World Factbook
DR Congo
République démocratique du Congo
Last updated: 2026-03-28 (today)
Flag
description: sky-blue field divided diagonally from the lower-left corner to the upper-right corner by a red stripe bordered with two narrow yellow stripes; a five-pointed yellow star is in the upper-left corner meaning: blue stands for peace and hope, red for the blood of the country's martyrs, and yellow for the country's wealth and prosperity; the star symbolizes unity and a brilliant future for the country
Capital
name
Kinshasa
etymology
founded as a trading post in 1881 and named Leopoldville in honor of King LEOPOLD II of the Belgians; in 1966, Leopoldville was renamed Kinshasa, a Bantu name of unknown meaning
time zone note
the DRC has two time zones
time difference
UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
geographic coordinates
4 19 S, 15 18 E
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal and compulsory
Citizenship
citizenship by birth
no
citizenship by descent only
at least one parent must be a citizen of the Democratic Republic of the Congo
dual citizenship recognized
no
residency requirement for naturalization
5 years
Constitution
history
several previous; latest adopted 13 May 2005, approved by referendum 18-19 December 2005, promulgated 18 February 2006
amendment process
proposed by the president of the republic, by the government, by either house of Parliament, or by public petition; agreement on the substance of a proposed bill requires absolute majority vote in both houses; passage requires a referendum only if both houses in joint meeting fail to achieve three-fifths majority vote; constitutional articles, including the form of government, universal suffrage, judicial independence, political pluralism, and personal freedoms, cannot be amended
Country name
former
Congo Free State, Belgian Congo, Congo/Leopoldville, Congo/Kinshasa, Zaire
etymology
named for the Congo River, most of which lies within the DRC; the river name derives from Kongo, a Bantu kingdom in the area
abbreviation
DRC (or DROC)
local long form
République démocratique du Congo
local short form
RDC
conventional long form
Democratic Republic of the Congo
conventional short form
DRC
Independence
30 June 1960 (from Belgium)
Legal system
civil law system primarily based on Belgian law, but also customary and tribal law
Government type
semi-presidential republic
Judicial branch
highest court(s)
Court of Cassation or Cour de Cassation (consists of 26 justices and organized into legislative and judiciary sections); Constitutional Court (consists of 9 judges)
subordinate courts
State Security Court; Court of Appeals (organized into administrative and judiciary sections); Tribunal de Grande Instance; magistrates' courts; customary courts
judge selection and term of office
Court of Cassation judges nominated by the Judicial Service Council, an independent body of public prosecutors and selected judges of the lower courts; judge tenure NA; Constitutional Court judges - 3 nominated by the president, 3 by the Judicial Service Council, and 3 by the legislature; judges appointed by the president to serve 9-year non-renewable terms with one third of the membership renewed every 3 years
Executive branch
cabinet
Ministers of State appointed by the president
chief of state
President Felix TSHISEKEDI (since 20 January 2024)
election results
2023: Felix TSHISEKEDI reelected president; percent of vote - Felix TSHISEKEDI (UDPS) 73.3%, Moise KATUMBI (Ensemble) 18.8%, Martin FAYULU (ECIDE) 5.3%, other 2.6% 2018: Felix TSHISEKEDI elected president; percent of vote - Felix TSHISEKEDI (UDPS) 38.6%, Martin FAYULU (Lamuka coalition) 34.8%, Emmanuel Ramazani SHADARY (PPRD) 23.9%, other 2.7%
head of government
Prime Minister Judith SUMINWA Tuluka (since 29 May 2024)
most recent election date
20 December 2023
election/appointment process
president directly elected by simple majority vote for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); prime minister appointed by the president
