Republic of the Congo

Republic of the Congo (also known as Congo-Brazzaville) is a country located in Central Africa. It is bordered by five countries: Gabon to the west, Cameroon and the Central African Republic to the north, the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the east and south, and the Cabinda enclave of Angola to the southwest. The country's capital and largest city is Brazzaville.

History

The area of the Republic of the Congo was inhabited as early as the 10th century by the Bantu tribes. The region was later colonized by the European powers, with France establishing control in the late 19th century. The Republic of the Congo gained independence from France on August 15, 1960.

Geography

The Republic of the Congo is located in the central-western part of sub-Saharan Africa. It has a diverse landscape with coastal plains, mountainous regions, and a large area of rainforest in the north of the country.

Politics

The Republic of the Congo is a unitary state and semi-presidential republic. The President is the head of state, and the Prime Minister is the head of government.

Economy

The economy of the Republic of the Congo is a mixture of subsistence farming, an industrial sector based largely on oil and support services, and government spending. Oil has supplanted forestry as the mainstay of the economy.

Culture

The culture of the Republic of the Congo has been shaped by the cultures of the indigenous tribes, French colonial influence, and the impact of rapid urbanization in the post-independence period.

See also

• List of cities in the Republic of the Congo
• Transport in the Republic of the Congo
• Education in the Republic of the Congo