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Africa :: Congo, Republic of the

- ## Introduction :: CONGO, REPUBLIC OF THE

- Background:
  Upon independence in 1960, the former French region of Middle Congo became the Republic of the Congo. A quarter century of experimentation with Marxism was abandoned in 1990 and a democratically elected government took office in 1992. A brief civil war in 1997 restored former Marxist President Denis SASSOU-Nguesso, and ushered in a period of ethnic and political unrest. Southern-based rebel groups agreed to a final peace accord in March 2003. The Republic of Congo is one of Africa's largest petroleum producers, but with declining production it will need new offshore oil finds to sustain its oil earnings over the long term.

- ## Geography :: CONGO, REPUBLIC OF THE

- Location:
  Central Africa, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean, between Angola and Gabon
  Geographic coordinates:
  1 00 S, 15 00 E
  Map references:
  Africa
  Area:
  total: 342,000 sq km
  land: 341,500 sq km
  water: 500 sq km
  country comparison to the world: 64
  Area - comparative:
  slightly smaller than Montana
  Land boundaries:
  total: 5,008 km
  border countries (5): Angola 231 km, Cameroon 494 km, Central African Republic 487 km, Democratic Republic of the Congo 1,229 km, Gabon 2,567 km
  Coastline:
  169 km
  Maritime claims:
  territorial sea: 12 nm
  contiguous zone: 24 nm
  exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
  Climate:
  tropical; rainy season (March to June); dry season (June to October); persistent high temperatures and humidity; particularly enervating climate astride the Equator
  Terrain:
  coastal plain, southern basin, central plateau, northern basin
  Elevation extremes:
  lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
  highest point: Mount Berongou 903 m
  Natural resources:
  petroleum, timber, potash, lead, zinc, uranium, copper, phosphates, gold, magnesium, natural gas, hydropower
  Land use:
  agricultural land: 31.1%
  arable land 1.6%; permanent crops 0.2%; permanent pasture 29.3%
  forest: 65.6%
  other: 3.3% (2011 est.)
  Irrigated land:
  20 sq km (2003)
  Total renewable water resources:
  832 cu km (2011)
  Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
  total: 0.05 cu km/yr (69%/26%/4%)
  per capita: 13.99 cu m/yr (2005)
  Natural hazards:
  seasonal flooding
  Environment - current issues:
  air pollution from vehicle emissions; water pollution from raw sewage; tap water is not potable; deforestation
  Environment - international agreements:
  party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands
  signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
  Geography - note:
  about 70% of the population lives in Brazzaville, Pointe-Noire, or along the railroad between them

