The United Congo
26-12-2005, 23:29
Factbook: The United Congo
Background:
Upon independence in 1960, the former French region of Middle Congo became the Republic of the Congo. A quarter century of experimentation with Marxism was abandoned in 1990 and a democratically elected government installed in 1992. A brief civil war in 1997 restored former Marxist President SASSOU-NGUESSO, but ushered in a period of ethnic unrest. Southern-based rebel groups agreed to a final peace accord in March 2003, but the calm was tenuous and refugees continue to present a humanitarian crisis. The December 2005 coup deposed President SASSOU-NGUESSO after criticisms from supporters that his Marxist policies were not effective, and was replaced when the military declared Minister for Defence Sentwali SHOMBAY as President of the newly renamed People’s Republic of the United Congo. The United Congo is one of Africa's largest petroleum producers with significant potential for offshore development.
Geography
Location:
Western Africa, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean, between Angola and Gabon
Geographic coordinates:
1 00 S, 15 00 E
Map references:
Africa
Area:
total: 342,000 sq km
land: 341,500 sq km
water: 500 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than Montana
Land boundaries:
total: 5,504 km
border countries: Angola 201 km, Cameroon 523 km, Central African Republic 467 km, Democratic Republic of the Congo 2,410 km, Gabon 1,903 km
Coastline:
169 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 200 nm
Climate:
tropical; rainy season (March to June); dry season (June to October); constantly high temperatures and humidity; particularly enervating climate astride the Equator
Terrain:
coastal plain, southern basin, central plateau, northern basin
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mount Berongou 903 m
Natural resources:
petroleum, timber, potash, lead, zinc, uranium, copper, phosphates, gold, magnesium, natural gas, hydropower
Land use:
arable land: 0.51%
permanent crops: 0.13%
other: 99.36% (2001)
Irrigated land:
10 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:
seasonal flooding
Environment - current issues:
air pollution from vehicle emissions; water pollution from the dumping of raw sewage; tap water is not potable; deforestation
Environment - international agreements:
party to: None
Geography - note:
about 70% of the population lives in Brazzaville, Pointe-Noire, or along the railroad between them
People
note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, lower population and growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2005 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 37.3% (male 571,011/female 563,414)
15-64 years: 59% (male 886,297/female 907,348)
65 years and over: 3.7% (male 45,799/female 65,257) (2005 est.)
Median age:
total: 20.7 years
male: 20.2 years
female: 21.1 years (2005 est.)
Population growth rate:
1.31% (2005 est.)
Birth rate:
27.88 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Death rate:
14.82 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.01 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.7 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2005 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 92.41 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 98.48 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 86.16 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 52.26 years
male: 51.17 years
female: 53.39 years (2005 est.)
Total fertility rate:
3.54 children born/woman (2005 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
4.9% (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
90,000 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
9,700 (2003 est.)
Major infectious diseases:
degree of risk: very high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne disease: malaria (2004)
Nationality:
noun: Congolese (singular and plural)
adjective: Congolese or Congo
Ethnic groups:
Kongo 48%, Sangha 20%, M'Bochi 12%, Teke 17%, Europeans and other 3%
note: Europeans estimated at 8,500, mostly French, before the 1997 civil war; may be half that in 1998, following the widespread destruction of foreign businesses in 1997
Religions:
Christian 50%, animist 48%, Muslim 2%
Languages:
French (official), Lingala and Monokutuba (lingua franca trade languages), many local languages and dialects (of which Kikongo is the most widespread)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 83.8%
male: 89.6%
female: 78.4% (2003 est.)
