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.
In July 1960, there were six provinces in the Belgian Congo: Leopoldville Province, Equateur Province, Province Orientale, Kivu Province, Katanga Province, and Kasai Province. Kivu Province existed from 1933 to 1962 (under the name Province de Costermansville until 1947, from the name of its capital) and from 1966 to 1988.
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.