Chapter 20: Central Africa

The Democratic Republic of the Congo has rich natural resources that are largely undeveloped because of civil war and poor government decisions. The Congo, Africa's second-longest river, winds through Central Africa until it empties into the Atlantic Ocean. A large rain forest covers most of the country. The Congo region was first settled about 10,000 years ago. Today people from 250 different ethnic groups live there. There are six other countries in Central Africa. Rain forest covers much of these other countries. Agriculture is the main economic activity.