Coastal plain southern basin central plateau northern basin
Climate
Tropical; rainy season (March to June); dry season (June to October); persistent high temperatures and humidity; particularly enervating climate astride the Equator
Natural Hazards
Coastal plain southern basin central plateau northern basin
Note:
About 70% of the population lives in Brazzaville Pointe-Noire or along the railroad between them
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 but the calm is tenuous and refugees continue to present a humanitarian crisis. The Republic of Congo was once one of Africa's largest petroleum producers but with declining production it will need new offshore oil finds to sustain its oil earnings over the long term. Read more on Wikipedia