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: People’s Republic of the United Congo
conventional short form: Congo (Brazzaville)
local long form: none
local short form: none
former: Middle Congo, Congo/Brazzaville, Congo, Republic of the Congo
Government type:
Stalinist Dictatorship
Capital:
Brazzaville
Administrative divisions:
10 regions (regions, singular - region) and 1 commune*; Bouenza, Brazzaville*, Cuvette, Cuvette-Ouest, Kouilou, Lekoumou, Likouala, Niari, Plateaux, Pool, Sangha
Independence:
15 August 1960 (from France)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 15 August (1960)
Revolution Day, 26 December (2005)
Constitution:
Approved by referendum 20 January 2002
Suspended as of 26 December 2005 following military coup
Legal system:
Military court of justice
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Sentwali SHOMBAY (since 26 December 2005, following the coup in which the military toppled president SASSOU-NGUESSO); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Sentwali SHOMBAY (since 26 December 2005, following the coup in which the military toppled president SASSOU-NGUESSO); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
elections: None – Democratic system suspended following December 2005 coup
Legislative branch:
Legislature carried out by the Executive branch of the Council of Ministers following military coup that suspended the National Assembly and the Senate
elections: None – Democratic system suspended following December 2005 coup
Judicial branch:
Military Judicial Court
Political parties and leaders:
Communist Party of the United Congo [President Sentwali SHOMBAY] note: all other political parties banned
Political pressure groups and leaders:
None – all political pressure groups banned
International organization participation:
None
Flag description:
Blood red flag adorned with the hammer and sickle at its centre
Economy
Economy - overview:
The economy is a mixture of village agriculture and handicrafts, an industrial sector based largely on oil, support services, and a government characterized by budget problems and overstaffing. Oil has supplanted forestry as the mainstay of the economy, providing a major share of government revenues and exports. In the early 1980s, rapidly rising oil revenues enabled the government to finance large-scale development projects with GDP growth averaging 5% annually, one of the highest rates in Africa. The government has mortgaged a substantial portion of its oil earnings, contributing to a shortage of revenues. The 12 January 1994 devaluation of Franc Zone currencies by 50% resulted in inflation of 61% in 1994, but inflation has subsided since. Economic reform efforts continued with the support of international organizations, notably the World Bank and the IMF. The reform program came to a halt in June 1997 when civil war erupted. Denis SASSOU-NGUESSO, who returned to power when the war ended in October 1997, publicly expressed interest in moving forward on economic reforms and privatization and in renewing cooperation with international financial institutions. However, economic progress was badly hurt by slumping oil prices and the resumption of armed conflict in December 1998, which worsened the republic's budget deficit. The coup of December 2005 brought to power a government that promises to follow the policies of Stalinist nationalisation and collectivisation of industry in order to accelerate economic growth and development. However, the current administration presides over an uneasy internal peace and faces difficult economic challenges of stimulating recovery and reducing poverty.
Economic Statistics: http://nstracker.retrogade.com/index.php?nation=The+United+Congo
Communications
Telephones - main lines in use:
7,000 (2003)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
330,000 (2003)
Telephone system:
general assessment: services barely adequate for government use; key exchanges are in Brazzaville, Pointe-Noire, and Loubomo; intercity lines frequently out of order
domestic: primary network consists of microwave radio relay and coaxial cable
international: country code - 242; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 1, FM 5, shortwave 3 (2001)
Television broadcast stations:
1 (2002)
Internet country code:
.cg
Internet hosts:
46 (2003)
Internet users:
15,000 (2003)
Transportation
Railways:
total: 894 km
narrow gauge: 894 km 1.067-m gauge (2004)
Highways:
total: 12,800 km
paved: 1,242 km
unpaved: 11,558 km (1999 est.)
Waterways:
4,385 km (on Congo and Oubanqui rivers) (2004)
Pipelines:
gas 53 km; oil 646 km (2004)
Ports and harbours:
Brazzaville, Djeno, Impfondo, Ouesso, Oyo, Pointe-Noire
Airports:
32 (2004 est.)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 4
over 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 (2004 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 28
1,524 to 2,437 m: 6
914 to 1,523 m: 11
under 914 m: 11 (2004 est.)
