the present. Republic of the congo government and society britannica. The government of the democratic republic of congo has established a legal anticorruption framework. A very short overview of belgian, and latterly us, imperialism in congo, written by marty jezer in 2001. The congo free state and the new imperialism the bedford series in history and culture 9781457650895. I mean when someone says they are going to tell you the epic history of a people they have already set a daunting standard, but van reybouck found a way to do it. Dr congo had a transitional government in july 2003 until the election was over. The republic of the congo also have a considerable colonial architectural heritage, which they are preserving as part of their history.
The belgian government was not prepared to grant the congo independence. In the months leading up to independence, the congolese elected a president, joseph kasavubu, prime minister, patrice lumumba, a senate and assembly, and similar bodies in the congos numerous provinces. On their journey they discover the lost city of zinj and a new species of killer gorillas, which they must overcome to survive. A constitution was approved by voters and on 30 july 2006 the congo held its first multiparty elections since independence in 1960. Democratic republic of the congo country profile nations. The current era has witnessed the increasing need by the african union au and subregional organisations to be more involved as first responders to conflict situations in the region. This trend, which involves the use of preventive diplomacy efforts, mediation, peace support operations, peacekeeping, peacebuilding and postconflict reconstruction and development efforts, has situated africa. Just four days later there are early signs of mutiny in the army. Democratic republic of the congo, formerly zaire zi. The country that began as a kings private domain the congo free state, evolved into a colony the belgian congo, became independent in 1960 as the republic of the congo, and later underwent several name changes to the democratic republic of the congo, then to zaire, and back again to the democratic republic of the congo is the product of a. The executive branch of the government is headed by the president, who is popularly elected to a maximum of two sevenyear terms and serves as both chief of state and head of government. Africa congo, democratic republic of the the world.
Background and current developments congressional research service 1 recent developments in february 2011, the congolese government formally charged one senior military officer and 10 soldiers of mass rape in the town of fizi, in. This is a chilling story of how eastern congo in the this book is unusual in its reliance on oral history. The earliest inhabitants of the region comprising presentday congo were the bambuti people. Efforts are also taking place to restore architectural works in brazzaville, such as the basilica of sainteanne du congo that finished in 2011. Republic of the congo republic of the congo government and society. This barcode number lets you verify that youre getting exactly the right version or edition of a book.
From the beginnings of the slave trade through colonization, the struggle for independence, mobutus brutal three decades of rule, and the civil war that has raged from 1996 to the present day, congo. Roger casements role as irish patriot has obscured his role as congo reformer. Whether called the congo free state, or zaire, or the democratic republic of the congo, the country remains perilously unstable. The novel centers on an expedition searching for diamonds and investigating the mysterious deaths of a previous expedition in the dense tropical rainforest of the congo. Congo was decried as political chaos by the western media. All three reports produced compelling evidence that linked the continuation of the conflict with the exploitation of the countrys resources3. Essay on genocide in the democratic republic of the congo 882 words 4 pages. Georges nzongolantalaja charts the history of the congos. Kcse history and government notes form 1 to form 4 kcse. The republic of the congo pronunciation help info french. Essay on history of the democratic republic of congo bartleby. Epic in scope yet eminently readable, penetrating and deeply moving, david van reybroucks congo.
Who and partners working with national health authorities to contain new ebola outbreak in the democratic republic of the congo. The epic history of a people is an intimidating book both in terms of size and subject matter. The development is viewed as a major step toward ending a bloody civil war, but it comes amid renewed violence in the expansive african country. Congos government has never effectively represented or. I hope we are collecting materials for an indictment, lansdowne wrote shortly before the house of commons debate in 1903 lansdownes minute on fox bourne to f. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. The deal will give china great influence in a country with a long history. The necessity of oral history approach also indicates how much congo has lost in the disorganization of government over the period. The eisenhower administration had high hopes that the republic of the congo would form a stable, prowestern, central government.
Government of the people, by the people and for the people. Identification of arms sources found in the conflict in drc. Congo is a 1980 science fiction novel by michael crichton. The nation becomes independent on 30 june 1960 as the democratic republic of the congo. The government is the effective executive arm of the state, in charge of all the countrys main administration, in all the domains reserved to the central government by the constitution, and in all the domains in which the central. Embassy of the republic of congo in washington dc about. Background and current developments congressional research service 1 recent developments in february 2011, the congolese government formally charged one senior military officer and 10 soldiers of mass rape in the town of fizi, in the eastern province of south kivu. Sadc interventions in the democratic republic of the congo. The smaller city on the north side of the river is brazzaville, while the larger, kinshasa, is on the south side. History and government notes form 1 to form 4 kcse revision history and government questions and answers.
Aerial view of the congo river near kisangani, the capital of orientale province. Under the constitution of 2002, congo is a republic. The troubled heart of africa is the only book to give a complete history of the congo, filling in the blanks in the countrys history before the advent of henry stanley, david livingstone, king leopold, and other. Travelling in the interior of the congo in 1903 as british consul, casement gathered evidence that enabled the british government to attack the congo state on grounds of maladministration.
