After a four-year interlude between two constitutions, with new political institutions established at the various levels of government, as well as new administrative divisions for the provinces throughout the country, a new constitution came into effect in 2006 and politics in the Democratic Republic of the Congo finally settled into a stable presidential democratic republic. The 2003 transitional constitution had established a parliament with a bicameral legislature, consisting of a Senate and a National Assembly.
Kinshasa, the capital, does not have a lot of historic attractions, but it is an excellent starting point for daytrips. Some notable destinations include Goma, Kisantu, and Bunia, which are smaller towns that can be used as stopovers for visits to the mountains, native villages, waterfalls, and national parks. A local tour guide is recommended to help you get around.
The culture of the Democratic Republic of the Congo reflects the diversity of its hundreds of ethnic groups and their differing ways of life throughout the country—from the mouth of the River Congo on the coast, upriver through the rainforest and savanna in its centre, to the more densely populated mountains in the far east.