note - the interim government of President Tajiddine Ben Said
MASSOUNDE, which had assumed power on 6 November 1998 upon the death
of President Mohamed TAKI Abdulkarim, was overthrown in a bloodless
coup on 30 April 1999

head of government: Prime Minister Hamada MADI (since late November
2000)

cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president

elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;
election last held 6 and 16 March 1996 (next to be held NA); prime
minister appointed by the president

note: President AZALI claimed a one-year term at the time of the
coup; but elections, promised for spring 2000, were not held

election results: results of the last presidential election before
the coup were: Mohamed TAKI Abdulkarim elected president; percent of
vote - 64.3%

Congo, Democratic Republic of the:
chief of state: Joseph KABILA
(since 26 January 2001); note - the president succeeded his father
Laurent Desire KABILA after his assassination on 16 January 2001; as
president he is both chief of state and head of government

head of government: Joseph KABILA (since 26 January 2001); note -
the president succeeded his father Laurent Desire KABILA after his
assassination on 16 January 2001; as president he is both chief of
state and head of government

cabinet: National Executive Council, appointed by the president

elections: before Laurent Desire KABILA seized power, the president
was elected by popular vote for a seven-year term; election last
held 29 July 1984 (next was scheduled to be held in May 1997);
formerly, the prime minister was elected by the High Council of the
Republic; note - elections were not held in 1991 as called for by
the constitution

election results: results of the last election were: MOBUTU Sese
Seko Kuku Ngbendu wa Za Banga reelected president in 1984 without
opposition

note: Marshal MOBUTU Sese Seko Kuku Ngbendu wa Za Banga was
president from 24 November 1965 until forced into exile on 16 May
1997 when his government was overthrown militarily by Laurent Desire
KABILA, who immediately assumed governing authority; KABILA pledged
to hold elections by April 1999, but in December 1998 announced that
elections would be postponed until all foreign military forces
attempting to topple the government had withdrawn from the country;
KABILA was assassinated in January 2001 and