- ## People and Society :: CONGO, REPUBLIC OF THE

- Nationality:
  noun: Congolese (singular and plural)
  adjective: Congolese or Congo
  Ethnic groups:
  Kongo 48%, Sangha 20%, M'Bochi 12%, Teke 17%, Europeans and other 3%
  Languages:
  French (official), Lingala and Monokutuba (lingua franca trade languages), many local languages and dialects (of which Kikongo is the most widespread)
  Religions:
  Roman Catholic 33.1%, Awakening Churches/Christian Revival 22.3%, Protestant 19.9%, Salutiste 2.2%, Muslim 1.6%, Kimbanguiste 1.5%, other 8.1%, none 11.3% (2010 est.)
  Population:
  4,755,097
  note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality, higher death rates, lower population growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 125
  Age structure:
  0-14 years: 41.33% (male 991,327/female 973,745)
  15-24 years: 17.48% (male 415,282/female 415,817)
  25-54 years: 34.12% (male 819,204/female 803,062)
  55-64 years: 4.08% (male 95,755/female 98,295)
  65 years and over: 3% (male 62,332/female 80,278) (2015 est.)
  population pyramid:
  Dependency ratios:
  total dependency ratio: 86.2%
  youth dependency ratio: 79.4%
  elderly dependency ratio: 6.8%
  potential support ratio: 14.7% (2015 est.)
  Median age:
  total: 19.8 years
  male: 19.6 years
  female: 19.9 years (2015 est.)
  Population growth rate:
  2% (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 50
  Birth rate:
  35.85 births/1,000 population (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 20
  Death rate:
  10 deaths/1,000 population (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 45
  Net migration rate:
  -5.9 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 197
  Urbanization:
  urban population: 65.4% of total population (2015)
  rate of urbanization: 3.22% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
  Major urban areas - population:
  BRAZZAVILLE (capital) 1.888 million; Pointe-Noire 969,000 (2015)
  Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
  0-14 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
  15-24 years: 1 male(s)/female
  25-54 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
  55-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female
  65 years and over: 0.78 male(s)/female
  total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2015 est.)
  Maternal mortality rate:
  442 deaths/100,000 live births (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 16
  Infant mortality rate:
  total: 57.92 deaths/1,000 live births
  male: 62.97 deaths/1,000 live births
  female: 52.71 deaths/1,000 live births (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 24
  Life expectancy at birth:
  total population: 58.79 years
  male: 57.64 years
  female: 59.98 years (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 200
  Total fertility rate:
  4.68 children born/woman (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 22
  Contraceptive prevalence rate:
  44.7% (2011/12)
  Health expenditures:
  4.1% of GDP (2013)
  country comparison to the world: 179
  Physicians density:
  0.1 physicians/1,000 population (2007)
  Hospital bed density:
  1.6 beds/1,000 population (2005)
  Drinking water source:
  improved:
  urban: 95.8% of population
  rural: 40% of population
  total: 76.5% of population
  unimproved:
  urban: 4.2% of population
  rural: 60% of population
  total: 23.5% of population (2015 est.)
  Sanitation facility access:
  improved:
  urban: 20% of population
  rural: 5.6% of population
  total: 15% of population
  unimproved:
  urban: 80% of population
  rural: 94.4% of population
  total: 85% of population (2015 est.)
  HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
  2.75% (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 22
  HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
  80,700 (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 46
  HIV/AIDS - deaths:
  4,400 (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 34
  Major infectious diseases:
  degree of risk: very high
  food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
  vectorborne disease: malaria and dengue fever
  animal contact disease: rabies
  water contact disease: schistosomiasis (2013)
  Obesity - adult prevalence rate:
  9.7% (2014)
  country comparison to the world: 163
  Children under the age of 5 years underweight:
  11.8% (2012)
  country comparison to the world: 61
  Education expenditures:
  6.2% of GDP (2010)
  country comparison to the world: 39
  Literacy:
  definition: age 15 and over can read and write
  total population: 79.3%
  male: 86.4%
  female: 72.9% (2015 est.)
  School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
  total: 11 years
  male: 11 years
  female: 11 years (2012)
  Child labor - children ages 5-14:
  total number: 252,171
  percentage: 25% (2005 est.)

