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Economy
The economy of the Democratic Republic of the Congo — a nation endowed with vast
potential wealth — has declined drastically since the mid-1980s. The two recent
conflicts (the First and Second Congo Wars), which began in 1996, have
dramatically reduced national output and government revenue, have increased
external debt, and have resulted in the deaths from war, famine, and disease of
perhaps 3.8 million people. Foreign businesses have curtailed operations due to
uncertainty about the outcome of the conflict, lack of infrastructure, and the
difficult operating environment. The war has intensified the impact of such
basic problems as an uncertain legal framework, corruption, inflation, and lack
of openness in government economic policy and financial operations. Malnutrition
affects approximately two thirds of the country's population. Conditions
improved in late 2002 with the withdrawal of a large portion of the invading
foreign troops. A number of International Monetary Fund and World Bank missions
have met with the government to help it develop a coherent economic plan, and
President Joseph Kabila has begun implementing reforms. Much economic activity
lies outside the GDP data.
Congo has significant deposits of tantalum, which is used in the fabrication of
electronic components used in computers and mobile phones.
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