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General Information Area: 342,000 sq km (132,047 sq miles). Population: 2,894,336 (official estimate 2001). Population Density: 8.5 per sq km. Capital: Brazzaville. Population: 950,000 (1997). GEOGRAPHY: Congo is situated in Africa, bounded to the north by Cameroon and the Central African Republic, to the south and east by the Democratic Republic of Congo, to the southwest by the Atlantic and to the west by Gabon. The Cabinda Enclave, belonging to Angola, lies to the southwest, on the Atlantic coast. Vast areas are swamps, grassland or thick forests with rivers being virtually the only means of internal travel. The vast River Congo and its major tributaries form most of the country’s border with the Democratic Republic of Congo, drawing much of its water from the swamplands in the north of the country. The narrow sandy coastal plain is broken by lagoons behind which rise the Mayombe Mountains. Most of the population lives in the south of the country. Government: Republic. Gained independence from France in 1960. Head of State and Government: President Denis Sassou-Nguesso since 1997. Language: The official language is French. Other major languages are Lingala, Munukutuba and Kikongo. English is spoken very little. Religion: The majority is Animist, with 45 per cent Roman Catholic. There are small Protestant and Muslim minorities. Time: GMT + 1. Electricity: 220 volts AC, 50Hz. Communications:   Telephone IDD service is available in major cities only. Country code: 242. Outgoing international code: 00. Links with Western Europe are generally poor. Mobile telephone GSM 900 networks are operated by CelTel Congo (website: www.msi-cellular.com) or Libertis Telecom. Coverage is mainly limited to Brazzaville and Pointe Noire. Fax Large hotels may be able to provide services. Internet ISPs include Africances (website: www.africances.com) and Congonet (website: www.congonet.cg). Facilities are available at hotels. Telegram Services are available in cities at the main post offices and some hotels. Post There is an unreliable internal service. Post office hours: Mon-Fri 0730/0800-1200 and 1430-1730; and (for stamps and telegrams) Mon-Sat 0800-2000; Sun and public holidays 0800-1200. Press Daily papers, which are all published in French, include Aujourd’hui, L’Eveil de Pointe-Noire, Mweti and Journal de Brazzaville. BBC World Service and Voice of America frequencies: From time to time these change. BBC (website: www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice): MHz 17.83 15.40 11.77 7.160 Voice of America (website: www.voa.gov): MHz 15.58 11.98 6.035 0.909 From www.columbusguides.com, Copyright © 2004 Highbury Columbus Travel Publishing Terms and Conditions apply.