世界各国

Congo, Republic of the

Introduction to Congo, Republic of the

Upon independence in 1960, the former French region of Middle Congo became the Republic of the Congo. A quarter century of experimentation with Marxism was abandoned in 1990 and a democratically elected government installed in 1992. A brief civil war in 1997 restored former Marxist President SASSOU-NGUESSO, but ushered in a period of ethnic unrest. Southern-based rebel groups agreed to a final peace accord in March 2003. The Republic of Congo is one of Africa's largest petroleum producers with significant potential for offshore development.

Government

Capital:

Brazzaville

Independence:

15 August 1960 (from France)

National holiday:

Independence Day, 15 August (1960)

Economy

Economy overview:

The economy is a mixture of village agriculture and handicrafts, an industrial sector based largely on oil, support services, and a government characterized by budget problems and overstaffing. Oil has supplanted forestry as the mainstay of the economy, providing a major share of government revenues and exports. In the early 1980s, rapidly rising oil revenues enabled the government to finance large-scale development projects with GDP growth averaging 5% annually, one of the highest rates in Africa. The government has mortgaged a substantial portion of its oil earnings, contributing to a shortage of revenues. The 12 January 1994 devaluation of Franc Zone currencies by 50% resulted in inflation of 61% in 1994, but inflation has subsided since. Economic reform efforts continued with the support of international organizations, notably the World Bank and the IMF. The reform program came to a halt in June 1997 when civil war erupted. Denis SASSOU-NGUESSO, who returned to power when the war ended in October 1997, publicly expressed interest in moving forward on economic reforms and privatization and in renewing cooperation with international financial institutions. However, economic progress was badly hurt by slumping oil prices and the resumption of armed conflict in December 1998, which worsened the republic's budget deficit. The current administration presides over an uneasy internal peace and faces difficult economic problems of stimulating recovery and reducing poverty.

GDP:

purchasing power parity - $2.148 billion (2004 est.) 

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 6.9%
industry: 53.9%
services: 39.2% (2004 est.)

Agriculture products:

cassava (tapioca), sugar, rice, corn, peanuts, vegetables, coffee, cocoa; forest products 

Industries:

petroleum extraction, cement, lumber, brewing, sugar, palm oil, soap, flour, cigarettes

Transportation

Waterways:

4,385 km (on Congo and Oubanqui rivers) (2004)

Pipelines:

gas 53 km; oil 673 km (2003)

Ports and harbors:

Brazzaville, Impfondo, Ouesso, Oyo, Pointe-Noire

Airports:

32 (2003 est.)