<P> Lingala was made the official language of the army under Mobutu, but since the rebellions, the army has also used Swahili in the east . With the transition period and the consolidation of different armed groups into the Congolese Army, the linguistic policy has returned to its previous form and Lingala is again the official language of the Army . </P> <P> Swahili is the most widespread lingua franca spoken in Eastern Equatorial Africa . Many variations of Swahili are spoken in the country but the major one is Kingwana, sometimes called Copperbelt Swahili, especially in the Katanga area . </P> <P> The constitution does not specify which of the two major variations of Tshiluba is the national language . Luba - Kasai is spoken in the East Kasai Region (Luba people) and Luba - Lulua is used in the West Kasai Region among the Bena Lulua people . Luba - Kasai seems to be the language used by the administration . A related language, known as Luba - Katanga, is spoken in Katanga Province . </P> <P> There are 12 deaf institutions in the country, and most teach French Sign Language or variations . American Sign Language is also practiced in the country . </P>

Languages spoken in the democratic republic of congo