In 2005 the Congolese population approved the new Constitution of the Third Republic with 85% of the vote in a referendum facilitated by UN-peacekeepers. It was promulgated by President Joseph Kabila in February 2006. The new constitution established a decentralized semi-presidential republic with a separation of powers between the executive, legislative and judiciary branches of government, and a distribution of prerogatives between the central government and the provinces.
Critics have pointed out that the new system is prone to conflict if the president and prime minister come from different sides of the political arena, which could slow politcal pace and progress. Under the semi-presidential system, the president and the prime-minister are both active members in day-to-day governing. The president is the popularly elected Head of State, but has more than just ceremonial powers. The cabinet, although named by the president, is responsible to parliament and it could be forced to resign by a parliamentary vote of no confidence.[1]
In July 2006, Joseph Kabila was elected president in Congo’s first free elections in more than four decades. The elections were again facilitated by UN-peacekeepers. Although messy, the elections went better than expected, especially keeping in mind the lack of infrastructure in Congo. He has imposed moderate macroeconomic stablity.
On the other hand, Kabila is unpopular with many because of his failure to improve the lives of most ordinary Congolese. Particularly in Kinshasa people are frustrated with him, calling him a western stooge and a foreigner. President Kabila will have to avert war in the Kinshasa region, where up to 600 people may have been killed last March, in fightings between government forces and gunmen loyal to Jean-Pierre Bemba, the defeated presidential candidate. The conflict gave rise to concerns that the young Congolese democracy might be stillborn. Western diplomats expressed concern at the disproportionate and premature use of force.[2]
[1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Politics_of_the_Democratic_Republic_of_the_Congo
[2] http://www.economist.com/research/backgrounders/displaystory.cfm?story_id=8937150 and http://www.economist.com/research/backgrounders/displaybackgrounder.cfm?bg=812622
| Population | 65,751,512 (July 2007 est.) |
| Ethnic groups | over 200 African ethnic groups of which the majority are Bantu; the four largest tribes – Mongo, Luba, Kongo (all Bantu), and the Mangbetu-Azande (Hamitic) make up about 45% of the population |
| Religions | Roman Catholic 50%, Protestant 20%, Kimbanguist 10%, Muslim 10%, other (includes syncretic sects and indigenous beliefs) 10% |
| Capital | Kinshasa |
| Languages | French (official), Lingala (a lingua franca trade language), Kingwana (a dialect of Kiswahili or Swahili), Kikongo, Tshiluba |
| GDP (PPP) | $44.44 billion (2006 est.) |
| GDP per capita (PPP) | $700 (2006 est.) |
| Exports | diamonds, copper, crude oil, coffee, cobalt |
| Imports | foodstuffs, mining and other machinery, transport equipment, fuels |
| Unemployment | NA |
| Population below poverty line | NA |
Source: CIA World Factbook
A comprehensive list of election outcomes, both presidential and national assembly, can be found on https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/cg.html#Govt and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Politics_of_the_Democratic_Republic_of_the_Congo
