In addition to the economically predatory politico-commercial class, a new economic class has been developing. This class is unconnected to the political authorities, is relatively uneducated, and is not made up of acquéreurs. It has grown in regional centers such as Kisangani, far from the ÍÍÍÍcapital, where the state presence and state provision of public services are weakest. Amassing capital through trade and other successful commercial activities, this class has became strong enough in some areas to replace the state as a provider of infrastructure, such as airstrips, electrical generators, and road maintenance.

Data as of December 1993