Republic of Congo

Former military ruler Denis Sassou-Nguesso officially returned to power in 1997 after a short but bloody four-month civil war.

Sassou-Nguesso ruled the former French colony from 1979 until the early 1990s. He was knocked out in a first round of elections in 1992, when Pascal Lissouba became Congo's first democratically elected president.

From exile in Burkina Faso, Lissouba is urging a campaign of civil disobedience to undermine Sassou-Nguesso.

Relief workers estimate that about a quarter of Congo's population of 2.8 million has been displaced by the conflict.

Land and People | History |
| Financial | Weather

DEMOGRAPHICS

Population:
2,583,198
Average life span:
44 male, 47 female
GDP per capita (US$):
$1,960
Literacy rate:
75%

THE LAND AND ITS PEOPLE

Capital:
Brazzaville
Size:
132,047 square miles (342,000 square km)
Government type:
Republic
Political leaders:
Denis Sassou Nguesso, President of Congo
Religions:
Christianity -- mostly Roman Catholic (50%), indigenous beliefs (48%), Islam (2%)
Languages:
French (official), Lingala, Kikongo, and other African languages

HISTORY

FINANCIAL

Monetary unit:
CFA Franc
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CNN WEATHER INFORMATION

CNN WEATHER INFORMATION:
Forecast and satellite maps:
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