Military
Military branches:
Congolese Armed Forces (FAC): Army, Air Force, Navy
Military service age and obligation:
18 years of age for compulsory military service (2005)
Manpower reaching military service age annually:
males: 34,281 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
See Defence Budget at http://nstracker.retrogade.com/index.php?nation=The+United+Congo
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
See Defence Budget at http://nstracker.retrogade.com/index.php?nation=The+United+Congo
Transnational Issues
Disputes - international:
about 7,000 Congolese refugees fleeing internal civil conflicts since the mid-1990s still reside in the Democratic Republic of the Congo; the location of the boundary in the broad Congo River with the Democratic Republic of the Congo is indefinite except in the Pool Malebo/Stanley Pool area
Order of Battle: Congolese Armed Forces
Total Personnel: 150,000
Combat: 59,610
Logistics & Other: 92,290
Army:
5 Infantry Divisions (50,000 troops, 1,000 troop trucks - 2,000 drivers)
3 Armoured Divisions (150 Rooikat AFVs, 600 crew)
2 Artillery Divisions (200 G5 155mm Howitzers, 1600 crew)
2 MRL Divisions (100 Valkiri MRLs, 200 crew)
1 Engineering Division (50 ATECs -150 crew, 50 M1059A3s - 150 crew, 50 M60 Mine-clearers – 150 crew, 50 ground-based Volcano minelayers – 150 crew)
Total Army Personnel: 55,000
Notes: The United Congo Army is the most advanced section of the Congolese Armed Forces, reflecting the government’s greater priority for land-based defence and security. However, it is still particularly undisciplined, under-funded and undermanned, acting more as an internal security force to maintain peace between the hostile tribes that dwell within the United Congolese borders. Infantry soldiers are conscripts, press-ganged into military service from the main cities and the outer lying villages and settlements. Platoons are largely armed with AK-47 rifles, however there is some variation where weapons are not available from the state and soldiers have brought their own weapons, usually bolt-action rifles used by families for self-defence. Armoured vehicle, artillery and engineering crews are better trained and disciplined, but suffer from a lack of supplies. The entire Army suffers from a critical lack of food, ammunition, fuel and medical supplies, whilst Command, Control & Communication systems are primitive and unreliable, mostly dependent on World War II radios. Independent analysis of the United Congo Army predicts that offensive operations would be next to impossible for anything longer than a matter of days, whilst a defensive war against a comparable force would be expected to last a fortnight before the UC Army would be forced to surrender due to several factors.
Air Force:
100 Mig-19 Interceptors – 100 pilots
200 Mig-17 Fighter-Bombers – 200 pilots
50 IL-14 Crates – 250 crew
50 Mi-4s – 150 crew
Total Air Force flying personnel: 700
Notes: The United Congo Air Force maintains a more reliable communication and training system than the Army due to its more complicated operations with aircraft. Pilots are still conscripted, and are trained by more experienced flyers that double as Instructors. Aircraft are incredibly outdated and are barely a match for most modern aircraft, so is largely relegated to a supporting role for ground forces. The UC Air Force, likes its Army counterpart, suffers from a lack of supplies in all areas, and war-time air operations would not last more than a few weeks.
Navy:
5 Tribal Class Destroyers (ex-British) - 950 crew
10 Revolution Class Patrol Vessels – 50 crew
1 Iowa Class Battleship (non-movable) – 2,800 crew
Total sailing personnel: 3,810
Notes: The most under-maintained division of the Congolese Armed Forces, the United Congo Navy comprises of 5 badly maintained ex-British World War II Destroyers with press-ganged crews and under-trained officers that make up the major defensive force of the United Congo shoreline, although they hardly ever leave port due to limited supplies. The fleet of ‘Revolution’ Class Patrol Vessels were created when the United Congo government requisitioned 10 fishing trawlers from the civilian shoreline population for patrol uses. The trawlers are unarmed by themselves, but usually carry around 10 soldiers onboard when they patrol the rivers should any problems arise. The largest firepower comes from the UCS ‘Glorious Revolution’, a renamed ex-US Iowa Battleship stripped of its reactors and running gear and bought surplus from a scrapyard and anchored in the harbour of Point Noire, unable to move but providing some stationary defensive firepower from its main batteries that constantly point out to sea.
Soviet Red Army Forces
The Red Army forces listed below are on loan from the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and are under the command of the Congolese Armed Forces Chief of Staff.
Three (3) Workers’ and Peasants’ Red Army Divisions (Division: 20,000 soldiers not counting logistics)
2,000 T-90 Main Battle Tanks
2,000 ST-90 Main Battle Tanks
500 T-99 Main Battle Tanks
1,000 Soviet Dardo IFV’s
1,000 BMP-4 IFV’s
One (1) Loveless Class Aircraft Carrier*
One (1) Totalitarian Class Command Dreadnaught
1,000 Su-37 Super Flanker fighters
1,000 Su-39 Frogfoot close air support craft
200 Su-91 Scythe interceptor-fighter craft
500 Mi-38 multipurpose helicopters
500 Mi-24 gunships
Twenty (20) EMNS-34 cruise missiles
200 WEST-5 crowd suppression devices
45,000 AK-109 assault rifles
500,000 AK-74 assault rifles
500,000 AKS-74U assault rifles
1,000,000 Soviet M86 Pursuit-Deterrent Munitions
5,000 Soviet Claymore anti-personnel munitions
1,000 SA-10 Grumble surface to air missile units**
1,000 2K22 Tunguska Integrated Air Defense Systems
4,000 TG-4 Mobile RADAR Units
*A carrier twice the size of a Nimitz.