expected date of next election
20 December 2028
National holiday
Independence Day, 30 June (1960)
National color(s)
sky blue, red, yellow
National heritage
total World Heritage Sites
5 (all natural)
selected World Heritage Site locales
Garamba National Park; Kahuzi-Biega National Park; Okapi Wildlife Reserve; Salonga National Park; Virunga National Park
Political parties
Christian Democrat Party or PDC Congolese Rally for Democracy or RCD Convention of Christian Democrats or CDC Engagement for Citizenship and Development or ECIDE Forces of Renewal or FR Movement for the Liberation of the Congo or MLC Nouvel Elan Our Congo or CNB ("Congo Na Biso") People's Party for Reconstruction and Democracy or PPRD Social Movement for Renewal or MSR Together for Change ("Ensemble") Unified Lumumbist Party or PALU Union for the Congolese Nation or UNC Union for Democracy and Social Progress or UDPS
Legislative branch
legislature name
Parlement (Parliament)
legislative structure
bicameral
National anthem(s)
title
"Debout Congolaise" (Arise, Congolese)
history
adopted 1960; replaced when the country was known as Zaire, but readopted in 1997
lyrics/music
Joseph LUTUMBA/Simon-Pierre BOKA di Mpasi Londi
National symbol(s)
leopard
Administrative divisions
26 provinces; Bas-Uele (Lower Uele), Equateur, Haut-Katanga (Upper Katanga), Haut-Lomami (Upper Lomami), Haut-Uele (Upper Uele), Ituri, Kasai, Kasai-Central, Kasai-Oriental (East Kasai), Kinshasa, Kongo Central, Kwango, Kwilu, Lomami, Lualaba, Mai-Ndombe, Maniema, Mongala, Nord-Kivu (North Kivu), Nord-Ubangi (North Ubangi), Sankuru, Sud-Kivu (South Kivu), Sud-Ubangi (South Ubangi), Tanganyika, Tshopo, Tshuapa
Legislative branch - lower chamber
chamber name
National Assembly (Assemblée nationale)
term in office
5 years
number of seats
500 (all directly elected)
electoral system
mixed system
scope of elections
full renewal
most recent election date
4/29/2024 to 5/26/2024
expected date of next election
December 2028
percentage of women in chamber
12.8%
parties elected and seats per party
Union for Democracy and Social Progress/TSHISEKEDI (UDPS/TSHISEKEDI) (69); Action of Allies and Union for the Congolese Nation (A/A-UNC) (35); Alliance of Democratic Forces of Congo and Allies (AFDC-A) (35); Act and Build (AB) (26); Action of Allies/All for the Development of the Congo (2A/TDC) (21); Alliance of Stakeholders for the People (AAAP) (21); Alliance Bloc 50 (A/B50) (20); Congo Liberation Movement (MLC) (19); Other (131)
Legislative branch - upper chamber
chamber name
Senate (Sénat)
term in office
5 years
number of seats
109 (all indirectly elected)
scope of elections
full renewal
most recent election date
12/20/2023
expected date of next election
April 2029
percentage of women in chamber
15.8%
Diplomatic representation in the US
FAX
[1] (202) 234-2609
chancery
1100 Connecticut Avenue NW, Suite 725, Washington DC 20036
telephone
[1] (202) 234-7690
chief of mission
Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d'Affaires Michael SHAKU YUMI (since 1 August 2024)
representative office
New York
email address and website
ambassade@ambardcusa.org https://www.ambardcusa.org/
Diplomatic representation from the US
FAX
[243] 81 556-0175
embassy
310 Avenue des Aviateurs, Kinshasa, Gombe
telephone
[243] 081 556-0151
mailing address
2220 Kinshasa Place, Washington DC 20521-2220
chief of mission
Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d’Affaires Susan TULLER (since January 2026)
email address and website
ACSKinshasa@state.gov https://cd.usembassy.gov/
International organization participation
ACP, AfDB, AU, CEMAC, CEPGL, COMESA, EAC, EITI (compliant country), FAO, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (NGOs), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), LCBC (observer), MIGA, NAM, OIF, OPCW, PCA, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
International law organization participation
accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction