 | WAARSKUWING: As gevolg van die verspreiding van COVID-19 en die gebrek aan mediese fasiliteite vir behandeling, dit is nie noodsaaklik om na DRK te reis nie nie aanbeveel nie. In Junie 2020, 'n nuwe uitbreking van die Ebola-virus is in die Équateur-provinsie aangekondig. Reisigers moet mediese advies inwin voordat hulle reis. Jy behoort vermy alle reis na die provinsies Kasaï, Kasaï Central, Kasaï Oriental, Haut-Uele, Haut Lomami, Ituri, North Kivu, South Kivu, Maniema en Tanganyika in die ooste van die DRK, gebiede in die weste en ooste van Kananga, insluitend Tshikapa en Mwene-Ditu, of binne 50 km van die grens met die Sentraal-Afrikaanse Republiek en Suid-Soedan. In 2020 is daar steeds 'n ernstige risiko dat openbare byeenkomste weens die politieke situasie gewelddadig kan word. En as die situasie sou versleg, sou dit waarskynlik moeilik wees om die land te verlaat. Dit word aanbeveel om 'n voorraad voorraad te hou. Meer besonderhede kan gevind word in die Bly veilig afdeling. |
| (Inligting laas opgedateer Augustus 2020) |
Die Demokratiese Republiek van die Kongo (Frans: République Démocratique du Congo (of RDC); dikwels verkort tot DRK of DR. Kongo) is die grootste en bevolkte land in Sentraal-Afrika. Die DRK bly 'n bestemming vir net die mees ervare, hardcore Afrikaanse reisiger. dit is nie 'n land vir die toevallige toeris: die gemiddelde rugsakreisiger, vakansieganger en veral diegene wat luukse safari's of georganiseerde kulturele ervarings soek. Die hart van die DRK is grotendeels bedek met welige, tropiese reënwoude en die Amazon (die enigste groter reënwoud op aarde). Die magtige Kongorivier vorm die ruggraat van die land, met ake wat oorloop van Kongolese (en af en toe avontuurlike Europeërs) en handelaars wat hul groot pirogues gelaai met goedere, vrugte en plaaslike bosvleis om te verkoop aan diegene op die aak.
Die land het 'n oorvloed van natuurlike hulpbronne, en hulle sal na raming meer as US $ 24 biljoen werd wees. Die land kan baie ryker word as tans, maar bly een van die armste en minst ontwikkelde lande ter wêreld, hoofsaaklik as gevolg van deurdringende politieke onstabiliteit, korrupsie en oorlogvoering.
Die land is wreed geplunder deur België tydens die Scramble for Africa, en miljoene Kongolese (kinders ingesluit) is gemartel, verkrag en vermoor. Die letsels van kolonisasie word tot vandag toe nog gevoel, en die betrekkinge met België bly ongesond daaroor.
Weke nadat hulle in 1960 onafhanklikheid verkry het, het die land uitmekaar geval, en sy leiers was sedertdien baie meer besig om rebelle te onderdruk en die land bymekaar te hou as om infrastruktuur te bou, onderwys en gesondheidsorg te verbeter, of enigiets anders te doen om die lewens van die Kongolese te verbeter. waarvan baie in armoede leef. Tussen 1994 en 2003 het die bloedigste konflik sedert die einde van die Tweede Wêreldoorlog in die oostelike oerwoude van die land plaasgevind, sedertdien is sporadiese geweld aan die gang. Miljoene mense is ontheem en vlug uit massamoord en massale verkragting, en honderdduisende bly tot vandag toe in vlugtelingkampe, beskut deur die grootste VN-vredesending (MONUC) ter wêreld.
Diegene wat die elemente aandurf om hierheen te reis, is nogal in die avontuur. In die ooste styg vulkaniese pieke duisende meter bo die omliggende reënwoud uit, dikwels in mis gehul. Stappers kan berg Nyiragongo opklim, hierbo dreigend Goma, en oornag op die rand bokant 'n aktiewe lawameer (een van net vier wêreldwyd!). In die nabygeleë oerwoude mag 'n klein aantal toeriste elke dag na families van gorillas trek - een van ons naaste familielede van ons spesie. Langs die magtige Kongorivier bring elke jaar 'n handjievol reisigers weke lank honderde kilometers deur op vragte gelaai met vrag en Kongolese. En moenie vergeet om maskers en ander handwerk in lewendige markte regoor die land op te tel nie.
Hierdie land word ook gereeld genoem Kongo-Kinshasa om dit te onderskei van sy noordwestelike buurland, die Republiek van die Kongo (ook bekend as "Kongo-Brazzaville"). In die verlede het die DRK bekend gestaan as die Kongo Vrystaat, Belgiese Kongo, die Republiek van die Kongo, Kongo-Leopoldville of Zaire. Oor hierdie en ander riglyne in die DRK verwys "Kongo" na die Demokratiese Republiek van die Kongo.
Streke
| Wes-DRK (Kinshasa) die tuiste van die hoofstad Kinshasa en die land se enigste hawe. Meestal tropiese woude en weivelde. |
| Katanga meestal vrugbare plato's vir landbou en boerderye, waar baie van die minerale in die land herstel kan word; de facto onafhanklik van 1960-1966 tydens die "Katanga-krisis" |
| Kasai beduidende diamantontginning, nie veel anders nie. |
| Kivu (Bukavu, Goma, Kahuzi-Biega Nasionale Park,Virunga Nasionale Park,) beïnvloed deur naburige Burundi, Rwanda, en Uganda hierdie streek is bekend vir sy vulkane, berggorillas en, tragies, sy onpeilbare konflik. |
| Kongo-kom (Garamba Nasionale Park, Maiko Nasionale Park, Okapi Wildreservaat, Salonga Nasionale Park) die DRK se gedeelte en die grootste deel van die wêreld se tweede grootste oerwoud na die Amasone. |
Stede
Ander bestemmings
Verskeie parke is op die UNESCO Wêrelderfenislys.
- 1 Virunga Nasionale Park
- 2 Kahuzi-Biega Nasionale Park
- 3 Garamba Nasionale Park
- 4 Salonga Nasionale Park
- 5 Okapi Wildreservaat
- 6 Maiko Nasionale Park
Verstaan
 | |
| Kapitaal | Kinshasa |
| Geldeenheid | Kongolese frank (CDF) |
| Bevolking | 86,7 miljoen (2019) |
| Elektrisiteit | 220 volt / 50 hertz (Europlug, AC-kragproppe en -stekkers: Britse en verwante soorte, tipe E) |
| Landelike kode | 243 |
| Tydsone | UTC 01:00, UTC 02:00 |
| Noodgevalle | 113 (brandweer), 114 (polisie), 118 (polisie) |
| Rykant | reg |
| wysig op Wikidata | |
Aardrykskunde
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Die NGK is waarlik groot. Op 2 345 408 vierkante kilometer (905 567 vk myl) is dit groter as die gesamentlike oppervlaktes van Spanje, Frankryk, Duitsland, Swede, en Noorweë—Of byna drie en 'n half keer die grootte van Texas.
Die bepalende kenmerk van die land is die tweede grootste reënwoud ter wêreld. Riviere groot en klein slang dwarsdeur die land en met 'n swak padnetwerk bly tot vandag toe die vernaamste vervoermiddel. Die Kongorivier is die derde grootste rivier in die wêreld, gemeet aan afvoer - dit gaan selfs verder tot in die Atlantiese Oseaan en vorm 'n duikbootkloof ongeveer 80 km tot aan die rand van die kontinentale plat! Dit het ook die onderskeid dat dit een van die diepste riviere in die wêreld is met dieptes tot 220 m (720 voet). Vanweë die groot hoeveelheid water, diepte en stroomversnelling, is daar 'n groot aantal endemiese spesies in die Kongorivier. Die Kongorivier 'begin' by die Boyoma-waterval naby Kisangani. Bo hierdie valle staan die rivier bekend as die Lualaba-rivier, waarvan die langste sytak tot in strek Zambië. Die Obangui-rivier vorm die grens tussen die DRK en MOTOR / Kongo-Brazzaville voordat dit na die Kongorivier vloei.
Die Skeur van Albertine - 'n tak van die Oost-Afrikaanse Skeur - loop langs die oostelike grens van die DRK. Dit is verantwoordelik vir Lakes Tanganyika, Kivu, Edward en Albert. Die kloof word geflankeer deur 'n aantal uitgestorwe vulkane en twee vulkane wat vandag nog aktief is. Die Rwenzori - en Virungaberge langs die grens met Rwanda is redelik skilderagtig, styg te midde van welige tropiese woude en soms gruwelik in mis gehul. Verskeie pieke is meer as 4000 meter (13.000 voet). Mount Nyiragongo bevat een van slegs vier deurlopende lawamere ter wêreld.
Die enigste deel van die land wat nie deur welige woude bedek is nie, is die suide, rondom die Kasai-provinsie, wat meestal savanne en grasvelde bevat.
Geskiedenis
Die land wat nou die DRK vorm, is vir etlike millennia bewoon deur honderde klein jagter- / versamelstamme. Die landskap van digte, tropiese woude en die reënerige klimaat het die bevolking van die streek laag gehou en die stigting van gevorderde samelewings verhoed, en gevolglik is daar nog min oorblyfsels van hierdie samelewings. Die eerste en enigste belangrike politieke mag was die Kongo-koninkryk, gestig rondom die 13de-14de eeu. Die Kongo-koninkryk, wat versprei het oor wat nou noordelik is Angola, Cabinda, Kongo-Brazzaville, en Bas-Kongo, het taamlik ryk en magtig geword deur handel te dryf met ander Afrika-volke in ivoor, koperware, lap, erdewerk en slawe (lank voordat die Europeërs daar aangekom het). Die Portugese het in 1483 kontak met die Kongos gemaak en kon die koning gou tot die Christendom bekeer, terwyl die meeste van die bevolking gevolg het. Die Kongo-koninkryk was 'n belangrike bron van slawe wat in ooreenstemming met die Kongo-wetgewing verkoop is en meestal oorlogsgevangenes was. Nadat hy in die laat 15de-vroeë 16de eeu sy hoogtepunt bereik het, het die Kongo-koninkryk gewelddadige kompetisie gesien om troonopvolging, oorlog met stamme in die ooste en 'n reeks oorloë met die Portugese. Die Kongo-koninkryk is in 1665 deur die Portugese verslaan en het effektief opgehou om te bestaan, hoewel die grootliks seremoniële posisie van King of Kongo tot in die 1880's gebly het en 'Kongo' die naam van 'n los versameling stamme rondom die Kongo-rivierdelta gebly het. Kivu en die omliggende gebiede Uganda, Rwanda, & Burundi was 'n bron van slawe vir Arabiese handelaars uit Zanzibar. Die Kuba-federasie, in die suide van die DRK, was geïsoleer genoeg om slawerny te vermy en selfs Belgiese pogings om met hulle kontak te maak, af te weer, begin in 1884. Na die toppunt van mag in die vroeë 19de eeu, breek die Kuba-federasie egter teen 1900 uitmekaar. , net klein stamme en kortstondige koninkryke bestaan.
Die land wat nou die DRK is, was die laaste streek van Afrika wat deur Europeërs ondersoek is. Die Portugese het dit nooit reggekry om meer as een tot tweehonderd kilometer van die Atlantiese kus af te reis nie. Tientalle pogings is deur ontdekkingsreisigers aangewend om die Kongorivier op te reis, maar stroomversnellings, die ondeurdringbare oerwoud rondom hulle, tropiese siektes en vyandige stamme het selfs die goed toegeruste partye verhoed om verder as die eerste katarak van 160 km die binneland in te reis. Die bekende Britse ontdekkingsreisiger Dr Livingstone het die Lualaba-rivier, wat volgens hom verbind is met die Nyl, maar eintlik die Bo-Kongo is, in die middel van die 1860's begin verken. Na sy beroemde ontmoeting met Henry Morton Stanley in 1867 reis Livingstone met die Kongorivier af na Stanley Pool, wat Kinshasa & Brazzaville nou grens. Van daar af reis hy oorland na die Atlantiese Oseaan.
In België, wou die ywerige koning Leopold II desperaat hê dat België 'n kolonie sou kry om tred te hou met ander Europese moondhede, maar is telkens deur die Belgiese regering gefnuik (hy was 'n konstitusionele monarg). Uiteindelik het hy besluit dat hy self 'n kolonie sou verkry as 'n gewone burger en 'n "humanitêre" organisasie sou organiseer om 'n doel te vestig om die Kongo op te eis, en daarna het hy verskeie skulpondernemings op die been gebring. Intussen het Stanley 'n finansierder gesoek vir sy droomprojek - 'n spoorweg verby die Kongorivier se onderste katarakte, wat stoomers in die boonste gedeelte van 1 000 myl van die Kongo moontlik maak en die rykdom van die 'Heart of Africa' sal oopmaak. Leopold vind 'n wedstryd in Stanley en gee hom die opdrag om 'n reeks forte langs die boonste Kongorivier te bou en soewereiniteit van stamleiers te koop (of diegene wat nie bereid is om dood te maak nie). Verskeie forte is in die Bo-Kongo gebou, met werkers en materiaal wat vanaf Zanzibar gereis het. In 1883 het Stanley dit reggekry om vanaf die Atlantiese Oseaan na Stanley Pool oor land te reis. Toe hy stroomop kom, ontdek hy dat 'n kragtige Zanzibari-slaaf sy werk in die wind kry en die gebied rondom die Lualaba-rivier verower, wat Stanley in staat stel om sy finale fort net onder Stanley Falls te bou. Kisangani).
Kongo Vrystaat
Toe die Europese moondhede Afrika onder mekaar verdeel tydens die konferensie van Berlyn in 1885, onder die paraplu van die Association internationale du Congo, Leopold, die enigste aandeelhouer, het formeel beheer oor die Kongo verkry. Die Kongo Vrystaat is gestig, wat al die moderne DRK bevat. Leopold het nie meer die AIC benodig nie, maar het dit vervang deur 'n groep vriende en kommersiële vennote en het vinnig die rykdom van die Kongo probeer benut. Grond wat nie 'n nedersetting bevat nie, word as eiendom van die Kongo beskou en die staat is verdeel in 'n privaat sone (eksklusiewe eiendom van die staat) en 'n vryhandelsone waar enige Europeër 'n 10-15 jaar huurkontrak kan koop en alle inkomste kan behou. van hulle land af. Leopold was bang dat Brittanje se Kaapkolonie Katanga geannekseer het (en beweer dat die reg daarop nie deur Kongo uitgeoefen is nie) die Trapekspedisie na Katanga. Toe onderhandelinge met die plaaslike Yeke-koninkryk verbrokkel, het die Belge 'n kort oorlog gevoer wat geëindig het met die onthoofding van hul koning. Nog 'n kort oorlog is in 1894 gevoer met die Zanzibari-slawers wat die Lualaba-rivier beset het.
Toe die oorloë geëindig het, wou die Belge nou die wins uit die streke maksimeer. Die salarisse van administrateurs is tot 'n minimum beperk met 'n beloningstelsel van groot kommissies op grond van hul distrikswins, wat later vervang is deur 'n stelsel van kommissies aan die einde van die administratiediens, afhangend van die goedkeuring van hul meerderes. Mense wat in die "Privaat domein" woon wat deur die staat besit word, is verbied om met enigiemand anders as die staat handel te dryf, en hulle moes vasgestelde kwotas van rubber en ivoor teen 'n lae, vaste prys lewer. Rubber in die Kongo is afkomstig van wilde wingerdstokke, en werkers sny dit af, vryf die vloeibare rubber op hul liggame en laat dit afskraap in 'n pynlike proses wanneer dit hard word. Die wilde wingerdstokke is in die proses doodgemaak, wat beteken dat dit al hoe moeiliker is om te vind namate rubberkwotas gestyg het.