- ## Government :: CONGO, REPUBLIC OF THE

- Country name:
  conventional long form: Republic of the Congo
  conventional short form: Congo (Brazzaville)
  local long form: Republique du Congo
  local short form: Congo
  former: French Congo, Middle Congo, People's Republic of the Congo, Congo/Brazzaville
  Government type:
  republic
  Capital:
  name: Brazzaville
  geographic coordinates: 4 15 S, 15 17 E
  time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
  Administrative divisions:
  12 departments (departments, singular - department); Bouenza, Brazzaville, Cuvette, Cuvette-Ouest, Kouilou, Lekoumou, Likouala, Niari, Plateaux, Pointe-Noire, Pool, Sangha
  Independence:
  15 August 1960 (from France)
  National holiday:
  Independence Day, 15 August (1960)
  Constitution:
  previous 1992; latest approved by referendum 20 January 2002 (2015)
  Legal system:
  mixed legal system of French civil law and customary law
  International law organization participation:
  has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
  Citizenship:
  citizenship by birth: no
  citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of the Republic of the Congo
  dual citizenship recognized: no
  residency requirement for naturalization: 10 years
  Suffrage:
  18 years of age; universal
  Executive branch:
  chief of state: President Denis SASSOU-Nguesso (since 25 October 1997, following the civil war in which he toppled elected president Pascal LISSOUBA); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government
  head of government: President Denis SASSOU-Nguesso (since 25 October 1997); note - the position of prime minister was abolished in September 2009
  cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
  elections/appointments: president directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 7-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 12 July 2009 (next to be held in 2016)
  election results: Denis SASSOU-Nguesso reelected president; percent of vote - Denis SASSOU-Nguesso (FDU) 78.6%, Joseph Kignoumbi Kia MBOUNGOU (independent) 7.5%, Nicephore Fylla de SAINT-EUDES 7%, other 6.9%
  Legislative branch:
  description: bicameral Parliament or Parlement consists of the Senate (72 seats; members indirectly elected by regional councils by simple majority vote to serve 6-year terms with one-half of membership renewed every three years) and the National Assembly (139 seats; members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by absolute majority popular vote in two rounds if needed; members serve 5-year terms)
  elections: Senate - last held on 12 October 2014 for 36 of the expiry seats (next to be held in 2020); National Assembly - last held on 15 July and 5 August 2012 (next to be held in July 2017)
  election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - RMP 33, FDU 23, UPADS 2, other 7, independent 7; National Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PCT 89, MCDDI 7, UPADS 7, RDPS 5, MAR 4, RC 3, MUST 2, UPDP 2, CPR 1, PRL 1, PUR 1, UFD 1, UR 1, independent 12, vacant 3
  Judicial branch:
  highest court(s): Supreme Court or Cour Supreme (consists of NA judges); note - the High Court of Justice, outside the judicial authority, tries cases involving treason by the president of the republic
  judge selection and term of office: judges elected by parliament and serve until retirement age
  subordinate courts: courts of appeal; regional and district courts; employment tribunals; juvenile courts
  Political parties and leaders:
  Action Movement for Renewal or MAR [Roland BOUITI-VIAUDO]
  Citizen's Rally or RC
  Congolese Labour Party or PCT [Denis SASSOY-NGUESSO]
  Congolese Movement for Democracy and Integral Development or MCDDI [Guy Price Parfait KO]
  Movement for Unity, Solidarity, and Work or MUST [Claudine MUNARI]
  Pan-African Union for Social Development or UPADS [Pascal Tsaty MABIALA]
  Party for the Unity of the Republic or PUR
  Patriotic Union for Democracy and Progress or UPDP [Auguste-Celestin GONGARD NKOUA
  Prospects and Realities Club or CPR
  Rally for Democracy and Social Progress or RDPS [Bernard BATCHI]
  Rally of the Presidential Majority or RMP
  Republican and Liberal Party or PRL
  Union for the Republic or UR
  Union of Democratic Forces
  Union for Democracy and Republic or UDR
  United Democratic Forces or FDU [Sebastian EBAO]; many smaller parties
  Political pressure groups and leaders:
  Congolese Trade Union Congress or CSC
  General Union of Congolese Pupils and Students or UGEEC
  Revolutionary Union of Congolese Women or URFC
  Union of Congolese Socialist Youth or UJSC
  International organization participation:
  ACP, AfDB, AU, BDEAC, CEMAC, EITI (compliant country), FAO, FZ, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NAM, OIF, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNITAR, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
  Diplomatic representation in the US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Serge MOMBOULI (since 31 July 2001)
  chancery: 1720 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009
  telephone: [1] (202) 726-5500
  FAX: [1] (202) 726-1860
  Diplomatic representation from the US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Stephanie S. SULLIVAN (since 12 August 2013)
  embassy: 70-83 Section D, Maya-Maya Boulevard, Brazzaville
  mailing address: B.P. 1015, Brazzaville
  telephone: [242] 06 612-2000
  Flag description:
  divided diagonally from the lower hoist side by a yellow band; the upper triangle (hoist side) is green and the lower triangle is red; green symbolizes agriculture and forests, yellow the friendship and nobility of the people, red is unexplained but has been associated with the struggle for independence
  note: uses the popular Pan-African colors of Ethiopia
  National symbol(s):
  lion, elephant; national colors: green, yellow, red
  National anthem:
  name: "La Congolaise" (The Congolese)
  lyrics/music: Jacques TONDRA and Georges KIBANGHI/Jean ROYER and Joseph SPADILIERE
  note: originally adopted 1959, restored 1991

