Yhombi OPANGO, president; Congolese Movement for Democracy andIntegral Development (MCDDI), Bernard KOLELAS, leader; Association for
Democracy and Social Progress (RDPS), Jean-Pierre Thystere TCHICAYA,
president; Union of Democratic Forces (UFD), David Charles GANAO,
leader; Union for Development and Social Progress (UDPS), Jean-Michael
BOKAMBA-YANGOUMA, leader
note:
Congo has many political parties of which these are among the most
important
Other political or pressure groups:
Union of Congolese Socialist Youth (UJSC); Congolese Trade Union
Congress (CSC); Revolutionary Union of Congolese Women (URFC); General
Union of Congolese Pupils and Students (UGEEC)
Member of:
ACCT, ACP, AfDB, BDEAC, CCC, CEEAC, ECA, FAO, FZ, G-77, GATT, IBRD,
ICAO, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ITU,
LORCS, NAM, OAU, UDEAC, UN, UNAVEM II, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU,
WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission:
Ambassador Pierre Damien BOUSSOUKOU-BOUMBA
chancery:
4891 Colorado Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20011
telephone:
(202) 726–5500 or 5501
US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission:
Ambassador William RAMSEY
embassy:
Avenue Amilcar Cabral, Brazzaville
mailing address:
B. P. 1015, Brazzaville
telephone:
(242) 83–20-70
FAX:
[242] 83–63-38
Flag:
red, divided diagonally from the lower hoist side by a yellow band;
the upper triangle (hoist side) is green and the lower triangle is
red; uses the popular pan-African colors of Ethiopia
@Congo, Economy
Overview:
Congo's economy is a mixture of village agriculture and handicrafts,
an industrial sector based largely on oil, support services, and a
government characterized by budget problems and overstaffing. A reform
program, supported by the IMF and World Bank, ran into difficulties in
1990–91 because of problems in changing to a democratic political
regime and a heavy debt-servicing burden. Oil has supplanted forestry
as the mainstay of the economy, providing about two-thirds of
government revenues and exports. In the early 1980s rapidly rising oil
revenues enabled Congo to finance large-scale development projects
with growth averaging 5% annually, one of the highest rates in Africa.
Subsequently, growth has slowed to an average of roughly 1.5%
annually, only half the population growth rate. Political turmoil and
misguided government investment have derailed economic reform programs
sponsored by the IMF and World Bank.
National product:
GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $7 billion (1993 est.)
National product real growth rate:
NA
National product per capita:
$2,900 (1993 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
−0.6% (1991 est.)
Unemployment rate:
NA%
Budget:
revenues:
$765 million
expenditures:
$952 million, including capital expenditures of $65 million (1990)
Exports:
$1.1 billion (f.o.b., 1990)
commodities:
crude oil 72%, lumber, plywood, coffee, cocoa, sugar, diamonds
partners:
US, France, other EC countries
Imports:
$704 million (c.i.f., 1990)
commodities:
foodstuffs, consumer goods, intermediate manufactures, capital
equipment
partners:
France, Germany, Italy, Spain, other EC countries, US, Japan, Brazil
External debt:
$4.1 billion (1991)
Industrial production:
growth rate 1.2% (1989); accounts for 33% of GDP; includes petroleum
Electricity:
capacity:
140,000 kW
production:
315 million kWh
consumption per capita:
135 kWh (1991)
Industries:
petroleum, cement, lumbering, brewing, sugar milling, palm oil, soap,
