{"id":47,"date":"2025-04-25T16:25:34","date_gmt":"2025-04-25T21:25:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pages.stolaf.edu\/binti-voice-initiative\/?page_id=47"},"modified":"2025-08-25T13:39:45","modified_gmt":"2025-08-25T18:39:45","slug":"history-2","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/pages.stolaf.edu\/binti-voice-initiative\/history-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Geography & History"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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“The struggles Congolese women face today are rooted in a long history of oppression, dating back to slavery. To advocate effectively, we must understand the history of Congo and how it shaped the challenges women endure in Congo today”

Sarah Balekage<\/p><\/blockquote><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Part 1: Geography<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The Democratic Republic of Congo is a country located in Sub-Saharan Africa, precisely in central Africa. It is the second largest country in Africa following Algeria occupying 905,355 sq mi, and the 11th largest country in the world.<\/p>\u201cDemocratic Republic of the Congo, 2025
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Demography & Language<\/h1>\n\n\n\n

Home to over 115 million people, the DRC is the most populous French-speaking country in the world. About 51% of the population are women, and nearly 48% are under the age of 15. While French is the official language, the country is rich in linguistic diversity, with around 200 local languages spoken.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Capital and major cities<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The capital, Kinshasa, is Congo\u2019s political, economic, and cultural center with over 17 million people. Other major cities include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n