Place details
Place nameCongo, Democratic Republic of the
Other namesRépublique démocratique du Congo, Congo, République Démocratique du, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Congo, COD, CD, ISO180, CG, CG00, Congo, république démocratique du, Democratic Republic of Congo, Congo Kinshasa, Zaïre, République du Zaïre, Zaire, Republic of Zaire, Kongo, Republik, Belgisch Congo, Congo Belge, Belgian Congo, Congo Free State, Indendent State of the Congo, République du Congo, Republic of the Congo, ZAR, ZR, Congolese
Latitude-0.017
Longitude25
SourceThesaurus of Geographic Names
Overview
Region had early Niger-Kordofanian populations; was home of important Luba kingdom and Kuba chiefdoms during 16th-18th centuries; Portuguese arrived in 15th century; Belgium claimed the territory in 19th century; official language is French, though English, Lingala, Swahili, Kingwana, Kikongo, Tshiluba and over 400 Bantu and Sudanese dialects are also spoken.