DRC

The DRC (Democratic Republic of Congo) is a central African nation and the second-largest country on the continent by area. Its capital is Kinshasa, and the country has a population exceeding 100 million people. The DRC possesses one of the world's richest endowments of natural resources, including vast reserves of cobalt, copper, diamonds, gold, coltan and other critical minerals that underpin its economy. Mining is the dominant sector, with the country supplying more than two-thirds of global cobalt production, a metal essential for electric-vehicle batteries and renewable-energy technologies. The DRC's mineral wealth has attracted major international mining companies, including Glencore and other multinational operators, though the sector faces challenges related to infrastructure, governance and artisanal mining practices. The country uses the Congolese franc as its currency and is a member of the Southern African Development Community and the African Union. Political instability, armed conflict in eastern regions and regulatory uncertainty have historically complicated investment, yet the DRC remains a strategic supplier of critical minerals to global markets. The nation gained independence from Belgium in 1960 and was known as Zaire between 1971 and 1997 before reverting to its current name.