Country
Countries A-Z
Republic of the Congo
République du Congo
Political Status: Independent since August 15, 1960; one-party People's Republic proclaimed December 31, 1969; multiparty system authorized as of January 1, 1991; constitution approved in referendum of March 15, 1992, suspended in October 1997 following overthrow of the government; current constitution adopted by referendum of January 20, 2002.
Area: 132,046 sq. mi. (342,000 sq. km.).
Population: 2,591,271 (1996C); 3,913,000 (2005E).
Major Urban Center (2005E): BRAZZAVILLE (1,275,000).
Official Language: French.
Monetary Unit: CFA Franc (official rate July 1, 2006: 513.01 francs = $1US). (The CFA franc, previously pegged to the French franc, is now permanently pegged to the euro at 655.957 CFA francs = 1 euro.)
President: Gen. Denis SASSOU-NGUESSO (Congolese Labor Party); sworn in on October 25, 1997, following the military overthrow of the government of Pascal LISSOUBA (Pan-African ...