Congo, Republic of the
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CountryCongo, Republic of the
Flag
Capitalname: Brazzaville
geographic coordinates: 4 16 S, 15 17 E
time difference: UTC+1 (six hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
Population3,800,610
note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, lower population and growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2007 est.)
GMT+1
LocationWestern Africa, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean, between Angola and Gabon

see map
Areatotal: 342,000 sq km
land: 341,500 sq km
water: 500 sq km
Ethnic groupsKongo 48%, Sangha 20%, M'Bochi 12%, Teke 17%, Europeans and other 3%
ReligionsChristian 50%, animist 48%, Muslim 2%
LanguagesFrench (official), Lingala and Monokutuba (lingua franca trade languages), many local languages and dialects (of which Kikongo is the most widespread)
Government typerepublic
National holidayIndependence Day, 15 August (1960)
Constitutionapproved by referendum 20 January 2002
Legal systembased on French civil law system and customary law
BackgroundUpon independence in 1960, the former French region of Middle Congo became the Republic of the Congo. A quarter century of experimentation with Marxism was abandoned in 1990 and a democratically elected government took office in 1992. A brief civil war in 1997 restored former Marxist President Denis SASSOU-NGUESSO, and ushered in a period of ethnic and political unrest. Southern-based rebel groups agreed to a final peace accord in March 2003, but the calm is tenuous and refugees continue to present a humanitarian crisis. The Republic of Congo was once one of Africa's largest petroleum producers, but with declining production it will need to hope for new offshore oil finds to sustain its oil earnings over the long term.
Internet
country code
.cg
LAST UPDATED ON 17 JUNE 2007