:Zaire Geography Total area: 2,345,410 km2 Land area: 2,267,600 km2 Comparative area: slightly more than one-quarter the size of US Land boundaries: 10,271 km total; Angola 2,511 km, Burundi 233 km, Central African Republic 1,577 km, Congo 2,410 km, Rwanda 217 km, Sudan 628 km, Uganda 765 km, Zambia 1,930 km Coastline: 37 km Maritime claims: Exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm Territorial sea: 12 nm Disputes: Tanzania-Zaire-Zambia tripoint in Lake Tanganyika may no longer be indefinite since it is reported that the indefinite section of the Zaire-Zambia boundary has been settled; long section with Congo along the Congo River is indefinite (no division of the river or its islands has been made) Climate: tropical; hot and humid in equatorial river basin; cooler and drier in southern highlands; cooler and wetter in eastern highlands; north of Equator - wet season April to October, dry season December to February; south of Equator - wet season November to March, dry season April to October Terrain: vast central basin is a low-lying plateau; mountains in east Natural resources: cobalt, copper, cadmium, crude oil, industrial and gem diamonds, gold, silver, zinc, manganese, tin, germanium, uranium, radium, bauxite, iron ore, coal, hydropower potential Land use: arable land 3%; permanent crops NEGL%; meadows and pastures 4%; forest and woodland 78%; other 15%; includes irrigated NEGL% Environment: dense tropical rain forest in central river basin and eastern highlands; periodic droughts in south Note: straddles Equator; very narrow strip of land that controls the lower Congo River and is only outlet to South Atlantic Ocean :Zaire People Population: 39,084,400 (July 1992), growth rate 3.3% (1992) Birth rate: 45 births/1,000 population (1992) Death rate: 13 deaths/1,000 population (1992) Net migration rate: 0 migrants/1,000 population (1992) Infant mortality rate: 97 deaths/1,000 live births (1992) Life expectancy at birth: 52 years male, 56 years female (1992) Total fertility rate: 6.1 children born/woman (1992) Nationality: noun - Zairian(s); adjective - Zairian Ethnic divisions: over 200 African ethnic groups, the majority are Bantu; four largest tribes - Mongo, Luba, Kongo (all Bantu), and the Mangbetu-Azande (Hamitic) make up about 45% of the population Religions: Roman Catholic 50%, Protestant 20%, Kimbanguist 10%, Muslim 10%, other syncretic sects and traditional beliefs 10% Languages: French (official), Lingala, Swahili, Kingwana, Kikongo, Tshiluba Literacy: 72% (male 84%, female 61%) age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.) Labor force: 15,000,000; agriculture 75%, industry 13%, services 12%; wage earners 13% (1981); population of working age 51% (1985) Organized labor: National Union of Zairian Workers (UNTZA) was the only officially recognized trade union until April 1990; other unions are now in process of seeking official recognition :Zaire Government Long-form name: Republic of Zaire 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; formerly Belgian Congo, then Congo/Leopoldville, then Congo/Kinshasa) Constitution: 24 June 1967, amended August 1974, revised 15 February 1978; amended April 1990; new constitution to be promulgated in 1992 Legal system: based on Belgian civil law system and tribal law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction National holiday: Anniversary of the Regime (Second Republic), 24 November (1965) Executive branch: president, prime minister, Executive Council (cabinet) Legislative branch: unicameral Legislative Council (Conseil Legislatif) Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Cour Supreme) Leaders: Chief of State: President Marshal MOBUTU Sese Seko Kuku Ngbendu wa Za Banga (since 24 November 1965) Head of Government: Prime Minister Jean NGUZ a Karl-i-Bond (since 26 November 1991) 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), Joseph ILEO; Union of Federalists and Independent Republicans (UFERI), NGUZ a Karl-I-Bond; and Congolese National Movement-Lumumba (MNC-L) Suffrage: universal and compulsory at age 18 Elections: President: last held 29 July 1984 (next to be scheduled by ongoing National Conference); results - President MOBUTU was reelected without opposition Legislative Council: last held 6 September 1987 (next to be scheduled by ongoing National Conference); results - MPR was the only party; seats - (210 total) MPR 210; note - MPR still holds majority of seats but some deputies have joined other parties Member of: ACCT, ACP, AfDB, APC, CCC, CEEAC, CEPGL, CIPEC, ECA, FAO, G-19, G-24, G-77, GATT, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, LORCS, NAM, OAU, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO Diplomatic representation: Ambassador TATANENE Manata; Chancery at 1800 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009; telephone (202) 234-7690 or 7691 :Zaire Government US: Ambassador Melissa F. WELLS; Embassy at 310 Avenue des Aviateurs, Kinshasa (mailing address is APO AE 09828); telephone [243] (12) 21532, 21628; FAX [243] (12) 21232; the US Consulate General in Lubumbashi was closed and evacuated in October 1991 because of the poor security situation 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 :Zaire Economy Overview: In 1990, in spite of large mineral resources Zaire had a GDP per capita of only about $260, putting it among the desperately poor African nations. The country's chronic economic problems worsened in 1991, with copper and cobalt production down 20-30%, inflation near 8,000% in 1991 as compared with 100% in 1987-89, and IMF and most World Bank support suspended until the institution of agreed-on changes. Agriculture, a key sector of the economy, employs 75% of the population but generates under 25% of GDP. The main potential for economic development has been the extractive industries. Mining and mineral processing account for about one-third of GDP and three-quarters of total export earnings. Zaire is the world's largest producer of diamonds and cobalt. GDP: exchange rate conversion - $9.8 billion, per capita $260; real growth rate -3% (1990 est.) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 8,000% (1991) Unemployment rate: NA% Budget: revenues $685 million; expenditures $1.1 billion, does not include capital expenditures mostly financed by donors (1990) Exports: $2.2 billion (f.o.b., 1989 est.) commodities: copper 37%, coffee 24%, diamonds 12%, cobalt, crude oil partners: US, Belgium, France, FRG, Italy, UK, Japan, South Africa Imports: $2.1 billion (f.o.b., 1989 est.) commodities: consumer goods, foodstuffs, mining and other machinery, transport equipment, fuels partners: South Africa, US, Belgium, France, FRG, Italy, Japan, UK External debt: $7.9 billion (December 1990 est.) Industrial production: growth rate -7.3%; accounts for almost 30% of GDP (1989) Electricity: 2,580,000 kW capacity; 6,000 million kWh produced, 160 kWh per capita (1991) Industries: mining, mineral processing, consumer products (including textiles, footwear, and cigarettes), processed foods and beverages, cement, diamonds Agriculture: cash crops - coffee, palm oil, rubber, quinine; food crops - cassava, bananas, root crops, corn Illicit drugs: illicit producer of cannabis, mostly for domestic consumption Economic aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $1.1 billion; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $6.9 billion; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $35 million; Communist countries (1970-89), $263 million Currency: zaire (singular and plural); 1 zaire (Z) = 100 makuta Exchange rates: zaire (Z) per US$1 - 111,196 (March 1992), 15,587 (1991), 719 (1990), 381 (1989), 187 (1988), 112 (1987) :Zaire Economy Fiscal year: calendar year :Zaire Communications Railroads: 5,254 km total; 3,968 km 1.067-meter gauge (851 km electrified); 125 km 1.000-meter gauge; 136 km 0.615-meter gauge; 1,025 km 0.600-meter gauge; limited trackage in use because of civil strife Highways: 146,500 km total; 2,800 km paved, 46,200 km gravel and improved earth; 97,500 unimproved earth Inland waterways: 15,000 km including the Congo, its tributaries, and unconnected lakes Pipelines: petroleum products 390 km Ports: Matadi, Boma, Banana Merchant marine: 2 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 22,921 GRT/30,332 DWT; includes 1 passenger cargo, 1 cargo Civil air: 45 major transport aircraft Airports: 284 total, 239 usable; 24 with permanent-surface runways; 1 with runways over 3,659 m; 6 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 73 with runways 1,220-2,439 m Telecommunications: barely adequate wire and microwave service; broadcast stations - 10 AM, 4 FM, 18 TV; satellite earth stations - 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT, 14 domestic :Zaire Defense Forces Branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, paramilitary National Gendarmerie, Civil Guard, Special Presidential Division Manpower availability: males 15-49, 8,521,292; 4,333,492 fit for military service Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $49 million, 0.8% of GDP (1988)