A report on Democratic Republic of the Congo and East African Community

View of Leopoldville Station and Port in 1884

From left to right: President Yoweri Museveni of Uganda, President Mwai Kibaki of Kenya, and President Jakaya Kikwete of Tanzania during the eighth EAC summit in Arusha, November 2006.

1908 photograph of a married Christian couple.

EAC heads in 2009. From left to right: Yoweri Museveni (Uganda), Mwai Kibaki (Kenya), Paul Kagame (Rwanda), Jakaya Kikwete (Tanzania), Pierre Nkurunziza (Burundi).

Force Publique soldiers in the Belgian Congo in 1918. At its peak, the Force Publique had around 19,000 Congolese soldiers, led by 420 Belgian officers.

Rwandan President Paul Kagame at the 2006 EAC summit. Rwanda joined the EAC on 1 July 2007.

The leader of ABAKO, Joseph Kasa-Vubu, first democratically elected President of Congo-Léopoldville

Three EAC countries border Lake Victoria.

Patrice Lumumba, first democratically elected Prime Minister of the Congo-Léopoldville, was murdered by Belgian-supported Katangan separatists in 1961

Mount Kilimanjaro, Africa's tallest peak, located in Tanzania.

Mobutu Sese Seko and Richard Nixon in Washington, D.C., 1973.

Mobutu with the Dutch Prince Bernhard in Kinshasa in 1973

{{flagicon|Democratic Republic of the Congo}} Democratic Republic of the Congo

People fleeing their villages due to fighting between FARDC and rebel groups, North Kivu, 2012

Government troops near Goma during the M23 rebellion in May 2013

DR Congo's President Félix Tshisekedi with neighbouring Congolese President Denis Sassou Nguesso in 2020; both wear face masks due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

The map of the Democratic Republic of the Congo

Democratic Republic of the Congo map of Köppen climate classification

Mount Nyiragongo, which last erupted in 2021.

Joseph Kabila was President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo from January 2001 to January 2019.

President Joseph Kabila with U.S. President Barack Obama in August 2014

FARDC soldiers on patrol in Ituri province

A group of demobilized child soldiers in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

A proportional representation of Democratic Republic of the Congo exports, 2019

Change in per capita GDP of Congo, 1950–2018. Figures are inflation-adjusted to 2011 International dollars.

Rough diamonds ≈1 to 1.5 mm in size from DR Congo.

DR Congo's Human Development Index scores, 1970–2010.

Train from Lubumbashi arriving in Kindu on a newly refurbished line.

Kongo youth and adults in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo

Family in Rutshuru, North Kivu, Democratic Republic of the Congo

The population pyramid of the Democratic Republic of the Congo

A classroom in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Development of life expectancy in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

Population fleeing their villages due to fighting between FARDC and rebels groups, Sake North Kivu 30 April 2012

The Sts. Peter and Paul Cathedral, Lubumbashi

The East African Community (EAC) is an intergovernmental organisation composed of seven countries in the Great Lakes region of East Africa: the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the United Republic of Tanzania, the Republics of Kenya, Burundi, Rwanda, South Sudan, and Uganda.

- East African Community

It is a member of the United Nations, Non-Aligned Movement, African Union, East African Community, COMESA, Southern African Development Community, and the Economic Community of Central African States.

- Democratic Republic of the Congo

9 related topics with Alpha

Tanzania

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Country in East Africa within the African Great Lakes region.

A 1.8-million-year-old stone chopping tool discovered at Olduvai Gorge and on display at the British Museum.

A 1572 depiction of the portuguese city of Kilwa, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Battle during the Maji Maji Rebellion against German colonial rule in 1905.

Tanzania map of Köppen climate classification

The Masai giraffe is Tanzania's national animal

The semi-autonomous Zanzibar Archipelago

Tanzanian ambassador to Russia Jaka Mwambi presenting his credentials to the Russian President Dmitry Medvedev

Tanzanian Embassy in West End, Washington, D.C., USA

FIB Tanzanian special forces during training

A proportional representation of Tanzania exports, 2019

Historical development of real GDP per capita in Tanzania, since 1950

Nyerere Bridge in Kigamboni, Dar es Salaam

Domestic expenditure on research in Southern Africa as a percentage of GDP, 2012 or closest year. Source: UNESCO Science Report: towards 2030 (2015), Figure 20.3

A Tanzanian woman cooks Pilau rice dish wearing traditional Kanga.

