Zaire

Zaire was the name of the Second Republic of Democratic Republic of the Congo between 1971 and 1997. Although it came into use in 1971, the name Zaire is often still used for the portion of the Congo controlled by Mobutu since 1965. This article addresses this subsequent usage.

In 1960 the Belgian Congo gained its independence as the "Republic of the Congo" from Belgium. This was the same as a former French colony,Congo, with which it shares a border. In 1966 the Republic of the Congo added Democratic to become Democratic Republic of the Congo. However, the two countries are commonly distinguished by their capitals: Congo (Kinshasa) (then Congo (L�opoldville)) and Congo (Brazzaville). When General Joseph-D�sir� Mobutu came to power in 1965, he embarked on an "authenticity" campaign. The country was thus renamed the Republic of Zaire, after a local word for "river". General Mobutu became Mobutu Sese Seko and forced all his citizens to adopt African names and many cities were also renamed. Some of the conversions are as follows:

    * L�opoldville became Kinshasa
    * Stanleyville became Kisangani
    * Elisabethville became Lubumbashi
    * Jadotville became Likasi
    * Albertville became Kalemie

Additionally, the za�re was introduced to replace the franc as the new national currency. 100 makuta (singular likuta) equaled one za�re.

After Laurent-Desir� Kabila overthrew Mobutu in 1997, the country reverted to the name Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Links

Im�genes de alto Zaire - Recorrido fotogr�fico por la selva de alto Zaire.
-- http://www.rmsl.es/zaire/principal.htm   World: Espa�ol: Pa�ses: �frica: Rep�blica Democr�tica del Congo   (5)

University of Texas Libraries - Democratic Republic of the Congo (former Zaire) Maps - Country, city and thematic maps from the Perry-Casta�eda Library Map Collection at the University of Texas, along with links to maps on other web sites.
-- http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/zaire.html   Regional: Africa: Congo, Democratic Republic of the: Maps and Views   (1)

US Library of Congress - Country Studies: Zaire - Country profile, history, geography, economy, politics.
-- http://lcweb2.loc.gov/frd/cs/zrtoc.html   Regional: Africa: Congo, Democratic Republic of the: Guides and Directories   (2)

Davids' Potato Zaire - Zairese side dish using garbanzo beans at Vegweb.
-- http://vegweb.com/recipes/vegetables/536.shtml   Home: Cooking: World Cuisines: African: Congolese   (1)

The Africa Guide - Democratic Rep. Congo (Zaire) - Provides visitor information along with background material on the people and their culture including their music, cuisine, festivals, arts and crafts.
-- http://www.africaguide.com/country/zaire/   Regional: Africa: Congo, Democratic Republic of the: Travel and Tourism: Travel Guides   (1)

Welt in Zahlen - Demokratische Republik Kongo (Zaire) - Statistische Daten, Zahlen und Fakten zu Geschichte, Geografie, Demografie, Wirtschaft, Kommunikation, Transport, Gesundheits- und Bildungswesen.
-- http://www.welt-in-zahlen.de/laenderinformation.phtml?country=105   World: Deutsch: Regional: Afrika: Kongo, Demokratische Republik   (1)

Key facts about Zaire - [CNN]
-- http://www.cnn.com/WORLD/9704/zaire.focus/facts.html   News: Online Archives: CNN.com: 1999: January: World   (8)

CD Domain - Congo, Democratic republic of the (former Zaire) - NIC for .cd CCTLD.
-- http://www.nic.cd/   Computers: Internet: Domain Names: Official Registrars: Country Domains: C   (1)

Salonga National Park - UNESCO World Heritage Site. The largest tropical rainforest reserve, at the heart of the central river basin of the Zaire River, Salonga National Park is very isolated and accessible only by water. It is the habitat of many endemic endangered species.
-- http://www.unesco.org/whc/sites/280.htm   Regional: Africa: Congo, Democratic Republic of the: Science and Environment: National Parks   (2)

Birding Congo - Checklists, birding locations, endemic species accounts, and links for birding in the Democratic Republic of Congo (formerly Zaire).
-- http://www.tommy777.addr.com/   Recreation: Birding: Africa   (1)

AllPolitics Zaire Mission - [CNN]
-- http://www.cnn.com/ALLPOLITICS/1996/news/9611/13/zaire/index.html   News: Online Archives: CNN.com: 1998: August: Politics   (1)

Authentic Africa - Specializing in tribal art from Angola to Zaire, stools, masks, statues, jewelry, and animal skins.
-- http://www.authenticafrica.com   Shopping: Ethnic and Regional: African   (1)

Awaken To Africa: A Woman's Journey By Motorcycle. - Extracts from a book by Heather Ellis on her solo motorcycle journey from south to north Africa by Yamaha TT600 motorcycle. Including Kenya, Zaire, Ghana, Mali, Mauritania.
-- http://www.heather-ellis.com/africa/   Recreation: Motorcycles: Touring: Touring Stories   (1)

Hannaway, Francis - Travels from Middlesbrough, England to Poland, Zaire, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia. Plus pictures of his house and garden.
-- http://members.tripod.com/francish7/id17.htm   Society: People: Personal Homepages: H   (1)

Fountain of Hope for Girls and Women - (Fontaine d'Espoir pour Filles et Femmes). Nonprofit in Democratic Republic of the Congo (former Zaire) the rights and liberties of women. Historical background, current conditions, and how to get involved. In French, English, and German.
-- http://pages.ivillage.com/ceffemmes/   Society: People: Women: Organizations: Advocacy   (1)

Theatrehistory.com: Voltaire - Biography focusing on the author's theatrical activities, plus a synopsis of Zaire.
-- http://www.theatrehistory.com/french/voltaire.html   Society: Philosophy: Philosophers: V: Voltaire   (1)

Caritas Idiofa - Unterst�tzt den Aufbau der Infrastruktur der katholischen Diozese Idiofa in der Democratic Republic of Congo (ehemals Zaire, die im Zuge der Verw�stung durch die vorhergegangenden B�rgerkriege gelitten hat. Die dortigen Lebensumst�nde und Probleme werden erl�utert und zum Projekt informiert.
-- http://www.spesviva.org/CaritasIdiofa/index.htm   World: Deutsch: Gesellschaft: Hilfe und Entwicklung: Afrika   (1)

CDI Bwamanda - Site van een integraal ontwikkelingsproject in Congo (vroegere Zaire). Met nieuwsbrieven en gegevens over activiteiten in Congo.
-- http://www.cdibwamanda.be   World: Nederlands: Maatschappij: Organisaties: Ontwikkelingssamenwerking   (1)

Gerald Felix Tchicaya U Tam'si - Zaire (1931-1988). Short biography and small collection of poems in English translation.
-- http://web.uflib.ufl.edu/cm/africana/utamsi.htm   Arts: Literature: Poetry: In Translation: African   (1)

Black Rhino - Ett niomannaband med medlemmar fr�n Kongo (f.d. Zaire), Uganda, Senegal och Sverige som spelar en mix av soukous, highlife, afrobeat, med vissa inslag av soul och latin.
-- http://www.fortunecity.com/victorian/memorial/83/black.html   World: Svenska: Kultur: Musik: Stilar: V�rldsmusik   (1)