Discover
The identity of the nation
The Democratic Republic of the Congo is the second largest country in Africa and the geographic heart of the continent. Bathed by the mighty Congo River and covered by the second largest rainforest on the planet, the nation gathers more than 112 million people, hundreds of peoples and around 700 languages and dialects. French is the official language, while Lingala, Swahili, Kikongo and Tshiluba unite daily life across different regions.
It is a nation of deep faith: more than nine in every ten Congolese identify as Christians, among Catholics, Protestants, Kimbanguists and a revival movement growing in the major cities. Kinshasa, the capital, is one of the largest metropolises in Africa and one of the hubs of Congolese rumba (a Cuban/Congolese dance and music genre), music that crossed borders and shaped the country’s cultural identity.
Beneath this vitality lies one of the greatest contrasts in the world. The subsoil holds cobalt, copper, diamonds, gold and coltan, minerals essential to the global economy, yet most of the people live in poverty, with average income among the lowest on the planet. Decades of colonial exploitation, dictatorship and wars have left wounds that have not yet healed.
The east of the country remains marked by armed conflicts that have displaced millions of people. Groups such as the Allied Democratic Forces, linked to the Islamic State, attack Christian villages, while the dispute over territory and minerals prolongs the suffering of families. At the same time, the Congolese church is one of the firmest voices for peace and human dignity.
The calling on this nation is one of healing and reconciliation. Where there were centuries of plunder and violence, God is raising up a resilient, worshiping and missionary people, capable of bringing hope to the continent itself. There are still peoples without full access to the Scriptures in their own language and entire regions closed off by war, waiting for those who will bring the gospel with love and perseverance.
- Before colonization Kingdoms such as Kongo, Luba and Lunda flourished in the territory, with their own trade, metalworking and political organization.
- 1885 The territory becomes the personal property of King Leopold II of Belgium, the Congo Free State, under a brutal regime of exploitation that kills millions.
- 1908 Belgium takes control as a colony, the Belgian Congo.
- 1960 Independence on June 30; Patrice Lumumba becomes the first elected prime minister.
- 1961 Lumumba is deposed and assassinated, opening a period of crisis and foreign intervention.
- 1965 Joseph Mobutu seizes power in a coup and establishes a long dictatorship.
- 1971 Mobutu renames the country Zaire and imposes a cult of personality around himself.
- 1997 Mobutu falls; Laurent-Désiré Kabila takes over and restores the name Democratic Republic of the Congo.
- 1998 The Second Congo War begins, a conflict involving several countries that kills millions.
- 2006 Joseph Kabila is elected president after years of transition.
- 2019 Félix Tshisekedi takes office in the first peaceful transfer of power since independence.
- Today A majority Christian nation, rich in minerals and marked by conflict in the east, with peoples still lacking full access to the gospel.
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Frenchofficial, used in administration, education and the press
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Lingalanational language, widely spoken in Kinshasa and in the west
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Swahilinational language, predominant in the east of the country
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Kikongo (Kituba)national language of the southwest
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Tshilubanational language of the central region
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Local languagesaround 700 ethnic languages and dialects spread across the territory
The second largest country in Africa, the Democratic Republic of the Congo lies at the center of the continent and shares borders with nine nations. It is cut through by the Congo River, one of the mightiest and deepest rivers in the world, and largely covered by the Congo Rainforest, the second largest rainforest on Earth. To the east, volcanoes and lakes mark the highland terrain along the border with Rwanda and Uganda.
Major cities
- KinshasaCapital and one of the largest cities in Africa, on the banks of the Congo River
- LubumbashiMining hub in the south, second largest city
- Mbuji-MayiDiamond mining center in the central region
- KisanganiInland city on the upper Congo River, a historic landmark
- GomaEastern city, on Lake Kivu, at the epicenter of the conflicts
Climate and temperature
Fufu
Thick paste made from cassava or plantain, the base of the meal, eaten with the hands alongside stews.
Moambe
Considered the national dish, chicken or fish cooked in a thick palm nut sauce.
Pondu (saka-saka)
Pounded cassava leaves cooked with peanuts and palm oil, similar to a green sauté.
Liboke
Seasoned fish or meat wrapped in banana leaf and roasted, with a smoky flavor.
Makemba
Fried plantain, a very common side dish and snack.
Mikate
Fried sweet dough balls, popular for breakfast and snacks.
Understand
Culture and spirituality
2a · The culture
Music as identity
Congolese rumba, born in Kinshasa, is a national point of pride and has influenced the whole of Africa.
Strength of community
Life revolves around the extended family and solidarity among neighbors and relatives.
