kids encyclopedia robot

Zaire facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
Quick facts for kids
Republic of Zairea

République du Zaïre
Repubuliki ya Zaïre
Jamhuri ya Zaïre
1971–1997
Coat of arms of Zaire
Coat of arms
Motto: Paix – Justice – Travail  
"Peace – Justice – Work"
Anthem: La Zaïroise
"The Song of Zaire"
Location of Zaire
Capital Kinshasa
Common languages French
Lingala · Kongo
Swahili · Tshiluba
Religion
Christianity, Baluba religion, Bantu religion
Demonym(s) Zairian
Government Mobutist one-party republicc
under a de facto military dictatorshipd
President  
• 1971–1997
Mobutu Sese Seko
Historical era Cold War
• Coup d'état
25 November 1965
• Country renamed
27 October 1971
• Mobutu overthrown
16 May 1997
• Death of Mobutu
7 September 1997
Area
1996 2,345,410 km2 (905,570 sq mi)
Population
• 1996
46498539
Currency Zaïre
Time zone CET / EET
Calling code 243
Internet TLD .zr
Preceded by
Succeeded by
Republic of the Congo (Léopoldville)
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Today part of  DR Congo
a. Renamed from "Democratic Republic of the Congo" (République démocratique du Congo) on 27 October 1971.
b. Changed from "Léopoldville" in 1966.
c. Zaire became a de jure one-party state on December 23, 1970, but had been a de facto one-party state since May 20, 1967, the date on which the MPR (Mouvement Populaire de la Revolution) was established. Zaire formally adopted a multiparty system on April 24, 1990, when Mobutu delivered a speech proclaiming the end of the one-party system. The country adopted multipartyism de jure with the passage of Law No. 90-002 of July 5, 1990, which amended its constitution accordingly.
d. 1990–1997.

Zaire, officially the Republic of Zaire (French: République du Zaïre) was the name of a country that is now called the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It used this name from 27 November 1971 to 17 May 1997. The name "Zaire" comes from a Portuguese corruption of the Kongo word nzare, meaning "river".

Images for kids

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Zaire para niños

kids search engine
Zaire Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.