Die regering s'n Force Publique hierdie kwotas afgedwing deur gevangenisstraf, marteling, geseling, en die verkragting en verbranding van ongehoorsame / opstandige dorpies. Die gruwelikste daad van die FP was egter die neem van hande. Die straf vir die versuim om aan rubberkwotas te voldoen, was die dood. Bekommerd dat die soldate hul kosbare koeëls op sportjag gebruik, het die bevel vereis dat soldate een hand moet indien vir elke koeël wat gebruik word as bewys dat hulle die koeël gebruik het om iemand dood te maak. Hele dorpe sou omring word en inwoners vermoor word met mandjies met afgekapte hande wat aan bevelvoerders terugbesorg word. Soldate kan bonusse kry en vroeg terugkeer huis toe om meer hande as ander terug te gee, terwyl sommige dorpe wat met onrealistiese rubberkwotas te make het, na naburige dorpe sal toesak om hande in te samel om aan die FP voor te lê om dieselfde lot te vermy. Rubberpryse het in die 1890's opgestyg, wat groot welvaart vir Leopold en die blankes van die Kongo gebring het, maar uiteindelik het laekoste-rubber uit die Amerikas en Asië die pryse laat daal en die werking in die CFS het onwinsgewend geword.
Teen die begin van die eeu het verslae oor hierdie gruweldade Europa bereik. Na 'n paar jaar van suksesvolle oortuiging van die publiek dat hierdie verslae geïsoleerde voorvalle en laster was, het ander Europese lande die aktiwiteite van Leopold in die Kongo-Vrystaat begin ondersoek. Publikasies deur noemenswaardige joernaliste en outeurs (soos die van Conrad Hart van donkerte en Doyle s'n Die misdaad van die Kongo) het die kwessie aan die Europese publiek gebring. Verleë annekseer die regering van België uiteindelik die Kongo-Vrystaat, neem Leopold se besit in en herdoop die staat Belgiese Kongo (om nou van Frans-Kongo te onderskei Republiek van die Kongo). Daar is nooit sensus geneem nie, maar historici skat dat ongeveer die helfte van die Kongo-bevolking, tot 10 miljoen mense, tussen 1885 en 1908 vermoor is.
Belgiese Kongo
Afgesien van die uitskakeling van dwangarbeid en die gepaardgaande strawwe, het die Belgiese regering aanvanklik nie noemenswaardige veranderinge aangebring nie. Om die groot minerale rykdom van die Kongo te benut, het die Belge met die bou van paaie en spoorweë dwarsoor die land begin (waarvan die meeste vandag nog met min onderhoud onderhou). Die Belge het ook gewerk om die Kongolese toegang tot onderwys en gesondheidsorg te gee. Tydens WO II, het die Kongo lojaal gebly aan die Belgiese regering in ballingskap in Londen en troepe gestuur om Italianers in Ethiopië en Duitsers in te betrek Oos-Afrika. Die Kongo het ook een van die wêreld se belangrikste verskaffers van rubber en erts geword. Uraan wat in Belgiese Kongo ontgin is, is na die VSA gestuur en gebruik in die atoombomme wat neergewerp is Hiroshima en Nagasaki dit beëindig die Stille Oseaanoorlog.
Na die Tweede Wêreldoorlog het die Belgiese Kongo vooruitgegaan en was die 1950's van die vreedsaamste jare in die Kongo se geskiedenis. Die Belgiese regering het belê in gesondheidsorggeriewe, infrastruktuur en behuising. Kongolese het die reg verkry om eiendom te koop / verkoop en segregasie het byna verdwyn. 'N Klein middelklas het selfs in die groter stede ontwikkel. Die een ding wat die Belge nie gedoen het nie, was om 'n opgeleide klas swart leiers en staatsamptenare voor te berei. Die eerste verkiesing vir swart kiesers en kandidate is in 1957 in die groter stede gehou. Teen 1959 het die suksesvolle onafhanklikheidsbewegings van ander Afrikalande die Kongolese geïnspireer en oproepe tot onafhanklikheid al hoe harder geword. België wou nie 'n koloniale oorlog hê om die beheer oor die Kongo te behou nie en het 'n handjievol Kongolese politieke leiers uitgenooi vir gesprekke in Brussel in Januarie 1960. Die Belge het 'n 5-6 jaar oorgangsplan in gedagte gehad om parlementêre verkiesings in 1960 te hou en geleidelik te gee administratiewe verantwoordelikheid aan die Kongolese met onafhanklikheid in die middel van 1960. Die noukeurig opgestelde plan is deur die Kongolese verteenwoordiger verwerp en die Belge het uiteindelik toegegee om in Mei verkiesings te hou en op 30 Junie 'n haastige onafhanklikheid te gee. Streeks- en nasionale politieke partye het ontstaan met die eenmalige tronkstrafleier Patrice Lumumba wat as premier en hoof van die regering verkies is.
Onafhanklikheid is op 30 Junie 1960 aan die 'Republiek van die Kongo' (dieselfde naam wat die Franse kolonie Midde-Kongo aangeneem het) verleen. Die dag is gekenmerk deur 'n smal en verbale aanranding op die Belgiese koning, nadat hy die genie van koning Leopold II geprys het. . Binne enkele weke na onafhanklikheid het die weermag in opstand gekom teen wit offisiere en toenemende geweld wat op die oorblywende blankes gerig was, het byna al 80 000 Belge gedwing om uit die land te vlug.
Kongo-krisis
Na onafhanklikheid het die land vinnig uitmekaar geval. Die streek Suid-Kasai het op 14 Junie onafhanklikheid verklaar en die streek Katanga het op 11 Julie onafhanklikheid verklaar onder sterkman Moise Tshombe. Hoewel hy nie 'n marionet van België was nie, is Tshombe baie gehelp deur Belgiese finansiële en militêre hulp. Katanga was in wese 'n neo-koloniale staat, gesteun deur België en die belange van Belgiese mynmaatskappye. Op 14 Julie het die VN-Veiligheidsraad 'n resolusie aangeneem wat 'n VN-vredesmag magtig, en dat België hul oorblywende troepe uit die Kongo sou onttrek. Die Belgiese troepe het vertrek, maar baie offisiere het as betaalde huursoldate gebly en was die sleutel om die aanvalle van die Kongolese leër (wat swak georganiseerd was en skuldig was aan massamoorde en verkragtings) af te weer. President Lumumba het hom tot die USSR gewend vir hulp, met militêre hulp en 1000 Sowjet-adviseurs. 'N VN-mag het opgedaag om die vrede te bewaar, maar het aanvanklik min gedoen. Suid-Kasai is herower ná 'n bloedige veldtog in Desember 1961. Europese huursoldate het van regoor Afrika en selfs van Europa aangekom om die Katangan-leër te help. Die VN-mag het probeer om huursoldate bymekaar te maak en te repatrieer, maar het geen invloed gehad nie. Die VN-missie is uiteindelik verander om Katanga weer met geweld in Kongo te laat inskakel. Vir meer as 'n jaar het die VN- en Katanga-magte in verskillende botsings geveg. VN-magte het die hoofstad van Katanga, Elisabethville, omring en verower (Lubumbashi) in Desember 1962. Teen Januarie 1963 is Tshombe verslaan, die laaste van die buitelandse huursoldate het na Angola gevlug en Katanga is weer in die Kongo geïntegreer.
Intussen het die betrekkinge in Leopoldville (Kinshasa) toenemend gespanne geraak tussen premier Lumumba en president Kasa-Vubu, van opponerende partye. In September 1960 het Kasa-Vubu Lumumba uit sy pos as premier ontslaan. Lumumba het die wettigheid hiervan betwis en Kasa-Vubu as president afgemaak. Lumumba, wat 'n sosialistiese staat wou hê, het hom tot die USSR gewend om hulp te vra. Op 14 September - net twee en 'n half maande ná onafhanklikheid - is die Kongolese weermag-generaal Mobutu onder druk geplaas om in te gryp deur 'n staatsgreep te loods en Lumumba onder huisarres te plaas. Mobutu het geld van die Belgiese en Amerikaanse ambassades ontvang om sy soldate te betaal en hul lojaliteit te wen. Lumumba het ontsnap en na Stanleyville gevlug (Kisangani) voordat hy gevang is en na Elizabethville (Lubumbashi) geneem is waar hy in die openbaar geslaan is, verdwyn het en 3 weke later dood aangekondig is. Later is onthul dat hy in Januarie 1961 tereggestel is in die teenwoordigheid van Belgiese en Amerikaanse amptenare (wat albei probeer het om hom dood te maak sedert hy die USSR om hulp gevra het) en dat die CIA en België aandadig was aan sy teregstelling.
