Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)
The DRC is the third largest country in Africa, occupying approximately 2.3 million square kilometres in central Africa.
The capital of the country is Kinshasa, which is located in the west of the country, on the Congo River, as seen on the map below.
The population of the DRC is approximately 71 million people, making it the 18th most populous nation in the world. The official language is French, although Lingala, Swahili, Kikongo and Tshiluba are also spoken.
The political situation in the DRC has improved significantly in recent years, and in 2006 the country held its first free elections in more than 40 years.
The economic conditions of the DRC are improving as a result of recent political stability in the country.
The DRC is widely considered to be one of the richest countries in the world regarding natural resources.
The mining sector is a key contributor to this economic growth. International mining companies that are currently operating in the DRC include Freeport McMoran, Anvil Mining, Katanga Mining, Metorex, Randgold Resources, AngloGold Ashanti and Banro.