- ## Economy :: CONGO, REPUBLIC OF THE

- Economy - overview:
  The economy is a mixture of subsistence farming and hunting, an industrial sector based largely on oil and support services, and government spending. Oil has supplanted forestry as the mainstay of the economy, providing a major share of government revenues and exports. Natural gas is increasingly being converted to electricity rather than being flared, greatly improving energy prospects. New mining projects, particularly iron ore, which entered production in late 2013 may add as much as $1 billion to annual government revenue. Economic reform efforts have been undertaken with the support of international organizations, notably the World Bank and the IMF, including recently concluded Article IV consultations. The current administration faces difficult economic challenges of stimulating recovery and reducing poverty. The recent drop in oil prices has constrained government spending; lower oil prices forced the government to cut more than $1 billion in planned spending. Officially the country became a net external creditor as of 2011, with external debt representing only about 16% of GDP and debt servicing less than 3% of government revenue.
  GDP (purchasing power parity):
  $28.36 billion (2014 est.)
  $26.54 billion (2013 est.)
  $25.69 billion (2012 est.)
  note: data are in 2014 US dollars
  country comparison to the world: 130
  GDP (official exchange rate):
  $13.55 billion (2014 est.)
  GDP - real growth rate:
  6.8% (2014 est.)
  3.3% (2013 est.)
  3.8% (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 27
  GDP - per capita (PPP):
  $6,600 (2014 est.)
  $6,200 (2013 est.)
  $6,000 (2012 est.)
  note: data are in 2014 US dollars
  country comparison to the world: 155
  Gross national saving:
  32.8% of GDP (2014 est.)
  26.5% of GDP (2013 est.)
  23.6% of GDP (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 17
  GDP - composition, by end use:
  household consumption: 40.8%
  government consumption: 15.8%
  investment in fixed capital: 33.8%
  investment in inventories: 0%
  exports of goods and services: 80.1%
  imports of goods and services: -70.5%
  (2014 est.)
  GDP - composition, by sector of origin:
  agriculture: 4.8%
  industry: 69.4%
  services: 25.8% (2014 est.)
  Agriculture - products:
  cassava (manioc, tapioca), sugar, rice, corn, peanuts, vegetables, coffee, cocoa; forest products
  Industries:
  petroleum extraction, cement, lumber, brewing, sugar, palm oil, soap, flour, cigarettes
  Industrial production growth rate:
  5.1% (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 51
  Labor force:
  1.807 million (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 124
  Unemployment rate:
  53% (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 202
  Population below poverty line:
  46.5% (2011 est.)
  Household income or consumption by percentage share:
  lowest 10%: 2.1%
  highest 10%: 37.1% (2005)
  Budget:
  revenues: $5.791 billion
  expenditures: $6.838 billion (2014 est.)
  Taxes and other revenues:
  42.7% of GDP (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 31
  Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-):
  -7.7% of GDP (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 200
  Public debt:
  36.5% of GDP (2014 est.)
  32.1% of GDP (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 114
  Fiscal year:
  calendar year
  Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  0.9% (2014 est.)
  4.6% (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 54
  Central bank discount rate:
  4.25% (31 December 2009)
  4.75% (31 December 2008)
  country comparison to the world: 95
  Commercial bank prime lending rate:
  14.8% (31 December 2014 est.)
  14.8% (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 42
  Stock of narrow money:
  $4.223 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
  $4.192 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 108
  Stock of broad money:
  $5.119 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
  $4.795 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 130
  Stock of domestic credit:
  $44.13 million (31 December 2014 est.)
  $-1.136 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 183
  Market value of publicly traded shares:
  $NA
  Current account balance:
  -$1.273 billion (2014 est.)
  -$601 million (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 131
  Exports:
  $9.12 billion (2014 est.)
  $9.463 billion (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 98
  Exports - commodities:
  petroleum, lumber, plywood, sugar, cocoa, coffee, diamonds
  Exports - partners:
  China 52%, Australia 8.3%, Italy 8.2%, US 4% (2014)
  Imports:
  $4.939 billion (2014 est.)
  $4.789 billion (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 133
  Imports - commodities:
  capital equipment, construction materials, foodstuffs
  Imports - partners:
  Algeria 47.8%, China 10.6%, France 9%, Italy 4.3% (2014)
  Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
  $4.939 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
  $5.26 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 94
  Debt - external:
  $3.763 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
  $3.452 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 130
  Exchange rates:
  Cooperation Financiere en Afrique Centrale francs (XAF) per US dollar -
  494.42 (2014 est.)
  494.42 (2013 est.)
  510.53 (2012 est.)
  471.87 (2011 est.)
  495.28 (2010 est.)

- ## Energy :: CONGO, REPUBLIC OF THE

- Electricity - production:
  1.303 billion kWh (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 146
  Electricity - consumption:
  740 million kWh (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 162
  Electricity - exports:
  0 kWh (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 119
  Electricity - imports:
  55 million kWh (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 101
  Electricity - installed generating capacity:
  238,000 kW (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 158
  Electricity - from fossil fuels:
  12.2% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 197
  Electricity - from nuclear fuels:
  0% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 65
  Electricity - from hydroelectric plants:
  87.8% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 15
  Electricity - from other renewable sources:
  0% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 166
  Crude oil - production:
  250,000 bbl/day (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 33
  Crude oil - exports:
  278,400 bbl/day (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 27
  Crude oil - imports:
  0 bbl/day (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 171
  Crude oil - proved reserves:
  1.6 billion bbl (1 January 2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 37
  Refined petroleum products - production:
  17,740 bbl/day (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 95
  Refined petroleum products - consumption:
  15,000 bbl/day (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 142
  Refined petroleum products - exports:
  5,160 bbl/day (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 94
  Refined petroleum products - imports:
  2,571 bbl/day (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 178
  Natural gas - production:
  1.65 billion cu m (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 60
  Natural gas - consumption:
  1.65 billion cu m (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 83
  Natural gas - exports:
  39 million cu m (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 48
  Natural gas - imports:
  0 cu m (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 176
  Natural gas - proved reserves:
  90.61 billion cu m (1 January 2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 57
  Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy:
  6.691 million Mt (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 116