President Kasa-Vubu het aan die bewind gebly en Katanga se Tshombe het uiteindelik premier geword. Lumumbist en Maoïs Pierre Mulele het in 1964 'n rebellie gelei en twee derdes van die land suksesvol beset en hom tot Maoïstiese China gewend vir hulp. Die VSA en België het weer eens betrokke geraak, hierdie keer met 'n klein militêre mag. Mulele gevlug na Kongo-Brazzaville, maar sou later na Kinshasa teruggelok word deur 'n belofte van amnestie deur Mobutu. Mobutu het van sy belofte ontslae geraak, en Mulele is in die openbaar gemartel, sy oë uitgesteek, geslagsdele afgesny en ledemate een vir een geamputeer terwyl hy nog geleef het; sy lyk is toe in die Kongorivier gestort.
Die hele land het wydverspreide konflik en rebellie tussen 1960 en 1965 beleef, wat gelei het tot die benoeming van die Kongo-krisis in hierdie periode.
Mobutu
Generaal Mobutu, 'n geswore antikommunis, het in die hoogtepunt van die Koue Oorlog bevriend geraak met die VSA en België en steeds geld ontvang om sy soldate se lojaliteit te koop. In November 1965 het Mobutu 'n staatsgreep geloods, met Amerikaanse en Belgiese steun agter die skerms, tydens nog 'n magstryd tussen die president en premier. Hy beweer dat "politici" vyf jaar geneem het om die land te verwoes, en het uitgeroep: "Vir vyf jaar is daar geen politieke party meer in die land nie." Die land is in 'n noodtoestand geplaas, die parlement is verswak en gou uitgeskakel, en onafhanklike vakbonde is afgeskaf. In 1967 stig Mobutu die enigste toegelate politieke party (tot 1990), die Popular Movement of the Revolution (MPR), wat gou met die regering saamsmelt sodat die regering effektief 'n funksie van die party word. Teen 1970 was alle bedreigings vir die mag van Mobutu uitgeskakel en in die presidentsverkiesing was hy die enigste kandidaat en kiesers het die keuse gehad om groen vir hoop of rooi vir chaos (Mobutu, groen, wen met 10 131 699 tot 157). 'N Nuwe grondwet wat deur Mobutu en sy makkers opgestel is, is met 97% goedgekeur.
In die vroeë 1970's het Mobutu begin met 'n veldtog bekend as Authenticité, wat voortgegaan het met die nasionalistiese ideologie wat in sy Manifes van N’Sele in 1967. Onder Authenticité is Kongolese beveel om Afrika-name aan te neem, mans het Europese pakke opgegee vir die tradisionele abakost, en geografiese name is verander van koloniale na Afrika-name. Die land het geword Zaire in 1972 word Leopoldville Kinshasa, Elisabethville word Lubumbashi en Stanleyville word Kisangani. Die indrukwekkendste van alles, het Joseph Mobuto geword Mobutu Sese Seko Nkuku Ngbendu Wa Za Banga ("Die almagtige vegter wat vanweë sy uithouvermoë en onbuigsame wil om te wen, van verowering tot verowering gaan en vuur in sy nasleep laat."), Of eenvoudig Mobutu Sese Seko. Onder andere veranderings is alle Kongolese gelyk verklaar en word hiërargiese aanspreekvorme uitgeskakel, en Kongolese moes ander as 'burger' aanspreek, en buitelandse hooggeplaastes word met Afrika-sang en -dans ontmoet eerder as 'n 21-geweer-saluut in Europese styl.
Gedurende die 1970's en 80's het die regering onder die stywe greep van Mobutu gebly, wat voortdurend politieke en militêre leiers geskommel het om mededinging te vermy, terwyl die handhawing van die voorskrifte van Authenticité afgeneem het. Mobutu het geleidelik verander in metodes om mededingers te martel en dood te maak om dit af te koop. Daar is min aandag geskenk aan die verbetering van die lewe van Kongolese. Die enkelpartystaat het in wese gefunksioneer om Mobutu en sy vriende te dien, wat walglik ryk geword het. Onder Mobutu se buitensporighede was 'n aanloopbaan in sy tuisdorp wat lank genoeg was om Concorde-vliegtuie te hanteer wat hy af en toe gehuur het vir amptelike buitelandse reise en inkopies in Europa; hy het na raming meer as US $ 5 miljard in buitelandse rekeninge gehad. Hy het ook gepoog om 'n kultus van persoonlikheid op te bou, met sy beeld oral, 'n verbod op media om enige ander regeringsamptenaar by name te noem (enigste titel), en titels bekendgestel soos 'Vader van die nasie', 'Verlosser van die volk'. en 'Supreme Combatant'. Ondanks sy Sowjet-styl enkelpartystaat en outoritêre regering, was Mobutu vokaal antikommunisties, en met die vrees dat die Sowjet-marionetregerings in Afrika sou opstaan (soos die naburige Angola), het die VSA en ander Westelike Blokmoondhede steeds ekonomiese hulp en politieke steun verleen aan die Mobutu-bewind.
Toe die Koue Oorlog kwyn, het internasionale steun aan Mobutu plek gemaak vir kritiek op sy bewind. In die geheim het binnelandse opposisiegroepe begin groei en die Kongolese volk het teen die regering en die mislukte ekonomie begin protesteer. In 1990 is die eerste veelpartyverkiesing gehou, maar die verandering het weinig gedoen. Onbetaalde soldate het Kinshasa in 1991 begin oproer en plunder en die meeste buitelanders is ontruim. Uiteindelik het 'n mededingende regering ontstaan uit gesprekke met die opposisie, wat gelei het tot 'n dooiepunt en wanfunksionele regering.
Eerste en tweede Kongo-oorloë
Teen die middel van die negentigerjare was dit duidelik dat die heerskappy van Mobutu naby was. Die internasionale gemeenskap het hom nie meer beïnvloed deur die Koue Oorlog-politiek nie. Intussen het die ekonomie van Zaïre in die slag gebly (en dit is tot vandag toe nog min verbeter). Die sentrale regering het 'n swak beheer oor die land gehad en talle opposisiegroepe het gevorm en hul toevlug gevind in Oos-Zaire, ver van Kinshasa.
Die Kivu-streek was lank die tuiste van etniese twis tussen die verskillende 'inheemse' stamme en die Tutsi's wat in die laat 19de eeu deur die Belge uit Rwanda gebring is. Verskeie klein konflikte het sedert die onafhanklikheid voorgekom, wat duisende sterftes tot gevolg gehad het. Maar toe die Rwandese volksmoord in 1994 in die naburige Rwanda plaasgevind het, het meer as 1,5 miljoen etniese Tutsi- en Hutu-vlugtelinge na Oos-Saïre gevloei. Militante Hutu's - die vernaamste aanvallers in die volksmoord - het sowel die Tutsi-vlugtelinge as die Kongolese Tutsi-bevolking (die Banyamulenge) en het ook milisies gevorm om aanvalle in Rwanda te loods in die hoop om weer daar aan bewind te kom. Mobutu het nie net die geweld stopgesit nie, maar het ook die Hutu's ondersteun vir 'n inval in Rwanda. In 1995 beveel die Zairiese parlement dat alle mense van Rwandese of Burundiese afkoms moet terugkeer om terug te keer om terug te keer. Die Tutsi-geleide Rwandese regering het intussen begin om Tutsi-milisies in Zaire op te lei en te ondersteun.
In Augustus 1996 het gevegte uitgebreek en die Tutsi's wat in die Kivu-provinsies woon, het 'n rebellie begin met die doel om beheer oor Noord- en Suid-Kivu te verkry en die Hutu-milisies te beveg wat hulle steeds aanval. Die rebellie het spoedig steun van die plaaslike inwoners gekry en baie opposisiegroepe van Saïre versamel, wat uiteindelik as die Alliansie van Demokratiese magte vir die bevryding van Kongo (AFDL) met die doel om Mobutu af te sit. Teen die einde van die jaar het die rebelle, met die hulp van Rwanda en Uganda, daarin geslaag om 'n groot deel van Oos-Zaire te beheer wat Rwanda en Uganda teen Hutu-aanvalle beskerm het. Die Zairiese weermag was swak en toe Angola vroeg in 1997 troepe gestuur het, het die rebelle die vertroue gekry om die res van die land in te neem en Mobutu af te sit. Teen Mei was die rebelle naby Kinshasa en het Lubumbashi gevange geneem. Toe vredesamesprekings tussen partye verbrokkel, het Mobutu gevlug en Laurent-Desire Kabila, leier van die AFDL, het na Kinshasa opgeruk. Kabila het die land se naam verander na die Demokratiese Republiek van die Kongo, gepoog om die orde te herstel en buitelandse troepe in 1998 verdryf.