**Comes with RADAR mobile unit
Background:
Upon independence in 1960, the former French region of Middle Congo became the Republic of the Congo. A quarter century of experimentation with Marxism was abandoned in 1990 and a democratically elected government installed in 1992. A brief civil war in 1997 restored former Marxist President SASSOU-NGUESSO, but ushered in a period of ethnic unrest. Southern-based rebel groups agreed to a final peace accord in March 2003, but the calm was tenuous and refugees continue to present a humanitarian crisis. The December 2005 coup deposed President SASSOU-NGUESSO after criticisms from supporters that his Marxist policies were not effective, and was replaced when the military declared Minister for Defence Sentwali SHOMBAY as President of the newly renamed People’s Republic of the United Congo. The United Congo is one of Africa's largest petroleum producers with significant potential for offshore development.
Geography
Location:
Western Africa, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean, between Angola and Gabon
Geographic coordinates:
1 00 S, 15 00 E
Map references:
Africa
Area:
total: 342,000 sq km
land: 341,500 sq km
water: 500 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than Montana
Land boundaries:
total: 5,504 km
border countries: Angola 201 km, Cameroon 523 km, Central African Republic 467 km, Democratic Republic of the Congo 2,410 km, Gabon 1,903 km
Coastline:
169 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 200 nm
Climate:
tropical; rainy season (March to June); dry season (June to October); constantly high temperatures and humidity; particularly enervating climate astride the Equator
Terrain:
coastal plain, southern basin, central plateau, northern basin
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mount Berongou 903 m
Natural resources:
petroleum, timber, potash, lead, zinc, uranium, copper, phosphates, gold, magnesium, natural gas, hydropower
Land use:
arable land: 0.51%
permanent crops: 0.13%
other: 99.36% (2001)
Irrigated land:
10 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:
seasonal flooding
Environment - current issues:
air pollution from vehicle emissions; water pollution from the dumping of raw sewage; tap water is not potable; deforestation
Environment - international agreements:
party to: None
Geography - note:
about 70% of the population lives in Brazzaville, Pointe-Noire, or along the railroad between them
People
note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, lower population and growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2005 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 37.3% (male 571,011/female 563,414)
15-64 years: 59% (male 886,297/female 907,348)
65 years and over: 3.7% (male 45,799/female 65,257) (2005 est.)
Median age:
total: 20.7 years
male: 20.2 years
female: 21.1 years (2005 est.)
Population growth rate:
1.31% (2005 est.)
Birth rate:
27.88 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Death rate:
14.82 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.01 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.7 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2005 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 92.41 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 98.48 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 86.16 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 52.26 years
male: 51.17 years
female: 53.39 years (2005 est.)
Total fertility rate:
3.54 children born/woman (2005 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
4.9% (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
90,000 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
9,700 (2003 est.)
Major infectious diseases:
degree of risk: very high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne disease: malaria (2004)
Nationality:
noun: Congolese (singular and plural)
adjective: Congolese or Congo
Ethnic groups:
Kongo 48%, Sangha 20%, M'Bochi 12%, Teke 17%, Europeans and other 3%
note: Europeans estimated at 8,500, mostly French, before the 1997 civil war; may be half that in 1998, following the widespread destruction of foreign businesses in 1997
Religions:
Christian 50%, animist 48%, Muslim 2%
Languages:
French (official), Lingala and Monokutuba (lingua franca trade languages), many local languages and dialects (of which Kikongo is the most widespread)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 83.8%
male: 89.6%
female: 78.4% (2003 est.)