Namikas offers a fine history of the cold war politics of congo during the early 1960s, informed by access to recently declassified archival material in moscow and washington. Every citizen is entitled to the protection of the moral and material interests resulting from any scientific, literary, or artistic production of which he is the author. The republic of congo, also known as middle congo, congobrazzaville, and congo but not to be confused with the democratic republic of the congo, formerly zaire, which was also at one time known as the republic of the congo, is a former french colony of westcentral africa. Historical dictionary of the democratic republic of the congo, third. Discovered in the 1990s, the earliest discovered human rights activist remains in the. The democratic republic of the congo enough project. The congo free state and the new imperialism the bedford series in history and culture by kevin grant author 3. Essay on history of the democratic republic of congo. Democratic republic of congo profile timeline bbc news.
The war economy in the democratic republic of congo. The congo free state and the new imperialism the bedford. Kisangani is an important commercial hub point for river and land transportation and a major marketing and distribution center for the northeastern part of the country. The epic history of a people 01 by van reybrouck, david isbn. Democratic republic of the congo history britannica. The reason is the fury of the african soldiers that in spite of independence the officers in the congolese army are without exception white. Crichton calls congo a lost world novel in the tradition founded by henry rider haggards king solomons mines, featuring the mines of that works title. The epic history of a people traces the history of one of the most devastated nations in the world. The second congo war also known as the great war of africa or the great african war, and sometimes referred to as the african world war began in the democratic republic of the congo in august 1998, little more than a year after the first congo war, and involved some of the same issues. As a student of midafrican affairs for the past seven years, and a close observer of the rapid progress toward complete civilisation now being made in that part of the world, i have felt it my duty to lay before my countrymen the true and complete story of the conception, formation, and development of the congo free state. History is an account of events that took place in the past. The republic of congos new constitution was adopted on january 20th, 2002 in a nationwide referendum. The democratic republic of the congo roots of the crisis the crisis in the democratic republic of the congo, or drc, has many layers. Congo, also known as middle congo, congo brazzaville, and congo but not to be confused with the democratic republic of the congo, formerly zaire, which was also at one time known as the republic of the congo, is a former french colony of westcentral africa.
The voting age in the republic of congo is 18 years. The congolese penal code in french criminalizes most forms of corruption by public officials, including abuse of office. Contains general provisions on the protection of intellectual rights in article 29, which reads. Decades of misrule and two civil wars have devastated the countrys economy, social fabric, government capacity and infrastructure. Republique democratique du congo, also known as dr congo, the drc, droc, congokinshasa, or simply the congo, is a country located in central africa. The congo river is the worlds deepest river and the worlds second largest river by discharge.
Since the late 19th century, congos vast natural resources have continually attracted violent intervention from abroad and stoked internal conflicts. Government forces retake bukavu without firing a shot, marching into the centre of the city as residents sing, beat drums and honk horns. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by. The new constitution adopted by referendum in 2002, established a seven year presidential term and. Roger casement and the congo the journal of african history. The democratic republic of congo drc faces a defining period in its history. The kongo empire, a highly structured and developed state, rules over a region that today covers parts of southwestern congo, northern angola and a slice of the republic of. Cameroon to its northwest and the central african republic to its northeast. History of the democratic republic of the congo wikipedia. The republic of congo is a presidential republic whereby the president acts as both head of state and head of the government.
The war officially ended in july 2003, when the transitional government of the democratic republic of the. The democratic republic of the congo is named after the congo river, which flows throughout the country. The country that began as a kings private domain the congo free state, evolved into a colony the belgian congo, became independent in 1960 as the republic of the congo, and later underwent several name changes to the democratic republic of the congo, then to zaire, and back again to the democratic republic of the congo is the product of a complex pattern of historical forces. Democratic republic of the congo formerly zaire questia. Its other main objectives in the country are to keep an eye on the 20,000 or so cabindan refugees, most of whom live in pointnoire. During its recorded history, the area has also been known as congo, congo free state, belgian congo, and zaire. It borders on angola in the southwest and west, on the atlantic ocean, cabinda an angolan exclave, and the republic of the congo in the west, on the central african republic and south sudan in the north, on uganda, rwanda, burundi. A chronology of key events in the history of the democratic republic of congo, from the 1200s to the present. Books on the congo history of zaire and the belgian congo. Deep in the african rain forest, near the legendary ruins of the lost city. The epic history of a people by david van reybrouck. The area now known as the democratic republic of the congo was populated as early as 80,000 years ago, as shown by the 1988 discovery of the semliki harpoon at katanda, one of the oldest barbed harpoons ever found, which is believed to have been used to catch giant river catfish. In recent weeks the democratic republic of the congo, formerly known as zaire, and before that the belgian congo, has been in the news.
Three new books on the democratic republic of the congo. Check out our country profile, full of essential information about congo, democratic republic of thes geography, history, government, economy, population, culture, religion and languages. Dec 12, 20 the best books on democratic republic of the congo. Epic in scope yet eminently readable, penetrating and deeply moving, david van. This astronaut image shows two capital cities brownishgray areas on opposite banks of the congo river. Peace agreement between the governments of the republic of rwanda and the democratic republic of the congo on the withdrawal of the rwandan troops from the territory of the democratic republic of the congo and the dismantling of the exfar and interahamwe forces in the democratic republic of the congo drc, available at. In the democratic republic of the congo, the cabinet is more commonly simply referred to as the government. The government is made of 3 branches, which include. The bambuti were linked to pygmy tribes whose stone age culture was slowly replaced by bantu tribes coming from regions north of presentday democratic republic of the congo about 2,000 years ago, introducing iron age culture to the region. The democratic republic of the congo pronunciation help info french. A brutal civil war, an horrendous aids epidemic, the assassination of its dictator, laurent kabila, and. The best books on democratic republic of the congo.