In Augustus 1998 het 'n muitery onder Tutsi-soldate in Goma uitgebreek en 'n nuwe rebellegroep is gevorm wat beheer oor 'n groot deel van die Oosterse DRK geneem het. Kabila het hom tot Hutu-milisies gewend om die nuwe rebelle te help onderdruk. Rwanda beskou dit as 'n aanval op die Tutsi-bevolking en stuur troepe oor die grens vir hul beskerming. Aan die einde van die maand het die rebelle 'n groot deel van die Oostelike DRK saam met 'n klein gebied naby die hoofstad gehou, insluitend die Inga-dam wat hulle in staat gestel het om elektrisiteit na Kinshasa af te sluit. Toe dit gelyk het of Kabila se regering en die hoofstad Kinshasa onder die rebelle sou val, het Angola, Namibië en Zimbabwe ingestem om Kabila te verdedig en troepe uit Zimbabwe het net betyds opgedaag om die hoofstad teen 'n rebelle-aanval te beskerm; Tsjaad, Libië en Soedan het ook troepe gestuur om Kabila te help. Toe 'n dooiepunt naderkom, stem die buitelandse regerings wat betrokke was by die geveg in die DRK in Januarie 1999 in tot 'n skietstilstand, maar omdat die rebelle nie 'n ondertekenaar was nie, het die gevegte voortgeduur.
In 1999 het die rebelle opgebreek in talle faksies wat ooreenstem met die etiese of pro-Uganda / pro-Rwanda-lyn. 'N Vredesverdrag onder die ses strydende state (DRK, Angola, Namibië, Zimbabwe, Rwanda en Uganda) en een rebellegroep is in Julie onderteken en almal het ooreengekom om die geveg te beëindig en alle rebellegroepe op te spoor en te ontwapen, veral dié wat verband hou met die 1994. Rwandese volksmoord. Die gevegte het voortgeduur terwyl pro-Rwanda en pro-Uganda-faksies op mekaar toegesak het en die VN vroeg in 2000 'n vredesmissie (MONUC) goedgekeur het.
In Januarie 2001 is president Laurent Kabila deur 'n lyfwag geskiet en is hy later dood. Hy is vervang deur sy seun Joseph Kabila. Die rebelle het voortgegaan om in kleiner faksies op te breek en naas die DRK en buitelandse leërs teen mekaar te veg. Baie rebelle het daarin geslaag om fondse in te win deur die smokkel van diamante en ander 'konflikminerale' (soos koper, sink en coltan) uit die streke wat hulle beset het, baie keer deur dwang- en kinderarbeid in gevaarlike omstandighede. Die DRK het in 2002 vredesooreenkomste met Rwanda en Uganda onderteken. In Desember 2002 onderteken die hooffaksies die Globale en allesomvattende ooreenkoms om die gevegte te beëindig. Die ooreenkoms het 'n DRK-oorgangsregering tot stand gebring wat die land sou herenig, rebellefaksies sou integreer en ontwapen, en in 2005 verkiesings sou hou vir 'n nuwe grondwet en politici met Joseph Kabila wat nog president sou wees. Die VN se vredesmag het baie groter geword en het die taak gehad om rebelle te ontwapen, waarvan baie hul eie milisies behou het lank na 2003. Konflik bly in die provinsies Noord- en Suid-Kivu, Ituri en die noorde van Katanga.
Tydens die geveg het die Eerste Kongo-oorlog gelei tot 250,000-800,000 dood. Die Tweede Kongo-oorlog het gelei tot meer as 350,000 gewelddadige sterftes (1998-2001) en 2,7-5,4 miljoen "oortollige sterftes" as gevolg van hongersnood en siekte onder vlugtelinge as gevolg van die oorlog (1998-2008), wat dit die dodelikste konflik in die wêreld sedert die einde van die Tweede Wêreldoorlog.
Moderne DRK
Joseph Kabila remained president of a transitional government until nationwide elections were held in 2006 for a new Constitution, Parliament, & President with major financial and technical support from the international community. Kabila won (and was re-elected in 2011). While corruption has been greatly reduced and politics have become more inclusive of minority political views, the country remains little improved from its condition at the end of Mobutu's rule. The DRC has the dubious distinction of having the lowest or second-lowest GDP per capita in the world (only Somalia ranks lower) and the economy remains poor. China has sought a number of mining claims, many of which are paid for by building infrastructure (railroads, roads) and facilities like schools & hospitals. The UN and many NGOs have a very large presence in the Kivu provinces, but despite a large amount of aid money, many still live in refugee camps and survive on foreign/UN aid. Fighting in Kivu & Ituri waned by the end of the decade, although many former militia members remain militant. Few have been tried and convicted for war crimes, although many former rebel leaders are accused of crimes against humanity & the use of child soldiers.
Soldiers formerly members of a militia that fought in Kivu from 2006 until a peace agreement in 2009 mutinied in April 2012 and a new wave of violence followed as they took control of a large area along the Uganda/Rwanda borders. Rwanda has been accused of backing this M23 movement and the UN is investigating their possible involvement.
Climate
The country straddles the Equator, with one-third to the north and two-thirds to the south. As a result of this equatorial location, the Congo experiences large amounts of precipitation and has the highest frequency of thunderstorms in the world. The annual rainfall can total upwards of 80 inches (2,032 mm) in some places, and the area sustains the second largest rain forest in the world (after that of the Amazon). This massive expanse of lush jungle covers most of the vast, low-lying central basin of the river, which slopes toward the Atlantic Ocean in the west. This area is surrounded by plateaus merging into savannahs in the south and southwest, by mountainous terraces in the west, and dense grasslands extending beyond the Congo River in the north. High, glaciated mountains are found in the extreme eastern region.
Lees
- Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad. A short novel published in 1903 based on the experiences of Conrad while working in the Congo Free State.
- Through the Dark Continent by Henry Morton Stanley. An 1878 book documenting his trip down the Congo River.
- King Leopold's Ghost by Adam Hochschild. A non-fiction popular history book which examines the activities of Leopold and the men who ran the Congo Free State. A best-seller with 400,000 copies printed since publication in 1998. It is the basis of a 2006 documentary of the same name.
- Blood River: A Journey to Africa's Broken Heart by Tim Butcher. The author carefully retraces the route of Stanley's expedition in Through the Dark Continent and describes the challenges he faces.
- Dancing in the Glory of Monsters by Jason Stearns. Written by a member of the UN panel investigating Congolese rebels, this is a meticulously researched yet accessible account of the Congo wars.
People
More than 200 ethnic groups live in the Democratic Republic of Congo, including the Kongo, Mongo, Mangbetu, Azande, and Luba, who constitute 45% of the population of the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Holidays
- January 1 - New Year's Day
- January 4 - Martyrs Day
- Easter - moveable
- May 17 - Liberation Day
- June 30 - Independence Day
- August 1 - Parents Day
- November 17 - Army Day
- December 25 - Christmas
- December 30 - St. Paul's Day
Gaan in
Entry requirements
As with a lot of countries in Africa, the DRC offers very few visa-free arrangements, and thus visas are required for virtually all nationalities.
Citizens of Burundi, Rwanda en Zimbabwe can enter the DRC visa free for up to 90 days. Citizens of Kenya, Mauritius en Tanzania can obtain a visa on arrival, valid for only 7 days.
You can find the visa requirements on the Interior Ministry website (in French). However, getting a visa—like most government services—isn't straightforward and can be a messy process, with different officials telling you different stories in different places around the country and at different embassies/consulates worldwide. And then there are immigration officials trying to get more money out of you for their own gain. What follows are the requirements that seem to be in place as of June 2012, although you may hear stories telling you otherwise.