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: People’s Republic of the United Congo
conventional short form: Congo (Brazzaville)
local long form: none
local short form: none
former: Middle Congo, Congo/Brazzaville, Congo, Republic of the Congo
Government type:
Stalinist Dictatorship
Capital:
Brazzaville
Administrative divisions:
10 regions (regions, singular - region) and 1 commune*; Bouenza, Brazzaville*, Cuvette, Cuvette-Ouest, Kouilou, Lekoumou, Likouala, Niari, Plateaux, Pool, Sangha
Independence:
15 August 1960 (from France)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 15 August (1960)
Revolution Day, 26 December (2005)
Constitution:
Approved by referendum 20 January 2002
Suspended as of 26 December 2005 following military coup
Legal system:
Military court of justice
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Sentwali SHOMBAY (since 26 December 2005, following the coup in which the military toppled president SASSOU-NGUESSO); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Sentwali SHOMBAY (since 26 December 2005, following the coup in which the military toppled president SASSOU-NGUESSO); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
elections: None – Democratic system suspended following December 2005 coup
Legislative branch:
Legislature carried out by the Executive branch of the Council of Ministers following military coup that suspended the National Assembly and the Senate
elections: None – Democratic system suspended following December 2005 coup
Judicial branch:
Military Judicial Court
Political parties and leaders:
Communist Party of the United Congo [President Sentwali SHOMBAY] note: all other political parties banned
Political pressure groups and leaders:
None – all political pressure groups banned
International organization participation:
None
Flag description:
Blood red flag adorned with the hammer and sickle at its centre
Economy
Economy - overview:
The economy is a mixture of village agriculture and handicrafts, an industrial sector based largely on oil, support services, and a government characterized by budget problems and overstaffing. Oil has supplanted forestry as the mainstay of the economy, providing a major share of government revenues and exports. In the early 1980s, rapidly rising oil revenues enabled the government to finance large-scale development projects with GDP growth averaging 5% annually, one of the highest rates in Africa. The government has mortgaged a substantial portion of its oil earnings, contributing to a shortage of revenues. The 12 January 1994 devaluation of Franc Zone currencies by 50% resulted in inflation of 61% in 1994, but inflation has subsided since. Economic reform efforts continued with the support of international organizations, notably the World Bank and the IMF. The reform program came to a halt in June 1997 when civil war erupted. Denis SASSOU-NGUESSO, who returned to power when the war ended in October 1997, publicly expressed interest in moving forward on economic reforms and privatization and in renewing cooperation with international financial institutions. However, economic progress was badly hurt by slumping oil prices and the resumption of armed conflict in December 1998, which worsened the republic's budget deficit. The coup of December 2005 brought to power a government that promises to follow the policies of Stalinist nationalisation and collectivisation of industry in order to accelerate economic growth and development. However, the current administration presides over an uneasy internal peace and faces difficult economic challenges of stimulating recovery and reducing poverty.
Economic Statistics: http://nstracker.retrogade.com/index.php?nation=The+United+Congo
Communications
Telephones - main lines in use:
7,000 (2003)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
330,000 (2003)
Telephone system:
general assessment: services barely adequate for government use; key exchanges are in Brazzaville, Pointe-Noire, and Loubomo; intercity lines frequently out of order
domestic: primary network consists of microwave radio relay and coaxial cable
international: country code - 242; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 1, FM 5, shortwave 3 (2001)
Television broadcast stations:
1 (2002)
Internet country code:
.cg
Internet hosts:
46 (2003)
Internet users:
15,000 (2003)
Transportation
Railways:
total: 894 km
narrow gauge: 894 km 1.067-m gauge (2004)
Highways:
total: 12,800 km
paved: 1,242 km
unpaved: 11,558 km (1999 est.)
Waterways:
4,385 km (on Congo and Oubanqui rivers) (2004)
Pipelines:
gas 53 km; oil 646 km (2004)
Ports and harbours:
Brazzaville, Djeno, Impfondo, Ouesso, Oyo, Pointe-Noire
Airports:
32 (2004 est.)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 4
over 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 (2004 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 28
1,524 to 2,437 m: 6
914 to 1,523 m: 11
under 914 m: 11 (2004 est.)