Farmers using a rice harvester to harvest rice in Igunga District, Tanzania

Example of a World Food Programme parcel

Researchers (HC) in Southern Africa per million inhabitants, 2013 or closest year

Scientific publications per million inhabitants in SADC countries in 2014. Source: UNESCO Science Report (2015), data from Thomson Reuters' Web of Science, Science Citation Index Expanded

A carved door with Arabic calligraphy in Zanzibar

Nkrumah Hall at the University of Dar es Salaam

Judith Wambura (Lady Jaydee) is a popular Bongo Flava recording singer.

St Joseph's Catholic cathedral, Zanzibar

International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda in Arusha

East African Legislative Assembly in Arusha

It borders Uganda to the north; Kenya to the northeast; Comoro Islands and the Indian Ocean to the east; Mozambique and Malawi to the south; Zambia to the southwest; and Rwanda, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the west.

Tanzania is a member of many international organizations such as the United Nations (UN), African Union (AU), East African Community (EAC), and Southern African Development Community (SADC) among many others.

Swahili in Arabic script—memorial plate at the Askari Monument, Dar es Salaam (1927)

Swahili language

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Native language of the Waswahili who are found along the East African coast and litoral islands .

Although originally written with the Arabic script, Swahili is now written in a Latin alphabet introduced by Christian missionaries and colonial administrators. The text shown here is the Catholic version of the Lord's Prayer.

Swahili in Arabic script on the clothes of a girl in German East Africa (ca. early 1900s)

Loxodonta africana elephants frolic in Amboseli National Park, Kenya, 2012.

Due to concerted efforts by the government of Tanzania, Swahili is one of three official languages (the others being English and French) of the East African Community (EAC) countries, namely Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania, and Uganda.

Uganda

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Landlocked country in East Africa.

A caesarean section performed by indigenous healers in Kahura, in the Empire of Kitara (present-day Uganda) as observed by medical missionary Robert William Felkin in 1879. This incident was recorded long before the arrival of the European missionary doctors and clinics. The kingdom performed a highly developed surgical procedure, the first-ever cesarean section technique that saved both the mother and child.

Construction of the Owen Falls Dam in Jinja.

The Uganda printers building on Kampala Road, Kampala, Uganda

Grey Crowned Crane - a symbol of Uganda.

Belligerents of the Second Congo War. On 19 December 2005, the International Court of Justice found against Uganda, in a case brought by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, for illegal invasion of its territory, and violation of human rights.

Uganda map of Köppen climate classification.

U.S. President George W. Bush met with President Yoweri Museveni in Entebbe, Uganda, 11 July 2003.

Protests in New York City against Uganda's Anti-Homosexuality Bill.

Graphical depiction of Uganda's product exports in 28 color-coded categories.

Change in per capita GDP of Uganda, 1950–2018. Figures are inflation-adjusted to 2011 International dollars.

Mobile operators offer money sending, receiving services, bill payments among many more services.

Cultural celebrations in Northern Uganda

Saint Mary's Cathedral Rubaga, is the parent cathedral of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Kampala.

The country is bordered to the East by Kenya, to the North by South Sudan, to the west by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, to the south-west by Rwanda, and to the south by Tanzania.

Uganda is a member of the East African Community (EAC), along with Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi and South Sudan.

Image of the region between Lake Victoria (on the right) and Lakes Edward, Kivu and Tanganyika (from north to south) showing dense vegetation (bright green) and fires (red).

East Africa

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Eastern subregion of the African continent.

The Bab-el-Mandeb crossing in the Red Sea: now some 12 miles (20 km) wide, narrower in prehistory.

Early Iron Age findings in East and Southern Africa

Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo and South Sudan are members of the East African Community. The first five are also included in the African Great Lakes region. Burundi and Rwanda are at times also considered to be part of Central Africa.

Rwanda

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Landlocked country in the Great Rift Valley of Central Africa, where the African Great Lakes region and Southeast Africa converge.

A reconstruction of the ancient King's Palace at Nyanza

Juvénal Habyarimana, president from 1973 to 1994

Human skulls at the Nyamata Genocide Memorial

The Kagera and Ruvubu rivers, part of the upper Nile

Lake and volcano in the Virunga Mountains

Volcanoes National Park is the home of the largest population of Mountain Gorillas in the world.

Estimated development of real GDP per capita in Rwanda, since 1950

Coffee beans drying in Maraba. Coffee is one of Rwanda's major cash crops.

Mountain gorillas in Volcanoes National Park

Children in a Rwandan primary school, using laptops supplied by the One Laptop Per Child program

Butaro Hospital at Burera, Northern Province

Historical development of life expectancy in Rwanda

Adrien Niyonshuti, "one of the most famous people in Rwanda", competing in the cross-country mountain biking event at the 2012 Summer Olympics

Graphical depiction of Rwanda's product exports.