If arriving by air (Kinshasa or Lubumbashi), you will need to have a visa before arrival and proof of yellow fever vaccination. Visas on arrival are not issued, or at least not commonly enough that you risk being placed on the next plane back. You should also have one passport-sized photograph, and evidence that you have sufficient funds to cover your stay, which includes evidence of a hotel reservation. The requirements and costs for visas vary from embassy to embassy, with some requiring a letter of invitation, others an onward air ticket, proof of funds for travel, and others nothing beyond an application. If planning to get a visa in a third country (e.g.: an American arriving by air from Ethiopia), wait for a visa before booking the airfare, since DRC embassies in some African countries only issue visas to citizens or residents of that country.
As for arriving overland, you're best off if your home country doesn't have a DRC embassy (such as Australia & New Zealand) in which case you can apply for a visa in neighbouring countries without too much trouble. If your passport is from a country with a DRC embassy then embassies in neighbouring countries (Uganda, Rwanda, etc.) may tell you that you can only apply for a visa in your country of citizenship or residence.
If you're entering the DRC from Uganda or Rwanda (especially at Goma), the visa process seems different for everyone. You can apply for a visa at the embassies in Kigali, Kampala, or Nairobi with a 1-7 day turnaround for US$50–80. Applying for a transit visa at the border no longer appears to be practical. Travellers trying to get a visa at the border have been asked for as much as US$500! (2012). The actual cost depends on who's working at the post that day, your nationality, and how persistent you are, with US$100 seeming to be the real price, but many being told US$200–300 either as just the "fee" or a fee plus "tip" for the officials. These visas are either "transit" visas valid for 7 days or visas only valid to visit the Goma and border areas. Given the bad security situation in North/South Kivu, you probably shouldn't venture outside Goma or the national parks anyways. If you visit Virunga National Park (official site), you can get a visa for USD50 and apply on-line or through your tour operator. If you can't get a visa at Goma for a reasonable price, you can travel south and try to cross at Bukavu and take a boat across the lake to Goma (do not go by road: too dangerous). Also, be sure if you cross the border to the DRC immigration post, you have officially left Uganda or Rwanda, so ensure you have a multiple-entry visa before leaving.
When exiting the country by air, there is a US$50 departure tax that you'll need to pay in cash at the airport. If you travel by boat from Kinshasa to Brazzaville, you must have a special exit permit and a visa for Congo-Brazzaville. To save time, money and stress, you should probably contact your embassy in Kinshasa before taking the ferry.
Met die vliegtuig
The main gateway to the DRC is Kinshasa-N'djili airport (FIH IATA). Built in 1953, it hasn't had much in the way of upgrades and certainly doesn't rank among the continent's better airports.
Van Africa: South African Airways, Kenyan Airways, Ethiopian Airlines, & Royal Air Maroc serve Kinshasa-N'djili multiple times a week from Johannesburg, Nairobi, Addis Ababa, & Casablanca (via Douala), respectively.
Other African airlines serving Kinshasa-N'Djili are: Afriqiyah Airways (Tripoli); Air Mali (Douala, Bamako); Benin Gulf Air (Cotonou, Pointe-Noire); Camair-co (Douala); CAA (Entebe); Ethiopian/ASKY (Brazzaville, Cotonou, Douala, Lagos, Lome); RwandAir (Kigali); TAAG Angola Airways (Luanda); Zambezi Airlines (Lusaka).
Van Europe: Air France & Brussels Airlines have regular direct flights. Turkish Airlines will begin service from Istanbul in August 2012. You can also try booking travel through one of the major African airlines like Eithiopian, South African, Kenyan, or Royal Air Maroc.
The DRC's second city Lubumbashi (FBM IATA) has an international airport served by Ethiopian Airlines (Lilongwe, Addis Ababa), Kenya Airways (Harare, Nairobi), Korongo (Johannesburg), Precision Air (Dar es Salaam, Lusaka), & South African Express (Johannesburg).
Other airports with international service are Goma (GOM IATA) with service by CAA to Entebbe (Kampala) & Kisangani (FKI IATA) which is served by Kenya Airways from Nairobi.
Met die trein
There are no international passenger trains from neighboring countries, and limited freight traffic, despite two international railway lines, one from Angola and one from Zambia into the Katanga region. Lines are in various state of disrepair and others are simple abandoned. While some repairs, mainly with Chinese help, have taken place it's unlikely that new cross-border services will materialize in the next few years. However, for the intrepid traveler it's possible to catch a train to the border town of Luao, in Eastern Angola, and cross the border by other means. There are also trains to Kitwe en Ndola in die Copperbelt of northern Zambia, from where it's possible to cross the border.
Met die motor
The roads as a whole are too rocky or muddy for cars without 4 wheel drive. Decent paved roads connect the Katanga region with Zambia and Kinshasa down to Matadi and Angola. Roads enter the DRC from Uganda, Rwanda, & Burundi, although travelling far past the border is very difficult and parts of the Eastern DRC remain unsafe. There are ferries to take vehicles across the Congo River from Congo-Brazzaville and it may be possible to find a ferry from the CAR to the remote, unpaved roads of the northern DRC. Do not entirely trust your map. Many display an unfortunate wishful thinking. Roads are frequently washed out by rains, or were simply never built in the first place. Ask a local or a guide whether or not a route is passable.
Met die bus
From Uganda to Congo via Bunagana Kisoro Border.There are many buses which operate daily between Bunagana /Uganda and Goma every day 07:00-13:00. Prices for the bus is USD5. A valid visa for both countries is required in either direction. Entry and exit procedures at Bunagana border are "easy" and straight forward, and people are very helpful in assisting visitors to get through without troubles.
Per boot
Passenger and VIP ferries also locally known as 'Carnot Rapide' operate daily between Brazzaville and Kinshasa roughly every two hours 08:00-15:00. Prices for the ferries are: USD15 for the passenger and USD25 for the VIP ferry (Carnot Rapide). The latter is recommended as these are brand new boats and not cramped. A valid visa for both countries is required in either direction as well as (at least "officially") a special permit. The bureaucracy at either end require some time. Entry and exit procedures in Brazzaville are "easy" and straight forward and people are very helpful in assisting to get through without troubles. In contrast, these procedures are a bit difficult in Kinshasa and depend much on whether you are an individual traveller or assisted by an organisation or an official government representative.
There are also speed boats to hire, either in a group or alone (price!), however, it is not advisable to book them as they really speed across the river along the rapids.
Kry rond
Met die vliegtuig
Due to the immense size of the country, the terrible state of the roads and the poor security situation, the only way to get around the country quickly is by plane. This is not to say that it's safe — Congolese planes crash with depressing regularity, with eight recorded crashes in 2007 alone — but it's still a better alternative to travelling overland or by boat.
The largest and longest-operating carrier is Compagnie Africain d'Aviation, with service to Goma, Kananga, Kindu, Kinshasa-N'djili, Kisangani, Lubumbashi, Mbandaka, Mbuji-Maya, & Entebbe(Kampala), Uganda.
Formed in 2011, Stellar Airlines operates one Airbus A320 plane between Kinshasa-N'djili and Goma and Lubumbashi.
FlyCongo was formed in 2012 from the remnants of former national airline Hewa Bora, operating from Kinshasa-N'djili to Gemena, Goma, Kisangani, Lubumbashi, & Mbandaka.
Air Kasaï operates from Kinshasa-N'Dolo to Beni, Bunia, Goma, & Lubumbashi.
Congo Express was formed in 2010 and flies only between Lubumbashi and Kinshasa.
Wimbi Dira Airways was once the second-largest carrier, but does not appear to be operating as of June 2012. Others that may or may not be operating are: Air Tropiques, Filair, Free Airlines, and Malift Air all operating out of Kinshasa-N'Dolo airport.
By truck
As smaller vehicles are unable to negotiate what remains of the roads, a lot of travel in the Congo is done by truck. If you go to a truck park, normally near the market, you should be able to find a truck driver to take you where ever you want, conflict zones aside. You travel on top of the load with a large number of others. If you pick a truck carrying bags of something soft like peanuts it can be quite comfortable. Beer trucks are not. If the trip takes days then comfort can be vital, especially if the truck goes all night. It helps to sit along the back, as the driver will not stop just because you want the toilet. The cost has to be negotiated so ask hotel staff first and try not to pay more than twice the local rate. Sometimes the inside seat is available. Food can be bought from the driver, though they normally stop at roadside stalls every 5/6 hours. Departure time are normally at the start or end of the day, though time is very flexible. It helps to make arrangements the day before. It is best to travel with a few others. Women should never ever travel alone. Some roads have major bandit problems so check carefully before going.
