Countries

Democratic Republic of the Congo

The Democratic Republic of the Congo is Africa's second-largest country, spanning the Congo Basin with only a sliver of Atlantic coast. Independent from Belgium since 1960 and called Zaire from 1971 to 1997, it is rich in minerals.

The broad Congo River seen from the air, braided around long green forested islands near Kisangani

The Congo River near Kisangani

Photo: MONUSCO/Myriam Asmani, CC BY-SA 2.0

Sky blue for peace, red for the blood of the country's martyrs, yellow for its wealth, and the star for a bright future. Adopted in 2006.

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