Congo, Democratic Republic of

Once the Belgian Congo and formerly Zaire; a republic in central Africa, bordered by Central African Republic and Sudan to the north, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, and Tanzania to the east, Zambia to the south, and Angola and the Republic of the Congo to the west. Its capital is Kinshasa.

• It achieved independence from Belgium in 1960.
• It was long ruled by a dictator, Mobutu Sese Seko, who was overthrown in 1997.