At army checkpoints locals are often hassled for bribes. Foreigners are normally left alone, but prepare some kind of bribe just in case. By the middle of the afternoon the soldiers can be drunk so be very careful and very polite. Never lose your temper.
By ferry
A ferry on the Congo River operates, if security permits, from Kinshasa to Kisangani, every week or two. You can pick it up at a few stops en route, though you have to rush as it doesn't wait. A suitable bribe to the ferry boss secures a four bunk cabin and cafeteria food. The ferry consists of 4 or so barges are tied around a central ferry, with the barges used as a floating market. As the ferry proceeds wood canoes paddled by locals appear from the surrounding jungle with local produce - vegetables, pigs, monkeys, etc. - which are traded for industrial goods like medicine or clothes. You sit on the roof watching as wonderful African music booms out. Of course it is not clean, comfortable or safe. It is however one of the world's great adventures.
Met die trein
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The few trains which still operate in the DRC are in very poor condition and run on tracks laid by the Belgian colonial government over a half century ago. The rolling stock is very old and dilapidated. You are lucky to get a hard seat and even luckier if your train has a dining car (which probably has limited options that run out halfway through the trip). Expect the car to be overcrowded with many sitting on the roof. Trains in the DRC operate on an erratic schedule due to lack of funds or fuel and repairs/breakdowns that are frequent. On many lines, there can be 2–3 weeks between trains. If there's any upside, there haven't been too many deaths due to derailments (probably less than have died in airplane crashes in the DRC). There's really no way to book a train ride in advance; simply show up at the station and ask the stationmaster when the next train will run and buy a ticket on the day it leaves. The Chinese government in return for mining rights has agreed to construct US$9 billion in railroads and highways, but there is little to show for this as of 2012.
As of 2019, the following lines are in operation...but as mentioned above, that doesn't imply frequent service:
- Kinshasa-Matadi — The busiest and best equipped route in the whole country. As of 2019 there is one "express" service per week in each direction. Trains are semi-modern and has both a first-class carriages and a dining car. The railway line was first built in the 1890s and is infamous for the enormous human cost, where thousands of the forced laborers perished.
- Lubumbashi-Ilebo — Possible weekly service, with the journey taking 6–8 days. In 2007, the Chinese agreed to extend the line to Kinshasa, but current progress in unknown. Ilebo lies at the end of the navigable portion of the Kasai River, allowing travellers to transfer to ferry to reach Western DRC.
- Kamina-Kindu — Unusable after the war, this line has been rehabilitated. The line connects with the Lubumbashi-Ilebo line, so there may be trains running from Lubumbashi-Kindu.
- Kisangani-Ubundu — A portage line to bypass the Stanley Falls on the Congo, service only runs when there is freight to carry when a boat arrives at either end which may be once every 1–2 months. There are no passenger ferries from Ubundu to Kindu, but you may be able to catch a ride on a cargo boat.
- Bumba-Isiro — An isolated, narrow-gauge line in the northern jungles, service has restarted on a small western section from Bumba-Aketi (and possibly Buta). There were reports of trains running in the eastern section in 2008, but this part is most likely abandoned.
Lines that are most likely inoperable or very degraded/abandoned are:
- A branch of the Lubumbashi-Ilebo line that runs to the Angolan border. It once connected with Angola's Benguela railway and ran to the Atlantic until the 1970s when the Angolan side was destroyed by a civil war. The western half of the Benguela railway, in Angola has been rehabilitated and trains run up to the border with DRC.
- The Kabalo-Kalemie line runs from the Kamina-Kindu line at Kabalo to Kalemie on Lake Tanganyika. The easternmost section has been abandoned. Although unlikely, there may be service on the western half of the line.
Praat
French is the lingua franca of the country and nearly everyone has a basic to moderate understanding of French. In Kinshasa and much of the Western DRC, nearly everyone is fluent in French with Kinshasa being the second or third largest French-speaking city in the world (depending on your source), although locals may be heard speaking Lingala amongst themselves. Much of the eastern half speaks Swahili as a regional language. The other major regional languages in the country are Kikongo en Tshiluba, and the Congo also has a wide range of smaller local languages. Like the regional languages, the local languages are mostly in the Bantu family. If you are travelling to the southwestern border near Angola you can find some Portugees speakers.
Sien
The "Academie des Beaux-Arts" is often considered a touristic site and is in itself and with its gallery a good place to meet the famous artists of this country. Big names like Alfred Liyolo, Lema Kusa oder Roger Botembe are teaching here as well as the only purely abstract working artist Henri Kalama Akulez, whose private studio is worth a visit.
Doen
Congo is the centre of popular African music. Try visiting a local bar or disco, in Bandal or Matonge (both in Kinshasa), if possible with live soukouss music, and just hit the dance floor!
Koop
There are some supermarkets in Gombe commune of Kinshasa that sell food and drinks, soap, kitchen devices and bazar: City Market, Peloustore, Kin Mart, Hasson's.
SIM cards and prepaid recharge for mobile phones are available in the street and at Ndjili airport, at a reasonable price.
Geld
Exchange rates for Congolese franc As of January 2021:
Exchange rates fluctuate. Current rates for these and other currencies are available from XE.com |
The local currency is the Congolese franc, sometimes abbreviated FC and sometimes just with a capital F placed after the amount (ISO international currency code: CDF). The currency is freely convertible (but impossible to get rid of outside the country).
Banknotes are issued in denominations of FC50, 100, 200, 500, 1,000, 5,000, 10,000 and 20,000. The only Congolese bank notes in circulation in most places are the 50, 100, 200 and 500 franc notes. They are almost worthless, as the highest valued banknote (the 500 franc note) is worth only about US$0.55.
US dollars in denominations above US$2 are much preferred to francs. In contrast, US coins and one and two US dollar bills are considered worthless. If you pay in dollars, you will get change in francs. Though francs may sometimes come as notes so old they feel like fabric, US dollar bills must be crisp (less than 3 folds) and be printed in or after 2003, or they will not be accepted.
In some shops, the symbol FF is used to mean 1,000 francs.
MasterCard/Maestro ATMs are available now in Kinshasa at the "Rawbank" on boulevard du 30 Juin (Gombe District), and in Grand Hotel. It dispenses US dollars. Visa card is also usable with "Procredit" bank ATMs in Kinshasa, avenue des Aviateurs, or outside in front of Grand Hotel (only US$20 and US$100 bills).
You can withdraw money with a Mastercard or Visa card at all Ecobank or Equity banks ATMs in DRC.
Eet
Congo has one national dish: moambe. It's made of eight ingredients (moambe is the Lingala word for eight): palm nuts, chicken, fish, peanuts, rice, cassave leaves, bananas and hot pepper sauce.
Drink
The usual soft drinks (called sucré in Congo) such as Coke, Pepsi and Mirinda are available in most places and are safe to drink. Local drinks like Vitalo are amazing. Traditional drinks like ginger are also common.
The local beer is based on rice, and tastes quite good. It comes in 75 cl bottles. Primus, Skol, Castel are the most common brands. Tembo, Doppel are the local dark beers.
In rural areas, you may try the local palm wine, an alcoholic beverage from the sap of the palm tree. It is tapped right from the tree, and begins fermenting immediately after collection. After two hours, fermentation yields an aromatic wine of up to 4% alcohol content, mildly intoxicating and sweet. The wine may be allowed to ferment longer, up to a day, to yield a stronger, more sour and acidic taste, which some people prefer.
Beware of the local gin. Sometimes unscrupulous vendors mix in methanol which is toxic and can cause blindness. Some people believe that the methanol is a by product of regular fermentation. This is not the case as regular fermentation can not yield methanol in toxic amounts.
Slaap
There are more and more hotels in Kinshasa, with smaller hotels available in Gombe and Ngaliema area.In many small towns the local church or monastery may have beds available. You may also encounter the occasional decaying colonial hotel. Not all are safe.
Bly veilig
See also Oorlogsone veiligheid en Tips for travel in developing countries.
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DR Congo remains one of the most underdeveloped countries in Africa and a significant portion of the DRC is not safe for any travel or sightseeing. In addition to active conflicts, the country has very limited health care and tourism facilities, even by African standards.