Rwanda produced 2.6 million tons of banana in 2019, its largest cash crop.

Located a few degrees south of the Equator, Rwanda is bordered by Uganda, Tanzania, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

The country is a member of the African Union, the United Nations, the Commonwealth of Nations, COMESA, OIF and the East African Community.

Burundi

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Landlocked country in the Great Rift Valley where the African Great Lakes region and East Africa converge.

Flag of the Kingdom of Burundi (1962–1966).

Independence Square and monument in Bujumbura.

Belligerents of the Second Congo War. Burundi backed the rebels.

View of the capital city Bujumbura in 2006.

Pierre Nkurunziza, President of Burundi in 2005–2020.

Hippos at Kibira National Park in the Northwest of Burundi

A proportional representation of Burundi exports, 2019

Historical development of GDP per capita

Graphical depiction of Burundi's product exports in 28 colour-coded categories in 2009.

Bujumbura International Airport terminal in Bujumbura

Bicycles are a popular means of transport in Burundi

Carolus Magnus School in Burundi. The school benefits from the campaign "Your Day for Africa" by Aktion Tagwerk.

It is bordered by Rwanda to the north, Tanzania to the east and southeast, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the west; Lake Tanganyika lies along its southwestern border.

In addition, Burundi, along with Rwanda, joined the East African Community in 2007.

South Sudan

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Landlocked country in Central Africa.

John Garang de Mabior led the Sudan People's Liberation Army until his death in 2005.

A South Sudanese girl at independence festivities

Military situation in South Sudan on 22 March 2020
Under control of the Government of South Sudan
Under control of the Sudan People's Liberation Movement-in-Opposition
Under control of the Government of Sudan

Salva Kiir Mayardit, the first President of South Sudan. His trademark Stetson hat was a gift from United States President George W. Bush.

South Sudan's presidential guard on Independence Day, 2011

The ten states and three administrative areas of South Sudan grouped in the three historical provinces of the Sudan Bahr el Ghazal Equatoria Greater Upper Nile

The 32 states of South Sudan, after the addition of 4 more states in 2017

The ten states of South Sudan grouped in the three historical provinces of the Sudan Bahr el Ghazal Equatoria Greater Upper Nile

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry meets with President Salva Kiir, 26 May 2013

South Sudan map of Köppen climate classification.

Children in Yambio, Western Equatoria, South Sudan

Rural school children participating in the USAID-funded Southern Sudan Interactive Radio Instruction project, July 2010

Sunday Mass in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Rumbek

Scarified tribeswoman, South Sudan, 2011

South Sudanese-born basketball player Luol Deng

A proportional representation of South Sudan exports, 2019

Loka Teaks is the largest teak plantation in Africa.

Passengers atop a train travelling towards Wau

Two Mil Mi-17 helicopters at Juba Airport

It is bordered by Ethiopia, Sudan, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda and Kenya.

The country is a member of the United Nations, the African Union, the East African Community, and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development.

Southern African Development Community

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Inter-governmental organization headquartered in Gaborone, Botswana.

Of the 15 SADC member states, only Angola and the Democratic Republic of Congo are not yet participating, however Angolan trade minister Joffre Van-Dúnen Júnior said in Luanda that his ministry is working to create conditions for Angola's accession to the SADC Free Trade Area in 2019.

On Wednesday 22 October 2008, SADC joined with the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa and the East African Community to form the African Free Trade Zone, including all members of each of the organizations.

Kenyatta attending the U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit dinner at the White House, 2014

Uhuru Kenyatta

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Uhuru Muigai Kenyatta (

Uhuru with his father and the West German President Heinrich Lübke.

U.S. President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama greet President Uhuru Kenyatta in the Blue Room during a U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit dinner at the White House, 5 August 2014.

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry meets with President Uhuru Kenyatta of Kenya, President Yoweri Museveni of Uganda, President Ismail Omar Guelleh of Djibouti, and Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn of Ethiopia to discuss the situation in South Sudan at the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C., on 5 August 2014

U.S. President Donald Trump with President Kenyatta in Washington, D.C., on 27 August 2018

President of Kenya Uhuru Kenyatta with the British Foreign Secretary William Hague at an international conference in London (May 2013)

Map highlighting countries where Kenyatta made official visits while president

President Kenyatta has led and negotiated peace agreements in the South Sudan and in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

At the East African level, he has developed a close relationship with the Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni and Rwanda President Paul Kagame, creating the Coalition of the Willing, a caucus within the EAC that has signed on to more joint development and economic agreements than the other EAC partners, including a joint tourist visa.