The 1996 CIA World Factbook. United States. Central Intelligence Agency

Renewal (URD); Union for Development and Social Progress (UDPS),

       Jean-Michael BOKAMBA-YANGOUMA, leader

      Other political or pressure groups: Union of Congolese Socialist

       Youth (UJSC); Congolese Trade Union Congress (CSC); Revolutionary

       Union of Congolese Women (URFC); General Union of Congolese Pupils

       and Students (UGEEC)

      International organization participation: ACCT, ACP, AfDB, BDEAC,

       CCC, CEEAC, ECA, FAO, FZ, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC,

       IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ITU, NAM, OAU, UDEAC,

       UN, UNAMIR, UNAVEM III, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO,

       WMO, WToO

      Diplomatic representation in US:

       chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Daniel

       MOUELLET

       chancery: 4891 Colorado Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20011

       telephone: [1] (202) 726–0825

       FAX: [1] (202) 726–1860

      US diplomatic representation:

       chief of mission: Ambassador William C. RAMSEY

       embassy: Avenue Amilcar Cabral, Brazzaville

       mailing address: B. P. 1015, Brazzaville

       telephone: [242] 83 20 70

       FAX: [242] 83 63 38

      Flag: divided diagonally from the lower hoist side by a yellow band; the upper triangle (hoist side) is green and the lower triangle is red; uses the popular pan-African colors of Ethiopia

      Economy———

      Economic overview: Congo's economy is a mixture of village agriculture and handicrafts, an industrial sector based largely on oil, support services, and a government characterized by budget problems and overstaffing. Oil has supplanted forestry as the mainstay of the economy, providing about 90% of government revenues and exports. In the early 1980s, rapidly rising oil revenues enabled Congo to finance large-scale development projects with GDP growth averaging 5% annually, one of the highest rates in Africa. Subsequently, falling oil prices cut GDP growth by half. Moreover, the Congolese Government has mortgaged a substantial portion of its oil earnings, contributing to the government's shortage of revenues. The 12 January 1994 devaluation of Franc Zone currencies by 50% resulted in inflation of 61% in 1994. Recent efforts to implement economic reforms have begun to show progress; the IMF has recommended approval of an Enhanced Structural Adjustment Facility agreement in 1996.

      GDP: purchasing power parity - $7.7 billion (1995 est.)

      GDP real growth rate: 3.3% (1995 est.)

      GDP per capita: $3,100 (1995 est.)

      GDP composition by sector: agriculture: 11.4% industry: 35.2% services: 53.4% (1993)

      Inflation rate (consumer prices): 61% (1994 est.)

      Labor force: 79,100 wage earners by occupation: agriculture 75%, commerce, industry, and government 25%

      Unemployment rate: NA%

      Budget:

       revenues: $2.18 billion (1994 est.)

       expenditures: $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA

      Industries: petroleum extraction, cement kilning, lumbering,

       brewing, sugar milling, palm oil, soap, cigarette making

      Industrial production growth rate: 3.7% (estimated average annual

       growth rate for 1980–92)

      Electricity: capacity: 120,000 kW production: 400 million kWh consumption per capita: 201 kWh (1993)

      Agriculture: cassava (tapioca) accounts for 90% of food output, sugar, rice, corn, peanuts, vegetables, coffee, cocoa; forest products

      Exports: $1 billion (f.o.b., 1995)

       commodities: crude oil 90%, lumber, plywood, sugar, cocoa, coffee,

       diamonds

       partners: Italy, France, Spain, other EU countries, US, Taiwan

      Imports: $600 million (c.i.f., 1995)

       commodities: intermediate manufactures, capital equipment,

       construction materials, foodstuffs, petroleum products

       partners: France, Italy, other EU countries, US, Japan, Thailand

      External debt: $5 billion (1993)

      Economic aid:

       recipient: ODA, $NA

      Currency: 1 Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (CFAF) = 100

       centimes

      Exchange rates: CFA francs (CFAF) per US$1 - 500.56 (January

       1996), 499.15 (1995), 555.20 (1994), 283.16 (1993), 264.69 (1992),

       282.11 (1991)

       note: beginning 12 January 1994, the CFA franc was devalued to CFAF

       100 per French franc from CFAF 50 at which it had been fixed since

       1948

      Fiscal year: calendar year

      Transportation———————

      Railways:

       total: 795 km (1995 est.)

       narrow gauge: 795 km 1.067-m gauge (includes 285 km that are

       privately owned)

      Highways:

       total: 12,745 km

       paved: 1,236 km

       unpaved: 11,509 km (1992 est.)

      Waterways: the Congo and Ubangi (Oubangui) Rivers provide 1,120 km of commercially navigable water transport; other rivers are used for local traffic only

      Pipelines: crude oil 25 km

      Ports: Brazzaville, Impfondo, Ouesso, Oyo, Pointe-Noire

      Merchant marine:

       total: 1 cargo ship (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 2,218 GRT/4,100 DWT

       (1995 est.)

      Airports:

       total: 34

       with paved runways over 3 047 m: 1

       with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 3

       with paved runways under 914 m: 9

       with unpaved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 7

       with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 14 (1995 est.)

      Communications———————

      Telephones: 18,000 (1983 est.)

      Telephone system: services adequate for government use; key

       exchanges are in Brazzaville, Pointe-Noire, and Loubomo

       domestic: primary network consists of microwave radio relay and

       coaxial cable

       international: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

      Radio broadcast stations: AM 4, FM 1, shortwave 0

      Radios: NA

      Television broadcast stations: 4 (1987 est.)

      Televisions: 8,500 (1993 est.)

      Defense———

      Branches: Army, Navy (includes Marines), Air Force, National Police

      Manpower availability: males age 15–49: 582,103 males fit for military service: 296,602 males reach military age (20) annually: 25,247 (1996 est.)

      Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $110 million, 3.8%