The Democratic Republic of the Congo has seen more than its fair share of violence. A number of ongoing wars, conflicts, and episodes of fighting have occurred since independence, with sporadic, regional violence continuing today. As a result, significant sections of the country should be considered off-limits to travellers.
In the northeastern part of the country, the LRA (of child-soldier & 'Kony' fame) continues to roam the jungles near the border with the CAR/South Sudan/Uganda. Although a few areas very close to the Ugandan border are relatively safe to visit, travel anywhere north and east of Kisangani & Bumba is dangerous.
The regions of North & South Kivu have been in a state of continuous conflict since the early 1990s. The days of the notoriously bloody violence that occurred during the First and Second Congo Wars (during which 5 million died in fighting or through resulting disease/famine) officially ended with a peace treaty in 2003. However, low-level violence spurred by several warlords/factions has occurred ever since and this region is home to the largest UN peacekeeping mission in the world (as of 2012). Hundreds of thousands live in refugee camps near Goma. In April 2012, a new faction—"M23"—arose, led by Gen.Ntaganda (wanted by the ICC for war crimes) and has captured/attacked many towns in the region, where they are accused of killing civilians and raping women. This has been the most serious crisis since the end of war in 2003. In mid-July, they threatened to invade Goma to protect the Tutsi population there from "harassment"; the UN peacekeeping mission quickly responded that they would reposition 19,000 peacekeepers to protect Goma & nearby refugee camps. How serious the threat of fighting in Goma remains to be seen BBC report) The only safe areas in North/South Kivu are the cities of Goma & Bukavu and Virunga National Park, all on the Rwandan border.
The dangers to visitors are far beyond conflicts, though. After Somalia, the DRC is most likely the least developed country in Africa. The road network is pathetic. The country's roads are in very poor condition and travel over long distances by road can take weeks, especially during the wetter months. Even some of the country's "main" roads are little more than mud tracks that can only be travelled by 4x4 or 6x6 trucks. The DRC has just 2250 km of sealed roads, of which the UN considers only 1226 km to be in "good" condition. To put this in perspective, the road distance east-west across the country in any direction is over 2500 km (e.g. Matadi to Lubumbashi is 2700 by road)! Another comparison is that there are just 35 km of paved highway per 1 000 000 people—Zambia (one of the poorest African countries) and Botswana (one of the richest) have 580 km and 3427 km per 1 000 000 people, respectively. Public transportation is almost non-existent and the primary means of travel is catching a ride on an old, overloaded truck where several paying passengers are allowed to sit atop the cargo. This is very dangerous.
Congolese planes crash with depressing regularity, with eight recorded crashes in 2007 alone. Despite this, the risks of air travel remain on par with travel by road, barge, or rail. The notorious Hewa Bora airlines has gone out of business and the creation of a handful of new airlines between 2010 and 2012 should lead to improvement in the safety of air travel in the DRC. Avoid at all costs, old Soviet aircraft that are often chartered to carry cargo and perhaps a passenger or two and stick with the commercial airlines operating newer aircraft (listed above under "Get around/By plane"). If you are still fearful of getting on a Congolese plane and aren't as concerned about cost, you can try flying with a foreign carrier such as Kenyan Airways (which flies to Kinshasa, Lubumbashi, & Kisangani) or Ethiopian (Kinshasha, Lubumbashi). Just be sure to check the visa requirements to transit.
Travel by river boat or barge remains somewhat risky, although safer than by road. Overcrowded barges have sunk and aging boats have capsized travelling along the Congo River, resulting in hundreds of deaths. Before catching a ride, take a look at the vessel you will be boarding and if you don't feel safe, it is better to wait for the next boat, even if you must wait several days. Most of the country's rail network is in disrepair, with little maintenance carried out since the Belgians left. A few derailings have occurred, resulting in large numbers of casualties. Trains in the DRC are also overloaded, don't even think about joining the locals riding on the roof!
Crime is a serious problem across much of the country. During the waning years of Mobutu's rule, Kinshasa had one of the highest murder rates in the world and travel to Kinshasa was comparable to Baghdad during the Iraq War! While violence has subsided considerably, Kinshasa remains a high crime city (comparable to Lagos or Abidjan). Keep anything that can be perceived as valuable by a Congolese out of sight when in vehicles, as smash-and-grab crime at intersections occurs. Markets in larger cities are rife with pickpockets. Keep in mind that the DRC remains among the 3-4 poorest countries in Africa and compared to the locals, every white person is perceived as rich. Be vigilant of thieves in public places. If travelling in remote areas, smaller villages are usually safer than larger ones. Hotel rooms outside the biggest cities often don't have adequate safety (like flimsy locks on doors or ground-level windows that don't lock or have curtains).
Taking photos in public can be cause for suspicion. By some accounts, an official permit is needed to take photos in the DRC. Actually they will likely be difficult or impossible to find or obtain. Do not photograph anything that can be perceived as a national security threat, such as bridges, roadblocks, border crossings, and government buildings.
Additionally, the DRC has very poor health care infrastructure/facilities. Outside the capital Kinshasa, there are very few hospitals or clinics for sick or injured travellers to visit. If you are travelling on one of the country's isolated, muddy roads or along the Congo River, you could be over a week away from the nearest clinic or hospital! A number of tropical diseases are present—see "Stay healthy" below.
Those visiting for business, research, or international aid purposes should consult with their organization and seek expert guidance before planning a trip. Travellers visiting on their own should consult the advice of your embassy for any travel to the DRC.
Stay healthy
Sien ook: Tropiese siektes, Malaria, Dengue fever, Yellow fever, & Mosquitoes.
Medical facilities in the DRC are in extremely poor condition.
Ebola Virus – a virus which killed 49 people in DRC during a three-month outbreak in 2014 – remains present in the equatorial forest region of Bas-Uele province (bordering Central African Republic/CAR). On 1 August 2018, the Ministry of Health of the Democratic Republic of the Congo declared a new outbreak of Ebola virus disease in North Kivu and Ituri Provinces. Travellers should avoid eating bushmeat, avoid contact with persons that appear ill, practice good personal hygiene and seek medical advice before travel. As of September 2019, this outbreak is still ongoing with more than 3,000 cases and 2,000 deaths.
You will need a yellow fever vaccination in order to enter the country by air (this requirement is often ignored at land entry points, particularly the smaller ones). There are health officials at some major entry points, such as the airport in Kinshasa, who check this before you are allowed to enter.
Congo is malarial, although slightly less in the Kivu region due to the altitude, so use insect repellent and take the necessary precautions such as sleeping under mosquito nets. The riverside areas (such as Kinshasa) are quite prone to malaria.
If you need emergency medical assistance, it is advised that you go to your nation's embassy. The embassy doctors are normally willing and skilled enough to help. There are safe hospitals in Kinshasa, like "CMK" (Centre Medical de Kinshasa), which is private and was established by European doctors (a visit costs around US$20). Another private and non-profit hospital is Centre Hospitalier MONKOLE, in Mont-Ngafula district, with European and Congolese doctors. Dr Léon Tshilolo, a paediatrician trained in Europe and one of the African experts in sickle-cell anaemia, is the Monkole Medical Director.
Drink lots of water when outside. The heat and close proximity to the equator can easily give those not acclimated heatstroke after just a few hours outside without water. There are many pharmacies that are very well supplied but prices are a few times higher than in Europe.
Do not drink tap water. Bottled water seems to be cheap enough, but sometimes hard to find for a good price.
Respect
Photography is officially illegal without an official permit — the last known price for it was US$60. Even with this permit, photography is very difficult with the Congolese becoming extremely upset when photographed without permission or when one is taking a picture of a child. These confrontations can be easily diffused by apologizing profusely and not engaging in the argument. Sometimes a small bribe might be needed to "grease the wheels" as well.
Never under any circumstances photograph government buildings or structures. This includes but is not limited to police stations, presidential palaces, border crossings, and anywhere in the airport. You will be detained by police if caught and unable to bribe them for your transgression.
When motorcades pass, all vehicular traffic is expected to provide a clear path. Do not photograph these processions.
At dawn and dusk (c. 06:00 and 18:00 daily), the national flag is raised and lowered. All traffic and pedestrians are required to stop for this ceremony, with reports indicating that those who do not are detained by security personnel.