DR Congo - Government
Based on the etymolgy of DR Congo, it was named for the Congo River, most of which lies within the DRC; the river name derives from Kongo, a Bantu kingdom that occupied its mouth and whose name stems from its people the Bakongo, meaning "hunters". The Government system in this country is the semi-presidential republic type and the different Administrative divisions includes: 26 provinces (provinces, singular - province); Bas-Uele (Lower Uele), Equateur, Haut-Katanga (Upper Katanga), Haut-Lomami (Upper Lomami), Haut-Uele (Upper Uele), Ituri, Kasai, Kasai-Central, Kasai-Oriental (East Kasai), Kinshasa, Kongo Central, Kwango, Kwilu, Lomami, Lualaba, Mai-Ndombe, Maniema, Mongala, Nord-Kivu (North Kivu), Nord-Ubangi (North Ubangi), Sankuru, Sud-Kivu (South Kivu), Sud-Ubangi (South Ubangi), Tanganyika, Tshopo, Tshuapa
National symbols

Leopard; national colors: sky blue, red, yellow.

The flag
The National flag of DR Congo has sky blue field divided diagonally from the lower hoist corner to upper fly corner by a red stripe bordered by two narrow yellow stripes; a yellow, five-pointed star appears in the upper hoist corner; blue represents peace and hope, red the blood of the country's martyrs, and yellow the country's wealth and prosperity; the star symbolizes unity and the brilliant future for the country.
The National Anthem
Title "Debout Congolaise" (Arise Congolese)
Lyric/music Joseph LUTUMBA/Simon-Pierre BOKA di Mpasi Londi
More about the government of DR Congo
Date of Independence 30 June 1960 (from Belgium)
National holiday Independence Day, 30 June (1960)
Legal system civil law system primarily based on Belgian law, but also customary and tribal law
International law organization participation accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Constitution
History Several previous; latest adopted 13 May 2005, approved by referendum 18-19 December 2005, promulgated 18 February 2006
Amendments Proposed by the president of the republic, by the government, by either house of Parliament, or by public petition; agreement on the substance of a proposed bill requires absolute majority vote in both houses; passage requires a referendum only if both houses in joint meeting fail to achieve three-fifths majority vote; constitutional articles, including the form of government, universal suffrage, judicial independence, political pluralism, and personal freedoms, cannot be amended; amended 2011
Citizenship
Citizenship by birth no
Citizenship by descent only at least one parent must be a citizen of the Democratic Republic of the Congo
Dual citizenship recognized no
Residency requirement for naturalization 5 years
Executive Branch
Chief of state President Felix TSHISEKEDI (since 20 January 2024)
Head of government Prime Minister Judith SUMINWA Tuluka (since 29 May 2024)
Cabinet Ministers of State appointed by the president
Elections/appointments president directly elected by simple majority vote for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 20 December 2023 (next to be held on 20 December 2028); prime minister appointed by the president
Election results
2023:
Felix TSHISEKEDI reelected president; percent of vote - Felix TSHISEKEDI (UDPS) 73.3%, Moise KATUMBI (Ensemble) 18.8%, Martin FAYULU (ECIDE) 5.3%, other 2.6%

2018:
Felix TSHISEKEDI elected president; percent of vote - Felix TSHISEKEDI (UDPS) 38.6%, Martin FAYULU (Lamuka coalition) 34.8%, Emmanuel Ramazani SHADARY (PPRD) 23.9%, other 2.7%; note - election marred by serious voting irregularities
Legislative branch
Description Bicameral Parliament or Parlement consists of:
Senate (109 seats; 109 members to include 108 indirectly elected by provincial assemblies by proportional representation vote to serve 5-year terms and a former president, appointed for life)

National Assembly (500 seats; 439 members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by proportional representation vote and 61 directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote; members serve 5-year terms)

 

