Download The Democratic Republic of the Congo

The
Democratic
Republic of the
Congo
By: Kaitlin Blakemore and
Lana Waicukauski
Introduction
 Type
of government: Republic
 Official language: French
 Location: 0º 00´ North 25º 00´East
 Capital: Kinshasa (approx. 9 million people).
 Important Gov. Officials:
-
-
President – Joseph Kabila
Prime Minister – Adolphe Muzito
Ambassador to the US – Faida Maramuke
Mitifu
Map of the DRC
Economy
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GDP (per-capita): $300
Natural Resources: copper, petroleum,
diamonds, gold, silver, tin, uranium,
hydropower, and timber.
Exports: diamonds, gold, copper, cobalt,
wood products, crude oil, and coffee.
Imports: foodstuffs, mining and other
machinery, transport equipment, and fuel.
Poverty: the poverty estimation for 2006 was
71%.
Political Parties
 Christian
Democrat Party (PDC)
 Congolese Rally for Democracy (RCD)
 Convention of Christian Democrats (CDC)
 Movement for the Liberation of the
Congo (MLC)
 Union for Democracy and Social Progress
(UDPS)
 Party for Reconstruction and Democracy
(PPRD)
Christian Democrat Party
(PDC)
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There are multiple parties with this same name
and goals throughout the world.
This party supports and promotes “proChristian, pro-family, pro-child, pro-life
policies” (Rev. Fred Nile, Australia).
Main concerns: corruption, education,
unemployment, poverty, and health care.
Religious statistics (DRC):
Roman Catholic
Protestant
Kimbanuist
Muslim
Other
Alliances
A
civil war is occurring in the DRC, causing
the Gov. to seek new allies.
 Rebels: Uganda and Rwanda
 Government: US, France, South Africa,
and Angola, as well as business and
mining companies.
 The Presidential election just occurred, but
a decision has not yet been made.
Party for Reconstruction
and Democracy (PPRD)
Union for Democracy
and Social Progress
Domestic Issues
 Civil
Conflict
 Education
 Health
 Infrastructure
 Human Rights
 The Government is having trouble
improving these issues because of the civil
conflict and Government corruption.
Foreign Policy
 Over
the last few years the Gov. has
signed agreements with neighboring
countries to help establish security in the
region.
 The US has helped promote democracy
and peace agreements such as the
Tripartite Plus (DRC, Rwanda, Burundi, and
Uganda).
US Relations
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The US should continue to support
the DRC in their effort to promote
democracy.
We also need to continue to improve
security and human rights in the DRC by
preventing gender based violence.
Liberal: The US should continue to provide
monetary support to the UN mission in the DRC.
Realist: Continue Diplomatic relation, but have
more control over the monetary support due to
corruption.
Sources

Websites
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The World Factbook 2011. Washington, DC:
Central Intelligence Agency, December 10,
2011.
"Daily Calorie Intake Per Capita." Charts Bin.
N.p., 2011. Web. 6 Dec. 2011.
Nation Master. New York Times, BBC News, 200320011. Web. 7 Dec. 2011.
BBC. N.p., 2011. Web. 11 Dec. 2011.
"African Christian Democrat Party." Berkley
Center, Georgetown University. Georgetown
University, n.d. Web. 8 Dec. 2011.
US Department of State. US Government, 2011.
Web. 10 Dec. 2011.