CENTRAL AFRICA TODAY

23-3

Democratic Republic of the Congo

Belgian colony

Many professionals left after it gained independence

Ethnic groups fought for power

Military dictator – Joseph Mobutu

Changed countries name to Zaire

Changes his name to Mobutu Sese Seko

1997 – Civil War

New government DRC

Lots of minerals Copper, gold,

diamonds, cobalt, timber

Capital – Kinshasa

Mostly poor slums

Central African Republic

Landlocked

After independence – lots of corruption

Hard to transport resources

Poor farmers

Cameroon

Fairy stable

Republic

Lots of goods and transportation

Higher standard of living

Equatorial Guinea

Mainland and 5 islands

Republic

Flawed elections Same president for 25

years

Poor

Sao Tome and Principe

Political instability

Island country

Poor, few resources

Import food

Oil - recent

Gabon

1 president since 1967

Highest standard of living in region

½ income is from oil

Republic of Congo

Oil and forest products

Civil War

Mostly urban

Capital - Brazzaville

Angola

Independent from Portugal in 1975

Civil Wars

Republic with elected president

Subsistence farmers

Left over land mines

Inflation – rise in prices that occur when currency loses its buying power

High rate

Diamonds and oil

Cabinda – separated by DRC

Zambia

Lots of copper mines

Debt and inflation

Farmers

Malawi

Poor

Relies on aide from foreign countries and religious groups

Malaria

Disease spread by mosquitoes Fever and pain Death without

treatment

Most common form of death 1 kid killed every 45

seconds

Insecticide

Sleeping nets

No money

HIV and AIDS

100,000’s die each year in this region

Medicine in too expensive

Young 45% of people

are under 15 years old

Malnutrition

Not getting enough nutrients from food