Congo is big (905,365 square miles), diverse (more than 250 tribes) and dirt poor. The infrastructure has crumbled. More than 80 percent of the population is unemployed and most portable resources are smuggled out of the country. Most of the country's gold and over half of the diamonds are smuggled out to avoid lining the government's pockets. The rest of the gold, copper, oil, coffee, diamonds and other natural resources that are officially produced are quickly vacuumed out of the ground and shipped off to the U.K., Canada, Japan and the United States. One thing to keep in mind is that the region's former alignment with France has radically changed to a U.S./U.K. alignment under Kabila. The French are not unwelcome, but things could be a little tense if you light up a Gauloise.
The average monthly wage here is around $20, most phones don't work, and 50 percent of children cannot afford to go to school.
DP reader Chris Toliver, a photographer who covered the revolution, says the Hotel Membling or Hotel Intercontinental is your best bet, but expensive ($200 a night, $30 for dinner) There is the C.A.P. Protestant mission for $35 a night with meals included. They will also set you up with drivers, interpreters and cars. The inflation rate in Congo, at 2,870 percent (during DP 's March 1997 visit), was the highest in the world; the GNP is actually lower than it was 30 years ago and the word "industry" is an oxymoronic term used to describe Congo's anemic 10 percent of capacity output. The Congolese Franc is the official currency, but the U.S. dollar (bring fives and tens) is now the real currency for visitors. Congo is a country sitting on top of 70 percent of the world's cobalt, one that produces nine tons of gleaming gold every year.
The official language is French; the local tongue is called Lingala. Most Congolese are Christian. The population is about 44 million and shrinking.
Embassy Location
U.S. Embassy in Congo
310 Avenue des Aviateurs, Unit 31550
APO 09828
Tel.: [243] (12) 21532/21628
Resources
Forces of Freedom
P.O. Box 411884
Craighall 2024
South Africa
Tel.: +2783-212.22.76
Fax: +2711-404.27.23
E-mail: support@congo.co.za
http://www.congo.co.za/indexen.htm
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