Former name of the DR Congo

Latest answer — August 08, 2026

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Clue decoded

Zaire was the former name of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, used from 1971 until 1997. The clue’s “former name” signals that this is a historical name rather than the country’s current one.

Clue type:
Definition
A historical map showing Zaire in central Africa.

Telegraph Mini Crossword

This clue's Saturday, August 08, 2026 appearance

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Or reveal one clue at a time with the Hint and Answer buttons below.

Across

  1. 1Travel fast; videoconferencing app
  2. 5Molten rock
  3. 6Sea duck
  4. 7Small, brown songbirds
  5. 8Eye part; city in France

Down

  1. 1Former name of the DR Congo
  2. 2US poet Nash
  3. 3Portents
  4. 4Roman god of war
  5. 5Whimper weakly, like a baby

Crossword clues, hints, and answers

Across

  1. 1. Travel fast; videoconferencing app — Answer: ZOOM. Hint: Think of both moving quickly closer and chatting face-to-face online 📹
  2. 5. Molten rock — Answer: MAGMA. Hint: Hot, gooey rock from deep underground that can make a volcanic mess 🌋
  3. 6. Sea duck — Answer: EIDER. Hint: This northern diving duck is famous for the soft down lining its nest. 🦆
  4. 7. Small, brown songbirds — Answer: WRENS. Hint: These tiny woodland singers are known for their perky tails and cheerful calls. 🐦
  5. 8. Eye part; city in France — Answer: LENS. Hint: Think of a clear eye component that shares its name with a city in northern France. 👁️

Down

  1. 1. Former name of the DR Congo — Answer: ZAIRE. Hint: This African country was known by this name before returning to its current official title. 🌍
  2. 2. US poet Nash — Answer: OGDEN. Hint: Think of the witty American poet famous for playful rhymes and lighthearted verse. ✍️
  3. 3. Portents — Answer: OMENS. Hint: Mysterious signs may hint at what lies ahead. 🔮
  4. 4. Roman god of war — Answer: MARS. Hint: Think of the red planet named after the ancient deity of battle. ⚔️
  5. 5. Whimper weakly, like a baby — Answer: MEWL. Hint: Make a soft, plaintive cry like a tiny baby might. 👶

Recent Telegraph Mini Answers

The last 4 days of solutions

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The answer to “Former name of the DR Congo” in the The Telegraph Mini crossword is ZAIRE — a 5-letter word. It most recently appeared in the The Telegraph Mini crossword on August 8, 2026 at 1-Down. Below you'll find why that fill fits, every other answer we've recorded for this clue, and links into the puzzle it came from.

“Former name of the DR Congo” answer

ZAIRE (5 letters)

Use the reveal tiles above to uncover the solution one letter at a time if you'd rather nudge yourself toward it than see the whole word at once. Prefer the full answer straight away? It's ZAIRE.

When else has “Former name of the DR Congo” appeared?

The Telegraph Mini reuses clues across dates, sometimes with a different answer depending on the grid. Here's where this exact clue has shown up, and what the answer was each time — handy when you're checking whether today's fill is the only one.

August 8, 2026 (most recent) → ZAIRE. We haven't indexed another appearance of this exact clue yet.

More Telegraph Mini answers for August 8, 2026

Stuck on more than one square? Here's every other clue from the Telegraph Mini on August 8, 2026 — tap any clue for its answer and explanation.

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Want the whole grid in one place? The full Telegraph Mini answer list for August 8, 2026 is on the puzzle's answers page, and today's live Telegraph Mini answers are always one click away from the today page.

About the Telegraph Mini Crossword

The Telegraph Mini Crossword is a compact daily 5×5 from Telegraph Puzzles — a handful of short, non-cryptic clues built for a two-minute solve. Today's Mini is often free to try; older dates usually need a subscription. With so few squares, one stubborn entry can jam the whole grid, and one revealed answer usually unlocks the rest from the crossings.

Frequently asked questions

What is the answer to “Former name of the DR Congo”?

The answer is ZAIRE, a 5-letter word. It most recently appeared in the The Telegraph Mini crossword on August 8, 2026.

How many letters is the answer to “Former name of the DR Congo”?

5 letters: ZAIRE.

When did this clue appear?

Most recently in the The Telegraph Mini crossword on August 8, 2026, at 1-Down.

Can “Former name of the DR Congo” have a different answer?

Yes — The Telegraph Mini sometimes reuses a clue with a different solution to fit the grid. The answers we've recorded for each date it appeared are listed above when available.

Where can I find the rest of today's Telegraph Mini answers?

Every clue and answer from that day's puzzle is linked above, and the full grid is on the Telegraph Mini answers page.

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