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Democratic Republic of Congo (Formerly Zaire) Government 1996

Names:

conventional long form:

Republic of Zaire

conventional short form:

Zaire

local long form:

Republique du Zaire

local short form:

Zaire

former:

Belgian Congo Congo/Leopoldville Congo/Kinshasa

Digraph:

Type:

republic with a strong presidential system

Capital:

Kinshasa

Administrative divisions:

10 regions (regions, singular - region) and 1 town* (ville); Bandundu, Bas-Zaire, Equateur, Haut-Zaire, Kasai-Occidental, Kasai-Oriental, Kinshasa*, Maniema, Nord-Kivu, Shaba, Sud-Kivu

Independence:

30 June 1960 (from Belgium)

National holiday:

Anniversary of the Regime (Second Republic), 24 November (1965)

Constitution:

24 June 1967, amended August 1974, revised 15 February 1978; amended April 1990; new transitional constitution promulgated in April 1994

Legal system:

based on Belgian civil law system and tribal law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal and compulsory

Executive branch:

chief of state:

President Marshal MOBUTU Sese Seko Kuku Ngbendu wa Za Banga (since 24 November 1965) election last held 29 July 1984 (next to be held by 9 July 1995); results - President MOBUTU was reelected without opposition

head of government:

Prime Minister Leon KENGO wa Dondo (since 14 June 1994)

cabinet:

National Executive Council; appointed by mutual agreement of the president and the prime minister

Legislative branch:

unicameral

parliament:

a single body consisting of the High Council of the Republic and the Parliament of the Transition with membership equally divided between presidential supporters and opponents

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court (Cour Supreme)

Political parties and leaders:

sole legal party until January 1991 - Popular Movement of the Revolution (MPR); other parties include Union for Democracy and Social Progress (UDPS), Etienne TSHISEKEDI wa Mulumba; Democratic Social Christian Party (PDSC); Union of Federalists and Independent Republicans (UFERI); Unified Lumumbast Party (PALU), Antoine GIZENGA; Union of Independent Democrats (UDI), Leon KENGO wa Dondo

Member of:

ACCT, ACP, AfDB, CCC, CEEAC, CEPGL, ECA, FAO, G-19, G-24, G-77, GATT, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, NAM, OAU, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in US:

chief of mission:

Ambassador TATANENE Manata

chancery:

1800 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009

telephone:

[1] (202) 234-7690, 7691

US diplomatic representation:

chief of mission:

(vacant); Charge d'Affaires John M. YATES

embassy:

310 Avenue des Aviateurs, Kinshasa

mailing address:

Unit 31550, Kinshasha; APO AE 09828

telephone:

[243] (12) 21532, 21628

FAX:

[243] (12) 21534 ext. 2308, 21535 ext. 2308; (88) 43805, 43467

Flag:

light green with a yellow disk in the center bearing a black arm holding a red flaming torch; the flames of the torch are blowing away from the hoist side; uses the popular pan-African colors of Ethiopia

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