evidence: Geographically the largest country in sub-Saharan Africa, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has a population of 70 million people, vast natural resources, and boundaries that encompass much of the Congo River Basin rainforest, which significantly influences the world’s natural environment. The DRC is also one of the poorest countries in the world, possessing weak governmental institutions and an underdeveloped infrastructure. INL programs seek to improve and expand the DRC’s security and justice sectors. The federal government, based in Kinshasa, does not exert control over all of its territory, and is particularly weak in the eastern provinces. During recent decades, the DRC has endured recurring cross-border conflict and internal rebellion. In November 2013, the Congolese army, with logistical support from UN forces, defeated the M23 rebels, although other, smaller militant and rebel groups remain a threat.