rty until January
1991--Popular Movement of the Revolution (MPR); other parties include
Union for Democracy and Social Progress (UDPS), Etienne TSHISEKEDI
wa Mulumba;
Democratic Social Christian Party (PDSC),
Union of Federalists and Independent Republicans (UFERI);
and Congolese National Movement-Lumumba (MNC-L)

_#_Suffrage: universal and compulsory at age 18

_#_Elections:

President--last held 29 July 1984 (next to be held before
December 1991);
results--President MOBUTU was reelected without opposition;

Legislative Council--last held 6 September 1987
(next to be held in 1991, probably on a multiparty basis);
results--MPR was the only party;
seats--(210 total) MPR 210; note--MPR still holds majority of seats
but some deputies have joined other parties

_#_Communists: no Communist party

_#_Member of: ACCT, ACP, AfDB, APC, CCC, CEEAC, CEPGL, CIPEC, ECA,
FAO, G-19, G-24, G-77, GATT, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO,
IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, LORCS, NAM, OAU, PCA, UN, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

_#_Diplomatic representation: Ambassador TATANENE Manata;
Chancery at 1800 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington DC 20009;
telephone (202) 234-7690 or 7691;

US--Ambassador Melissa F. WELLS; Embassy at 310 Avenue des
Aviateurs, Kinshasa (mailing address is APO New York 09662); telephone
[243] (12) 21532; 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 1990, 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 only about $200, one of the lowest on the
continent. The country's chronic economic problems worsened in 1990,
with copper production down 20% to a 20-year low, inflation near
250% compared with 100% in 1987-89, and IMF and most World Bank support
suspended until the institution of agreed-on changes. Agriculture, a key
sector of the economy, employs 75% of the population but generates
under 25% of GDP. The main potential 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.
Zaire is the world's largest