DR Congo — Capital, Flag and Country Facts

Explore DR Congo: capital Kinshasa, population, flag, geography, languages, history and culture.

DR Congo is in Africa. Its capital is Kinshasa.

Climate

Tropical; hot and humid in equatorial river basin; cooler and drier in southern highlands

Vast central basin is a low-lying plateau; mountains in the east along the Great Rift Valley

The Congo River is the deepest river in the world, reaching 220 meters.

DR Congo holds over 70% of the world's coltan reserves, essential for electronics.

Virunga National Park is Africa's oldest national park and home to endangered mountain gorillas.

1885: King Leopold II of Belgium establishes the Congo Free State as personal possession

1908: Belgian government takes control after international outrage over abuses

1960: Independence from Belgium; Patrice Lumumba becomes first prime minister

1971: Country renamed Zaire under Mobutu Sese Seko's authoritarian rule

1997: Laurent-Désiré Kabila overthrows Mobutu; country renamed DR Congo

2019: First peaceful transfer of power as Félix Tshisekedi takes office