Central Africa sits on the equator, in the great basin of the Congo River. Its nine countries run from Chad, on the edge of the Sahara, south to Angola. Next door, in West Africa, you met the coast of the Gulf of Guinea; it continues here.
Key idea
The giant is the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DR Congo), the second-largest country in Africa. Around it: the Republic of the Congo, Gabon, Equatorial Guinea and Cameroon on the coast; Chad and the Central African Republic, both landlocked, to the north; Angola to the south; and the island country São Tomé and Príncipe in the Gulf of Guinea.
Why it works
Two countries are named Congo because both take the name of the river. France ruled the land north and west of the river and Belgium the huge land south and east of it. When they became independent, both kept the river's name. They added "Republic" and "Democratic Republic" to tell themselves apart.
Worked example: Which Congo?
Which Congo is larger, and which is its capital?
- The Democratic Republic of the Congo is much larger, with only a tiny piece of coast.
- Its capital is Kinshasa.
- The smaller Republic of the Congo has its capital at Brazzaville.
Answer: The DR Congo, capital Kinshasa.
Worked example: On the equator
Which countries of Central Africa does the equator cross?
- Follow the equator east from the Atlantic.
- It crosses Gabon, the Republic of the Congo and the DR Congo.
- São Tomé and Príncipe is almost exactly on it too.
Answer: Gabon, the Republic of the Congo and the DR Congo (and São Tomé and Príncipe).
Common mistake
The two Congos get mixed up. The Democratic Republic of the Congo (capital Kinshasa) is the large one. The Republic of the Congo (capital Brazzaville) is the smaller one, across the Congo River to the northwest.