Languages that unite
Lingala and Swahili circulate among diverse peoples and give a sense of belonging.
The elegance of the Sape
The sapeurs movement (men who practice elegance in dress) turns fine dressing into a form of art and dignity.
Faith present in daily life
Prayer, worship and church are a natural part of people's routine.
Resilience in the face of pain
After wars and losses, the people maintain hope, joy and the capacity to start again.
- Reducing the country to war and poverty Congo is also culture, faith and human richness; a look of pity wounds dignity.
- Ignoring regional differences West and east have distinct languages, realities and tensions; generalizing leads to mistakes.
- Broaching ethnic topics lightly Rivalries between peoples have cost many lives; the subject requires care and listening.
- Displaying wealth or valuables Inequality is great and ostentation is frowned upon and risky.
- Devaluing local languages Speaking a few words in Lingala or Swahili opens doors and shows respect.
- Photographing people without permission Especially near official and military installations, it is wise to ask first.
2b · The field
Areas of spiritual battle and cultural captivity to cover in prayer. Tap each point to understand:
Beliefs in magic, curses and spirits still dominate the fears of many communities.
The Christian faith blends with traditional practices, diluting the gospel in part of the churches.
Rebel groups and militias sow terror, displacement and death, especially in the east.
Greed for the wealth beneath the soil fuels wars and keeps the people in misery.
The diversion of public resources drains what could transform people's lives.
Old rivalries between peoples are exploited and generate cycles of hatred and revenge.
Sexual abuse used as a weapon of war leaves deep scars on millions.
Extreme deprivation enslaves families to mere survival and steals children's dreams.
Children are abandoned or mistreated under accusations of sorcery.
Decades of conflict have left wounds of grief, displacement and distrust.
The Democratic Republic of the Congo is a majority Christian nation, but in the east Christians face extreme violence. The Allied Democratic Forces, a group linked to the Islamic State, attack villages with the declared goal of imposing sharia (Islamic law based on the Quran) and eliminating those who do not convert to Islam, killing, kidnapping and burning homes and churches.
Since the beginning of 2025, hundreds of civilians, most of them Christians, have been killed in massacres in the east. Millions of people have been displaced and live in precarious camps, fleeing fighting between militias, rebel groups such as M23 and government forces.
Beyond the armed violence, Catholic and Protestant leaders who denounce corruption or defend constitutional rights face threats, surveillance and intimidation. The Congolese church, however, stands firm: it shelters the displaced, cries out for peace and remains one of the most respected moral voices in the country.
The persecution score runs from 0 to 100: the higher it is, the greater the pressure on Christians.
The Democratic Republic of the Congo is home to hundreds of peoples and around 700 languages. Despite the Christian majority, there are groups still without full access to the gospel in their mother tongue, especially in regions isolated by the forest or by war. Many languages still lack a complete translation of the Scriptures, and the conflicts in the east make it difficult to reach entire communities.
- 791K Unreached 0,7%
- 43K Minimally reached 0%
- 221K Superficially reached 0,2%
- 10.4M Partially reached 9,3%
- 100.4M Significantly reached 89,7%
- 4 Unreached 1,7%
- 2 Minimally reached 0,9%
- 5 Superficially reached 2,2%
- 102 Partially reached 44,2%
- 118 Significantly reached 51,1%
Source of people group data: Joshua Project (joshuaproject.net). Estimates, may vary.
Swahili Frontier
Sul-Asiático
Deaf Frontier
Árabe
Source: Joshua Project. Estimates, may vary.
Pray
Intercede for this nation
Every nation carries a redemptive purpose. Marks that seem woven into the identity God desires to restore:
Go
Practical details for those who want to go
Local time
Cost of living
varies widely between regions and with currency instability
Cost by city
Reference values (source: Numbeo). Confirm before traveling.
Practical points for those who go
- Learn basic French: it is the official language and opens doors in administration and in the cities.
- In the east, follow security alerts: the region is experiencing active armed conflict.
- Get the yellow fever vaccine and take precautions against malaria.
- Use US dollars alongside the Congolese franc, which frequently loses value.
- Be mindful of safety in Kinshasa; avoid displaying valuables.
- A few words in Lingala or Swahili show respect and bring people closer.
Send and sustain
Not everyone goes, everyone takes part
Not everyone goes. Everyone takes part.
Behind every worker among these peoples stands a network of people who pray without ceasing, care for the family left behind, and faithfully sustain the work. Sending is mission too.
Start with your church: introduce this nation, adopt it in ongoing prayer, and walk alongside those God is raising up to go.