Depicts an official emblem of the Laurent Kabila regime: a mature male lion standing to the left amid grass, symbolizing strength and authority. Above the lion is the country’s name in French, denomination is placed below.

Kabila’s regime, which began in 1997 after he overthrew Mobutu Sese Seko, was characterized by efforts to rebuild the Democratic Republic of the Congo (formerly Zaire) after decades of dictatorship. His government sought to restore national sovereignty, but faced internal conflict and external pressures, particularly during the Second Congo War.

Depicts a Portuguese sailing ship featuring the mast ended by the crow's nest, unopened mainsail, and two sailors in the captain's cabin moving through the ocean, the inscription of "Diogo Cao * 1482" at the top right and date of issue above the ship.

In 1482, Diogo Cão embarked on his first significant voyage along the west coast of Africa under the commission of King John II of Portugal. During this expedition, he reached the mouth of the Congo River, a major milestone in Portuguese exploration, and established a stone marker, known as a padrão, to assert Portugal's claim over the territory. This was the first European contact with the Kingdom of Kongo, which would become an important part of Portugal's trade network. Cão’s 1482 journey marked the beginning of European expansion into the African interior and paved the way for future expeditions along the African coast, contributing to the Age of Discovery.