General Information on the DRC
Basic Facts
- Map courtesy of the University of Texas. Click for the full map.
- Population: 52.7 million (UN 2003)
- Capital: Kinshasa
- Administrative subdivisions: 10 provinces (provinces, singular - province) and one city* (ville); Bandundu, Bas-Congo, Equateur, Kasai-Occidental, Kasai-Oriental, Katanga, Kinshasa*, Maniema, Nord-Kivu, Orientale, Sud-Kivu (CIA Factbook 2003)
- Average annual income: US $80 (World Bank, 2001)
- Legal system: based on Belgian civil law system and tribal law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction (CIA Factbook 2003)
Ratified Regional and International Treaties
- International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (CCPR): ratified 01 February 1977
- International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (CESCR): ratified 01 February 1977
- Convention Against Torture (CAT): ratified 17 April 1996
- Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racism and Discrimination (CERD): ratified 21 May 1976
- Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW): ratified 16 November 1986
- Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC): ratified 27 October 1990
African Union
- The Organization of African Unity (OAU) Charter: not ratified
- African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights: ratified 20/07/87
- African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child (1991): not ratified
Other
- Convention Governing the Specific Aspects of Refugee Problems in Africa: not ratified
- IMF: Selected African Member States
- WTO: African Member States
- Southern African Development Community (SADC): Angola, DRC, Mozambique and South Africa
- Common Market of East and Southern Africa (COMESA): DRC
- UN Convention against Transnational Organized Crime
General Information
- Country Watch DRC
- Africa.no: Congo (Kinshasa)
- Columbia University: Central Africa Region and Countries
- Stanford University: DRC
- UN Human Rights Field Presence: Democratic Republic of Congo
- Amnesty International: Human Rights in Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Library of Congress Federal Research Division: Africa Country Pages
- U.S. Dept. of State: African Affairs and Countries
- CIA: Chiefs of State and Cabinet Members of Foreign Governments: Selected African Countries
- Political Resources: Africa and Selected Countries
- World Bank Group: Africa and Selected Countries
- Human Rights Watch: Africa and Selected Countries
- Contemporary Africa Database: Society, Politics and Governance - Selected African Countries
- University of Pennsylvania: The African Studies Center and Country Specific Pages
News
- All Africa: DRC
- BBC: African Countries' profiles
- IRIN News: DRC
- IFEX: News from the DRC
- Oneworld: Angola and DRC
Legal Information
- Constitution Finder (University of Richmond): Selected African Countries
- Hieros Gamos World Government Resources: Selected African Countries
- UNHCR Country of Origin and Legal Information: DRC Country Reports
- International Constitutional Law (ICL): Selected African countries' constitutions
- Law Library of Congress: Selected African Countries
- NATLEX: National Legislation for Selected African Countries
- ForIntLaw: National Legislation for Selected African Countries
- FindLaw: Selected African Countries' Legislation
- JURIST: National Legislation, Summaries and Links for Selected African Countries
- World Directory of National Parliamentary Libraries: Selected African Countries (German Bundestag)
- World Law Index: Selected African Countries
- Cornell Law School Laws Online: National Legislation Database