CENTRAL AFRICA

Last modification: December 28, 2009.

During our first assignment in Africa, we lived two years and a half in Brazzaville, Republic of Congo. We now live in Yaoundé, Cameroon, since June 2009. Simon also had the opportunity to work a few weeks in Gemena, Democratic Republic of Congo.

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Flag of CongoThe Republic of Congo

General outlook on the country
Upon independence in 1960, the former French region of Middle Congo became the Republic of the Congo. A quarter century of experimentation with Marxism was abandoned in 1990 and a democratically elected government took office in 1992. A brief civil war in 1997 restored former Marxist President Denis SASSOU-NGUESSO, and ushered in a period of ethnic and political unrest. Southern-based rebel groups agreed to a final peace accord in March 2003. The Republic of Congo was once one of Africa's largest petroleum producers, but with declining production it will need to hope for new offshore oil finds to sustain its oil earnings over the long term.

Political map of CongoThe equator crosses the Republic of Congo. The great Congo River is a natural boundary in the South-East, and the Atlantic Ocean in the South-West. The country covers an area of 342,000 sq. km., and shares boundaries with Gabon, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of Congo, and Angola. Its capital city is Brazzaville. The climate is tropical, with temperatures and humidity level generaly very high, especially near the equator.

 

 

Administrative regions of CongoThe country is divided in ten regions and one commune (Brazzaville, the capital-city). The coastal plaine turns into savanah in the center of the country, and then into tropical forest in the north. Congo is rich in petroleum, timber, potash, lead, zinc, uranium, copper, phosphates, gold, magnesium, natural gas, and hydropower.

The population is estimated at 4,012,809 people (est. July 2009). About 70% of that population lives in Brazzaville, in Pointe-Noire (coastal city, economic capital), or along the railroad between those two cities. The main ethnic groups are Kongo (48%), Sangha (20%), Teke (17%) and Mboshi (12%).

The information of this section comes from CIA - The World Factbook: Republic of the Congo.


Reports of John James, reporter with the BBC
John C. JamesDuring the year 2007, we had the pleasure to have John James within our little community in Brazzaville. Our friend John is a reporter with the BBC, England, and he was assigned to the Republic of Congo. During the few months he was with us, he made the following reports. We hope they will help you to gain a better understanding of different aspects of Congo-Brazzaville.
Photo: David Greer/JGI Congo, in BBC – Focus on Africa, October-December 2007, p. 43.



Flag of CameroonCameroon
The former French Cameroon and part of British Cameroon merged in 1961 to form the present country. Cameroon has generally enjoyed stability, which has permitted the development of agriculture, roads, and railways, as well as a petroleum industry. Despite a slow movement toward democratic reform, political power remains firmly in the hands of President Paul BIYA.

Political map of CameroonCameroon has 402 km. of coastline on the Bight of Biafra, in the Atlantic Ocean. It is sometimes referred to as the "hinge" of Africa. The country covers an area of 475,440 sq. km., and shares boundaries with Nigeria, Chad, Central African Republic, Republic of Congo, Gabon, and Equatorial Guinea. Its capital city is Yaoundé. The climate varies from tropical along the coast to semiarid and hot in the north.

 

 



Administrative regions of CameroonLike Canada, Cameroon is officially bilingual, French and English. It is divided in 10 provinces: 8 French ones and 2 English (North-West and South-West). Throughout the country, there are areas of thermal springs and indications of current or prior volcanic activity. Mount Cameroon, the highest mountain in Sub-Saharan west Africa, is an active volcano. The terrain is diverse: coastal plain in southwest, dissected plateau in center, mountains in west, plains in north. Cameroon is rich in petroleum, bauxite, iron ore, timber, and hydropower.

The population is estimated at 18,879,301 people (est. July 2009), 57% of which live in urban areas. The main ethnic groups are Cameroon Highlanders (31%), Equatorial Bantu (19%), Kirdi (11%), Fulani (10%).

The information of this section comes from CIA - The World Factbook: Cameroon.


Flag of DRCThe Democratic Republic of Congo
Established as a Belgian colony in 1908, the Republic of the Congo gained its independence in 1960, but its early years were marred by political and social instability. Col. Joseph MOBUTU seized power and declared himself president in a November 1965 coup. He subsequently changed his name - to MOBUTU Sese Seko - as well as that of the country - to Zaire. MOBUTU retained his position for 32 years through several sham elections, as well as through the use of brutal force. Ethnic strife and civil war, touched off by a massive inflow of refugees in 1994 from fighting in Rwanda and Burundi, led in May 1997 to the toppling of the MOBUTU regime by a rebellion backed by Rwanda and Uganda and fronted by Laurent KABILA. He renamed the country the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), but in August 1998 his regime was itself challenged by a second insurrection again backed by Rwanda and Uganda. Troops from Angola, Chad, Namibia, Sudan, and Zimbabwe intervened to support KABILA's regime. A cease-fire was signed in July 1999 by the DRC, Congolese armed rebel groups, Angola, Namibia, Rwanda, Uganda, and Zimbabwe but sporadic fighting continued. Laurent KABILA was assassinated in January 2001 and his son, Joseph KABILA, was named head of state. In October 2002, the new president was successful in negotiating the withdrawal of Rwandan forces occupying eastern Congo; two months later, the Pretoria Accord was signed by all remaining warring parties to end the fighting and establish a government of national unity. A transitional government was set up in July 2003. Joseph KABILA as president and four vice presidents represented the former government, former rebel groups, the political opposition, and civil society. The transitional government held a successful constitutional referendum in December 2005 and elections for the presidency, National Assembly, and provincial legislatures in 2006. KABILA was inaugurated president in December 2006.

Political map of DRCThe equator crosses the Democratic Republic of Congo (about one third of the country is North of it, two thirds South). The Congo and Ubangi rivers are a natural boundary in the West and North-West, and Lake Tanganyika in the East. The country covers an area of 2,344,858 sq. km., and shares boundaries with the Republic of Congo, the Central African Republic, Sudan, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Tanzania, Zambia, and Angola. It has 37 km. of coastline on the Atlantic Ocean. Its capital city is Kinshasa. The climate is tropical: hot and humid in the equatorial river basin, cooler and drier in the southern highlands, and cooler and wetter in the eastern highlands.

Administrative regions of DRCThe constitution that was adopted in 2005 plans on having 26 autonomous provinces, including the capital Kinshasa. However, the former 11 provinces are still the legal administrative entities. The country is essentially a vast basin on a low-lying plateau, with mountains in the East. DRC is rich in cobalt, copper, niobium, tantalum, petroleum, industrial and gem diamonds, gold, silver, zinc, manganese, tin, uranium, coal, hydropower, and timber.

The population is estimated at 68,692,542 people (est. July 2009), 34% of which live in urban areas. There are over 200 African ethnic groups, of which the majority are Bantu; the four main groups - Mongo, Luba, Kongo (all Bantu), and Mangbetu-Azande (Hamatic) - make up about 45% of the population.

The information of this section comes from CIA - The World Factbook: The Democratic Republic of the Congo.


 
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