nister LUNDA Bululu (since 25 April
1988)

Political parties and leaders: only party--Popular Movement of the
Revolution (MPR)

Suffrage: universal and compulsory at age 18

Elections:
President--last held 29 July 1984 (next to be held July 1991);
results--President Mobutu was reelected without opposition;

National Legislative Council--last held 6 September 1987
(next to be held September 1992);
results--MPR is the only party;
seats--(210 total) MPR 210

Communists: no Communist party

Member of: ACP, AfDB, APC, CCC, CIPEC, EAMA, EIB (associate), FAO, G-77,
GATT, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICO, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT,
INTERPOL, IPU, ITC, ITU, NAM, OAU, OCAM, UN, UNESCO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation: Ambassador (vacant),
Charge d'Affaires MUKENDI Tambo a Kabila;
Chancery at 1800 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington DC 20009;
telephone (202) 234-7690 or 7691;
US--Ambassador William C. HARROP; Embassy at 310 Avenue des Aviateurs,
Kinshasa (mailing address is APO New York 09662); telephone 243o (12) 25881
through 25886; there is a US Consulate General in Lubumbashi

Flag: light green with a yellow disk in the center bearing a black arm
holding a red flaming torch; the flames of the torch are blowing away from the
hoist side; uses the popular pan-African colors of Ethiopia

- Economy
Overview: In 1988, in spite of large mineral resources and one of the most
developed and diversified economies in Sub-Saharan Africa, Zaire had
a GDP per capita of $195, one of the lowest on the continent. Agriculture,
a key sector of the economy, employs 75% of the population but generates
under 30% of GDP. The main impetus for economic development has been the
extractive industries. Mining and mineral processing account for about
one-third of GDP and two-thirds of total export earnings. During the period
1983-88 the economy experienced slow growth, high inflation, a rising foreign
debt, and a drop in foreign exchange earnings. Recent increases in foreign
prices for copper--a key export earner--and other minerals offer some hope of
reversing the economic decline. Zaire is the world's largest producer of
diamonds.

GDP: $6.5 billion, per capita $195; real growth rate 2.8% (1988)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 82% (1988)

Unemployment rate: NA%

Budget: revenues $856 million; expenditures $2.3 billion, including
capital expenditures of $655 million (1988)

Exports: $2.2 billion (f.o.b.,