Military
Military branches:
Congolese Armed Forces (FAC): Army, Air Force, Navy
Military service age and obligation:
18 years of age for compulsory military service (2005)
Manpower reaching military service age annually:
males: 34,281 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
See Defence Budget at http://nstracker.retrogade.com/index.php?nation=The+United+Congo
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
See Defence Budget at http://nstracker.retrogade.com/index.php?nation=The+United+Congo
Transnational Issues
Disputes - international:
about 7,000 Congolese refugees fleeing internal civil conflicts since the mid-1990s still reside in the Democratic Republic of the Congo; the location of the boundary in the broad Congo River with the Democratic Republic of the Congo is indefinite except in the Pool Malebo/Stanley Pool area
Order of Battle: Congolese Armed Forces
Total Personnel: 150,000
Combat: 59,610
Logistics & Other: 92,290
Army:
5 Infantry Divisions (50,000 troops, 1,000 troop trucks - 2,000 drivers)
3 Armoured Divisions (150 Rooikat AFVs, 600 crew)
2 Artillery Divisions (200 G5 155mm Howitzers, 1600 crew)
2 MRL Divisions (100 Valkiri MRLs, 200 crew)
1 Engineering Division (50 ATECs -150 crew, 50 M1059A3s - 150 crew, 50 M60 Mine-clearers – 150 crew, 50 ground-based Volcano minelayers – 150 crew)
Total Army Personnel: 55,000
Notes: The United Congo Army is the most advanced section of the Congolese Armed Forces, reflecting the government’s greater priority for land-based defence and security. However, it is still particularly undisciplined, under-funded and undermanned, acting more as an internal security force to maintain peace between the hostile tribes that dwell within the United Congolese borders. Infantry soldiers are conscripts, press-ganged into military service from the main cities and the outer lying villages and settlements. Platoons are largely armed with AK-47 rifles, however there is some variation where weapons are not available from the state and soldiers have brought their own weapons, usually bolt-action rifles used by families for self-defence. Armoured vehicle, artillery and engineering crews are better trained and disciplined, but suffer from a lack of supplies. The entire Army suffers from a critical lack of food, ammunition, fuel and medical supplies, whilst Command, Control & Communication systems are primitive and unreliable, mostly dependent on World War II radios. Independent analysis of the United Congo Army predicts that offensive operations would be next to impossible for anything longer than a matter of days, whilst a defensive war against a comparable force would be expected to last a fortnight before the UC Army would be forced to surrender due to several factors.
Air Force:
100 Mig-19 Interceptors – 100 pilots
200 Mig-17 Fighter-Bombers – 200 pilots
50 IL-14 Crates – 250 crew
50 Mi-4s – 150 crew
Total Air Force flying personnel: 700
Notes: The United Congo Air Force maintains a more reliable communication and training system than the Army due to its more complicated operations with aircraft. Pilots are still conscripted, and are trained by more experienced flyers that double as Instructors. Aircraft are incredibly outdated and are barely a match for most modern aircraft, so is largely relegated to a supporting role for ground forces. The UC Air Force, likes its Army counterpart, suffers from a lack of supplies in all areas, and war-time air operations would not last more than a few weeks.
Navy:
5 Tribal Class Destroyers (ex-British) - 950 crew
10 Revolution Class Patrol Vessels – 50 crew
1 Iowa Class Battleship (non-movable) – 2,800 crew
Total sailing personnel: 3,810
Notes: The most under-maintained division of the Congolese Armed Forces, the United Congo Navy comprises of 5 badly maintained ex-British World War II Destroyers with press-ganged crews and under-trained officers that make up the major defensive force of the United Congo shoreline, although they hardly ever leave port due to limited supplies. The fleet of ‘Revolution’ Class Patrol Vessels were created when the United Congo government requisitioned 10 fishing trawlers from the civilian shoreline population for patrol uses. The trawlers are unarmed by themselves, but usually carry around 10 soldiers onboard when they patrol the rivers should any problems arise. The largest firepower comes from the UCS ‘Glorious Revolution’, a renamed ex-US Iowa Battleship stripped of its reactors and running gear and bought surplus from a scrapyard and anchored in the harbour of Point Noire, unable to move but providing some stationary defensive firepower from its main batteries that constantly point out to sea.
Soviet Red Army Forces
The Red Army forces listed below are on loan from the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and are under the command of the Congolese Armed Forces Chief of Staff.
Three (3) Workers’ and Peasants’ Red Army Divisions (Division: 20,000 soldiers not counting logistics)
2,000 T-90 Main Battle Tanks
2,000 ST-90 Main Battle Tanks
500 T-99 Main Battle Tanks
1,000 Soviet Dardo IFV’s
1,000 BMP-4 IFV’s
One (1) Loveless Class Aircraft Carrier*
One (1) Totalitarian Class Command Dreadnaught
1,000 Su-37 Super Flanker fighters
1,000 Su-39 Frogfoot close air support craft
200 Su-91 Scythe interceptor-fighter craft
500 Mi-38 multipurpose helicopters
500 Mi-24 gunships
Twenty (20) EMNS-34 cruise missiles
200 WEST-5 crowd suppression devices
45,000 AK-109 assault rifles
500,000 AK-74 assault rifles
500,000 AKS-74U assault rifles
1,000,000 Soviet M86 Pursuit-Deterrent Munitions
5,000 Soviet Claymore anti-personnel munitions
1,000 SA-10 Grumble surface to air missile units**
1,000 2K22 Tunguska Integrated Air Defense Systems
4,000 TG-4 Mobile RADAR Units
*A carrier twice the size of a Nimitz.
**Comes with RADAR mobile unit