Elections Senate - last held on 29 April 2024 (next to be held 29 April 2029)
National Assembly - last held on 20 December 2023 (next to be held in December 2028)
Election results Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - UDPS 15, AFDC-A 6, AB 5, A24 4, AACPG 4, MLC 4, A/VK2018 3, ANB 3, Ensemble 3, 2ATDC 2, A/A-UNC 2, AA/C 2, AAAP 2, AVC-A 2, FPAV 2. A/B50 1, A1 1, A3A 1, AAAD 1, AAeC 1, ACP-A 1, AN 1, APCF 1, ARDEV-A 1, ART&A 1, ATVA 1, AV 1, CDER 1, CFC 1, MSL 1, independent 26; composition- men 84, women 16, percentage women 15.8%

National Assembly - percent of vote by party- NA; seats by party - PPRD 62, UDPS 41, PPPD 29, MSR 27, MLC 22, PALU 19, UNC 17, ARC 16, AFDC 15, ECT 11, RRC 11, other 214 (includes numerous political parties that won 10 or fewer seats and 2 constituencies where voting was halted), independent 16; composition - men 415, women 62, percent of women 13%; total Parliament percentage women 13.5%
Judicial branch
Highest court(s) Court of Cassation or Cour de Cassation (consists of 26 justices and organized into legislative and judiciary sections); Constitutional Court (consists of 9 judges)
Judge selection and term of office Court of Cassation judges nominated by the Judicial Service Council, an independent body of public prosecutors and selected judges of the lower courts; judge tenure NA; Constitutional Court judges - 3 nominated by the president, 3 by the Judicial Service Council, and 3 by the legislature; judges appointed by the president to serve 9-year non-renewable terms with one-third of the membership renewed every 3 years
Subordinate courts State Security Court; Court of Appeals (organized into administrative and judiciary sections); Tribunal de Grande; magistrates' courts; customary courts
Diplomatic representation in the US
Chief of mission Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d'Affaires Michael SHAKU YUMI (since 1 August 2024)
Chancery 1100 Connecticut Avenue NW, Suite 725, Washington DC 20036
Telephone [1] (202) 234-7690
FAX [1] (202) 234-2609
Email address and website
[email protected]

https://www.ambardcusa.org/
Representative office New York
Diplomatic representation from the US
Chief of mission Ambassador Lucy TAMLYN (since 6 February 2023)
Embassy 310 Avenue des Aviateurs, Kinshasa, Gombe
Mailing address 2220 Kinshasa Place, Washington DC  20521-2220
Telephone [243] 081 556-0151
FAX [243] 81 556-0175
Email address and website
[email protected]

https://cd.usembassy.gov/
National heritage
Total World Heritage Sites 5 (all natural)
Selected World Heritage Site locales Garamba National Park; Kahuzi-Biega National Park; Okapi Wildlife Reserve; Salonga National Park; Virunga National Park
Key Political parties and their leaders in DR Congo
  • International organization participation
  • ACP
  • AfDB
  • AU
  • CEMAC
  • CEPGL
  • COMESA
  • EAC
  • EITI (compliant country)
  • FAO
  • G-24
  • G-77
  • IAEA
  • IBRD
  • ICAO
  • ICC (NGOs)
  • ICCt
  • ICRM
  • IDA
  • IFAD
  • IFC
  • IFRCS
  • IHO
  • ILO
  • IMF
  • IMO
  • Interpol
  • IOC
  • IOM
  • IPU
  • ISO
  • ITSO
  • ITU
  • ITUC (NGOs)
  • LCBC (observer)
  • MIGA
  • NAM
  • OIF
  • OPCW
  • PCA
  • SADC
  • UN
  • UNCTAD
  • UNESCO
  • UNHCR
  • UNIDO
  • UNWTO
  • UPU
  • WCO
  • WFTU (NGOs)
  • WHO
  • WIPO
  • WMO
  • WTO
  • All Important Facts about DR Congo

    Want to know more about DR Congo? Check all different factbooks for DR Congo below.

    DR Congo is found in Middle Africa