Geography

Congo is located in the western-central part of Africa and produces some minerals.

Some small part of Congo was probably part of the Kongo kingdom, which was during the 1400's and 1500's.When the Portuguese explorers reached Congo bought slave and ivory.

In 1880 Brazza and Makoko, the Bateke king signed a treaty that placed

the north area of the Congo river. On August 16, 1960 Congo gained its independence. In 1969 some army officers seized power in a military coup. The government took control of industries. A Marxist called the Congolese labor party was the only political party.

In 1990 the government abonded Marxism. In 1997, rebels led by former dictator General Denis Sassou-Nguesso declared himself president.

The four main group that the Congolese people belong in is the Kongo, the Bateke, M'Bochi, and the Sangha. about 45 percent of the people in Congo are in the in the Kongo group, 20 percent in the Bateke, 10 percent in the M'Bochi, and the rest in the Sangha.

75 percent of the children in Congo get education. On the other hand older Congolese people can't read or write. Some Congolese depend on farming others depend on fishing, about 4,500 people are Muslims the rest are all Christians, only about 1 percent have other religions.

The president of Congo is the most powerful official and is elected for a five year term a prime minister and Cabinet ministers are appointed to take care of day-to-day government operations. The laws in Congo are made by a consisting of a National Assembly and Senate. 125 members of the National Assembly are elected for five years and the 60 members of the Senate are elected for six years.

Besides minerals Congo has a few resources, the country also has a few Industries and a high rate of unemployment. Most Congolese rise corn, rice and other crops for their families. The chief exports of Congo is petroleum and Lumber. Some mineral resources in Congo are lead, potash, and zinc.

Congo covers 132,047 square miles and includes the Mayombe Escarpment, and a series of plateaus 1,600 to 2,600 feet. The Niari Valley, a rich farming village. It also includes The Stanley Pool Region which are series of bare hills with most of the land cleared for farming. The Bateke Plateau which is covered with grass. The Congo River Basin includes large swampy areas. The Ubangi the Congo tributary, forms the country's northeastern border.