Republic of the Congo

Overview

The Republic of the Congo, also known as Congo-Brazzaville to distinguish it from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, is located in western Central Africa, west of the Congo River. Its capital is Brazzaville, and the official language is French Source 1.

Geography

Location and Size

The Republic of the Congo is situated on the Equator in western Central Africa, with a total area of approximately 342,000 km². It borders Gabon, Cameroon, the Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Angola, and the Gulf of Guinea Source 3.

Physical Features

The country has a coastline along the Gulf of Guinea with several important ports. The Equator crosses the land, placing parts of it in both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres Source 10.

History

Colonial Period and Independence

The Republic of the Congo was formerly the French colony of Middle Congo. It gained independence from France on 15 August 1960, after becoming a republic within the French Community in 1958 Source 4.