- ## Communications :: CONGO, REPUBLIC OF THE

- Telephones - fixed lines:
  total subscriptions: 16,300
  subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: less than 1 (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 193
  Telephones - mobile cellular:
  total: 4.9 million
  subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 106 (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 118
  Telephone system:
  general assessment: primary network consists of microwave radio relay and coaxial cable with services barely adequate for government use; key exchanges are in Brazzaville, Pointe-Noire, and Loubomo; intercity lines frequently out of order
  domestic: fixed-line infrastructure inadequate, providing less than 1 connection per 100 persons; in the absence of an adequate fixed-line infrastructure, mobile-cellular subscribership has surged to 90 per 100 persons
  international: country code - 242; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2011)
  Broadcast media:
  1 state-owned TV and 3 state-owned radio stations; several privately owned TV and radio stations; satellite TV service is available; rebroadcasts of several international broadcasters are available (2007)
  Radio broadcast stations:
  AM 1, FM 5, shortwave 3 (2001)
  Television broadcast stations:
  1 (2001)
  Internet country code:
  .cg
  Internet users:
  total: 89,500
  percent of population: 1.9% (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 171

- ## Transportation :: CONGO, REPUBLIC OF THE

- Airports:
  27 (2013)
  country comparison to the world: 125
  Airports - with paved runways:
  total: 8
  over 3,047 m: 2
  2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
  1,524 to 2,437 m: 5 (2013)
  Airports - with unpaved runways:
  total: 19
  1,524 to 2,437 m: 8
  914 to 1,523 m: 9
  under 914 m:
  2 (2013)
  Pipelines:
  gas 232 km; liquid petroleum gas 4 km; oil 982 km (2013)
  Railways:
  total: 510 km
  narrow gauge: 510 km 1.067-m gauge (2014)
  country comparison to the world: 94
  Roadways:
  total: 17,000 km
  paved: 1,212 km
  unpaved: 15,788 km (2006)
  country comparison to the world: 118
  Waterways:
  1,120 km (commercially navigable on Congo and Oubanqui Rivers above Brazzaville; there are many ferries across the river to Kinshasa; the Congo south of Brazzaville-Kinshasa to the coast is not navigable because of rapids, necessitating a rail connection to Pointe Noire; other rivers are used for local traffic only) (2011)
  country comparison to the world: 61
  Merchant marine:
  registered in other countries: 1 (Democratic Republic of the Congo 1) (2010)
  country comparison to the world: 148
  Ports and terminals:
  major seaport(s): Pointe-Noire
  river port(s): Brazzaville (Congo); Impfondo (Oubangi); Ouesso (Sangha); Oyo (Alima)
  oil terminal(s): Djeno

- ## Military :: CONGO, REPUBLIC OF THE

- Military branches:
  Congolese Armed Forces (Forces Armees Congolaises, FAC): Army (Armee de Terre), Navy, Congolese Air Force (Armee de l'Air Congolaise); Gendarmerie; Special Presidential Security Guard (GSSP) (2013)
  Military service age and obligation:
  18 years of age for voluntary military service; women may serve in the Armed Forces (2012)
  Manpower available for military service:
  males age 16-49: 928,664
  females age 16-49: 914,265 (2010 est.)
  Manpower fit for military service:
  males age 16-49: 577,944
  females age 16-49: 566,587 (2010 est.)
  Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
  male: 50,000
  female: 49,641 (2010 est.)

- ## Transnational Issues :: CONGO, REPUBLIC OF THE

- Disputes - international:
  the location of the boundary in the broad Congo River with the Democratic Republic of the Congo is undefined except in the Pool Malebo/Stanley Pool area
  Refugees and internally displaced persons:
  refugees (country of origin): 23,376 (Democratic Republic of the Congo); 9,104 (Rwanda) (2014); 29,884 (Central African Republic) (2015)
  IDPs: 7,800 (multiple civil wars since 1992) (2014)

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