Democratic Republic of the Congo, lush green land and diamonds

The Democratic Republic of the Congo is a country located in Central Africa; its former name is Zaire. It is Africa’s third largest country by area, with a total of 2,345,000 square kilometers of land and a population of 70 million. The capital city is Kinshasa. Turkish citizens are required to obtain a visa in order to enter this country. A visa for the Congo can be obtained for 100 euros from the honorary consulate of DR Congo, located in Beykoz, İstanbul. A yellow fever vaccination certificate is required for entry.

The Democratic Republic of the Congo has suffered from serious internal conflict and the country is slowly working towards pulling itself back together. We head to the top of the SOZACOM Building, a 27-storey building that is the tallest in the nation and was built in 1972. The Congo River flows by us and on the other side of the river lies the Republic of the Congo, which should not be confused with the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Even though are some high-rises in the city of Kinshasa, outside of the city center the country mainly has rather small buildings. Kinshasa is spread out over a large amount of land.

Tropical climate

The Democratic Republic of the Congo has a tropical climate that is hot and humid all year round -- winter included -- and the temperature remains around a stable 30 degrees Celsius. Spread over a lush region, the country is home to spectacular views that extend as far as the eye can see. No matter which direction you head in, a beautiful shade of green meets the eye.

There are as many as 250 ethnic groups living in the Democratic Republic of Congo. While more than 700 local languages and dialects are spoken in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, French is the official language here. The four national languages are Kikongo, Tshiluba, Swahili and Lingala. In short, it is a country that is abundant in tribes and languages.

A Turkish school in Kinshasa, A local craftsman displays his goods

Kinshasa is the country’s largest city, with a population of around 10 million. Following Lagos and Cairo, it is Africa’s third most populous city. The most famous street in the city is the Boulevard du 30 Juin (“Boulevard of June 30th”). During our stay there, the street was being prepared for the 50th Anniversary of Independence ceremonies.

Kinshasa is 240 meters above sea level. Kinshasa’s central square, commonly referred to as “Victory Square,” is the most famous square in the country. The square, which was once adorned with a statue of King Leopold of Belgium, is now vacant. After they declared independence, the Congolese demolished the statue.

Continual migration to Kinshasa

Kinshasa is a densely populated city. The population naturally affects the traffic. There is a lack of proper urban planning in and around Kinshasa, which is a sister city to Ankara. The capital of the Republic of the Congo, Brazzaville, and the capital of the Democratic Republic of the Congo are the world’s closest capitals -- the two are just separated by the Congo River.

[QUICK FACTS] Capital: Kinshasa Official language: French Government: republic President: Joseph Kabila Prime Minister: Adolphe Muzito Area: 2,344,858 square kilometers Population: 70,916,439* Gross domestic product (PPP): $21.33 billion** Main religions: Roman Catholic (50 percent), Protestant (20 percent),  Kimbanguist (10 percent), Muslim (10 percent), other (10 percent) *July 2010 estimate **2009 estimate

Belgium was the last country in Europe to take part in the colonial race, but it received a good piece of the pie -- the Democratic Republic of Congo. Belgium exploited the country’s resources, both underground and above ground. For example, Belgium doesn’t have any diamond resources but one of the world’s four diamond stock exchanges is located in Antwerp. The diamonds arrived in Belgium from the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Belgium covers 30,000 square kilometers of land while the Democratic Republic of the Congo spans over 2,345,000 square kilometers of land -- almost 78 times that of Belgium. During the years 1884-1960, the Belgians were successful in spreading their language, religion and culture in this area. Today, 85 percent of the Congolese population is Christian and 10 percent is Muslim. The remaining population generally adheres to local faiths. There are only three Muslims in the Congolese Parliament, which seats 500.

Victory Square has become a symbol for the Congolese resistance against the Belgians. This is a square that played a very important role in the independence of the nation, which occurred in 1960.

The capital only has one five-star hotel and the cheapest accommodation there for a single night is $200. It is impossible to find a nice and clean hotel room in the capital for less than $100. Because there is insufficient housing in the country, rent is fairly high. The rent for a two-bedroom flat in a safe location begins at $1,000.

There are approximately 5,000 people of Lebanese origin in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and, just as they are in other African countries, the Lebanese are quite effective in trade and the economy. Lebanese businessmen handle important contracts there.

In a city where the rent is so high, we discover that the price of an apple, a single apple, is 50 cents. Fruits such as apples, pears and grapes are all quite expensive here because they are not grown in the country. A civil servant makes $70-$80 a month here; some even make as little as $50.