Congo (Cherry, Plum, and Chrysanthemum)

Republic of the Congo République du Congo Timeline: Cherry, Plum, and Chrysanthemum OTL equivalent: Congo-Kinshasa without Katanga
Flag Coat of arms
Motto:  Justice – Paix – Travail (French) ("Justice – Peace – Work")
Anthem:  Debout Congolais
Location of Congo (Cherry, Plum, and Chrysanthemum) Location of the Congo (in green)
Capital		Kimbanguville
Official languages		French
Ethnic groups		Bantu; Mangbetu-Azande
Religion		Christianity; Islam; Traditional religion
Demonym		Congolese
Government		Unitary state; Parliamentary constitutional republic
Legislature		Parliament of the Congo
Establishment
-	Independence from Belgium	June 30, 1960
Area
-	Total	1,848,538 km2  713,724 sq mi
-	Water (%)	4.3%
Population
-	2022 estimate	102,655,712
Currency		Congolese franc (CDF)
Time zone		WAT and CAT (UTC+1 to +2)
Internet TLD		.cl
Calling code		+243

The Republic of the Congo (French: République du Congo), commonly referred as the Congo, is a country located in central Africa. It is the sixth biggest country in Africa by area and the 11th largest in the world. With a population of over 100 million, the Congo is the 19th most populous nation in the world, the 4th most populous nation in Africa, as well as the most populous officially French-speaking country.

The Congo borders the Central African Republic and the United Arab Republic to the north; Uganda, Rwanda, and Burundi in the east; Katanga and the Portuguese overseas province of Angola to the south; the Central African Republic, the Portuguese overseas province of Portuguese Congo, and the Atlantic Ocean to the west; and is separated from Tanganyika by Lake Tanganyika in the east. The country has access to the ocean through a 40 km (25 mi) stretch of Atlantic coastline at Muanda and the roughly nine km wide mouth of the Congo River which opens into the Gulf of Guinea. It has the second-highest total Christian population in Africa.

Further readings