D R Congo

Statistics

Known as the ‘Amazon of Africa’, the Democratic Republic of Congo (D R Congo) is a land of endless rainforest, abundant wildlife and enormous mineral wealth. It is a country torn apart by war and is a nation struggling to rebuild itself after more than a century of injustice.

History

Europeans first arrived in Congo in 1482 but it was not until the 1870s that European colonisation took place by Belgium. The country finally gained its political independence in 1960 when General Mobutu, commander of the army, assumed power. He imposed a strong central government and one-party state. 

In 1997, the Democratic Republic of Congo was established as Laurent Kabila, backed by Rwandan and Ugandan troops, took control of the country. However, stability was short-lived as a new rebellion followed. In 2001 Kabila was assassinated and his son, Joseph, took control.

A constitution was approved by voters and in January 2006 Congo held its first multi-party elections. Joseph Kabila remains in power but the fragility of the state allows continued conflict and human-rights abuses. 

Current challenges

Due to continued civil unrest and poverty, people in Congo are still dying at the rate of an estimated 45,000 per month. Conflict, corruption and instability has meant that the country’s economy is in virtual collapse. According to the United Nations Human Developments Report, D R Congo is the poorest country in the world.

BMS involvement in D R Congo

There has been BMS work in D R Congo for over 100 years. With the Baptist Church of the River Congo (CBFC), BMS World Mission supports 40 national workers and also makes annual grants to theological training, evangelism and church planting, and relief grants from time to time.

The land

D R Congo is situated in the central-west part of sub-Saharan Africa. The flat basin of the Congo River system, covered by tropical rainforest, is framed by hilly grassland to the west, high mountains to the east and south east, and substantial plateaus to the south and north. Due to its equatorial location, rainfall is extremely high, which has helped create and sustain the massive rainforest.

Religion

In 1972 the President ruled that freedom of religious worship would be assured within the framework of six legally recognised religious bodies – Roman Catholic (the largest), Protestant (ECC), Kimbanguist, Orthodox, Jewish and Muslim.

There are approximately 1.5 million members of Baptist churches in Congo – the fifth highest Baptist population in the world.