Democratic Republic of the Congo
République Democratique du Congo
CAPITAL: Kinshasa
FLAG: The flag is a blue field with seven gold stars; six arranged vertically at the hoist and a larger one in the center.
ANTHEM: Song of Independence.
MONETARY UNIT: In 1997, the New Congo replaced the zaire (Z) as the national currency with the Congolese franc (CF). 1CF = $0.0024 (or $1 = CF417) as of May 2003.
WEIGHTS AND MEASURES: The metric system is the legal standard.
HOLIDAYS: New Year's Day, 1 January; Commemoration of Martyrs of Independence, 4 January; Labor Day, 1 May; Anniversary of the Popular Movement of the Revolution, 20 May; Promulgation of the 1967 Constitution, 24 June; Independence Day, 30 June; Parents' Day, 1 August; Youth Day, 14 October; Army Day, 17 November; the Anniversary of the Regime, 24 November; and Christmas Day, 25 December.
TIME: In Kinshasa, 1 PM = noon GMT; in Lubumbashi, 2 PM = noon GMT.
Fish are the single most important source of animal protein in the DROC. Total production of marine, river, and lake fisheries in 2000 was estimated at 208,448 tons, all but 3,945 tons from inland waters. PEMARZA, a state agency, carries on marine fishing.
In 1959, there were eight insurance firms, each representing many foreign companies. Workers' compensation was the only form of compulsory insurance in the territory. In 1967, all private insurance companies were abolished and replaced by the state-owned National Society of Insurance (SONAS-La Société Nationale d'Assurance).
The DROC has no territories or colonies.