THE CONGO

Last modified: December 13, 2007

Our first assignment in Africa is in Brazzaville, Republic of Congo.

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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.

The 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. The climate is tropical, with temperatures and humidity level generaly very high, especially near the equator.

The 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 3,800,610 people (est. July 2007). 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 M'Boshi (12%).

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

Official website of the Government of the Republic of Congo (click here).

Reports of John James, reporter with the BBC

John 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.)

 
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