Congo top: Democratic Republic of the Congo bottom: Republic of the Congo Con·go (kŏng′gō) 1. Officially Democratic Republic of the Congo.Formerly (1971-1997) Za·ire (zī′îr, zä-îr′)and (1960-1971) Congoand (1908-1960) Belgian Congoand (1885-1908) Congo Free State. A country of central Africa astride the equator. Inhabited originally by …