Africa Africa Burkina Faso Burkina Faso is a landlocked West African state. With a total border length of 3,192 kilometers (1,984 miles), Burkina Faso is bordered by Mali to the north and west; Niger to the east; and Benin, Togo, Ghana, and Cote d'Ivoire to the south. Cameroon Located on the west coast of Central Africa, Cameroon covers an area of 475,400 square kilometers (183,695 square miles), slightly more than California. Land boundaries extend for a total of 4,591 kilometers (2,853 miles) between Nigeria to the northwest, Chad to the northeast, the Central African Republic (C.A.R.) to the east, and the Republic of the Congo, Gabon, and Equatorial Guinea to the south. Cape Verde Cape Verde is an archipelago of 10 islands and 5 islets situated 483 kilometers (300 miles) due west of Dakar, Senegal, in the North Atlantic Ocean.

Cape Verde's total land area is 4,033 square kilometers (1,557 square miles), which makes it slightly larger than the U.S. Central African Republic The former French colony of Ubangi-Shari, now the Central African Republic (CAR), is well named; it is a landlocked country in the center of the African continent. Land boundaries extend for 5,203 kilometers (3,233 miles) connecting Cameroon to the west, Chad and Sudan to the north, and the Republic of Congo and the Democratic Republic of Congo to the south. Chad The former French colony of Chad, a landlocked country located in northern Central Africa, is more than 3 times the size of California. The country has an area of 1,284,000 square kilometers (495,755 square miles), with a land boundary length of 5,968 kilometers (3,708 miles). Congo, Republic of The; The Republic of the Congo (ROC) is located in Western Africa and has an area of 342,000 square kilometers (132,000 square miles).

It has a modest coastline of 169 kilometers (105 miles) along the Atlantic Ocean in the southwest and shares land borders with Gabon, Cameroon, and the Central African Republic on the west and north. Côte D'ivoire Côte d'Ivoire (which means "Ivory Coast") is a West African country bordering the North Atlantic Ocean between Ghana and Liberia. It has an area of 322,460 square kilometers (124,502 square miles) of which 318,000 square kilometers (122,780 square miles) are occupied by land while water occupies the remaining 4,460 square kilometers (1,722 square miles). Djibouti Djibouti is situated in the Horn of Africa, at the southern entrance to the Red Sea, bordering the Gulf of Aden.

To the north lies Eritrea with a shared border of 113 kilometers (70 miles); to the north, west, and southwest lies Ethiopia, with a border length of 337 kilometers (209 miles); and to the southeast lies Somalia, with a border length of 58 kilometers (36 miles). Egypt The Arab Republic of Egypt is located in North Africa, bordering on the Mediterranean Sea to the north, Libya to the west, the Gaza Strip to the east, and Sudan to the south. With an area of 1,001,450 square kilometers (386,659 square miles) and a coastline of 2,450 kilometers (1,522 miles), Egypt is slightly more than 3 times the size of New Mexico. Equatorial Guinea Equatorial Guinea is a small West African nation of 28,051 square kilometers (10,830 square miles), roughly the same size as Maryland.

It consists of a mainland enclave called Río Muni, on the west coast of Africa bordering Cameroon and Gabon, and 5 small islands off the coast of Cameroon in the Bight of Biafra: Bioko, Annobón, Corisco, and the 2 small islands known together as Islas Elobey. Eritrea Eritrea is an eastern African country occupying an area of 121,320 square kilometers (46,841 square miles), which makes it slightly larger than the state of Pennsylvania. It borders Sudan to the north and west, Ethiopia and Djibouti to the south, and the Red Sea to the east. Ethiopia Located in the Horn of Africa— the pointy peninsula-like landmass that emanates out of the eastern part of the continent—Ethiopia has a total area of 1,127,127 square kilometers (935,183 square miles), rendering it slightly less than twice the size of Texas. A landlocked country completely surrounded by other states, Ethiopia has a total border length of 5,311 kilometers (3,300 miles).

Gabon The Gabonese Republic lies along the equator on the west coast of Africa with a border length of 2,551 kilometers (1,585 miles) and a coastline of 885 kilometers (550 miles). Gabon is bounded to the west by the Atlantic Ocean, to the north by Equatorial Guinea (350 kilometers/218 miles) and Cameroon (298 kilometers/185 miles), and to the east and south by the Republic of the Congo (1,903 kilometers/1,183 miles). The Gambia The Republic of The Gambia measures 11,295 square kilometers (4,361 square miles) and consists of a long narrow ribbon of land sitting astride the river Gambia, one of the major waterways in West Africa. Apart from the 50-kilometer (31-mile) stretch of coastline on the Atlantic ocean, it is entirely surrounded by Senegal. Ghana The Republic of Ghana, formerly the Gold Coast, is a West African country lying on the Gulf of Guinea.

It has a total border of 2,093 kilometers (1,300 miles), including 548 kilometers (341 miles) with Burkina Faso to the north, 688 kilometers (428 miles) with Côte d'Ivoire to the west, and 877 kilometers (545 miles) with Togo to the east. Guinea Guinea lies on the West African coast, bordered by Sierra Leone and Liberia to the south, Guinea-Bissau and Senegal to the north, and Mali and Côte d'Ivoire inland to the east. It has 320 kilometers (199 miles) of coastline, and a land area of 245,857 square kilometers (94,925 miles). Guinea-Bissau Guinea-Bissau lies on the west coast of Africa, with Senegal to the north and Guinea to the east and south. With a total area of 36,120 square kilometers (13,946 square miles), the country is a bit less than 3 times the size of the U.S.

Kenya Located in east Africa, Kenya has a total area of 582,650 square kilometers (224,962 square miles), rendering it slightly larger than twice the size of Nevada. With a coastline of 536 kilometers (333 miles), Kenya borders the Indian Ocean to the east, Somalia to the northeast, Ethiopia to the north, Sudan to the northwest, Uganda to the west, and Tanzania to the south. Malawi Malawi is located in southeast Africa, landlocked between Mozambique to the east and south, Zambia to the west, and Tanzania to the north. Malawi is separated from Mozambique and Tanzania to a large extent by Lake Malawi, which lies on the country's eastern edge. Mali Mali is a landlocked country in West Africa covering an area of 1.24 million square kilometers (478,764 square miles), of which 1.22 million square kilometers (471,042 square miles) is occupied by land and 20,000 square kilometers (7,722 square miles) is occupied by water.

Its border is 7,243 kilometers (4,500 miles) long. Mauritania Located in northwestern Africa, bordered by Western Sahara (occupied by Morocco) and Algeria on the north, by Mali on the east and south, by Senegal on the southwest, and by the Atlantic Ocean on the west, the country has an area of 1,030,700 square kilometers (398,000 square miles), making it slightly larger than 3 times the size of New Mexico. Its total estimated boundary length is 5,828 kilometers (3,622 miles), including 754 kilometers (469 miles) of coast on the Atlantic Ocean. Mozambique Located in southeast Africa, Mozambique has a total area of 801,590 square kilometers (309,493 square miles)—an expanse which is slightly less than twice the size of the state of California. The coastline of the country, which spans 2,470 kilometers (1,535 miles) along the entire eastern frontier, borders the Mozambique Channel and the Indian Ocean.

Namibia The Republic of Namibia lies across the Tropic of Capricorn in the south of Africa and covers an area of 824,292 square kilometers (318,259 square miles), making it slightly more than half the size of Alaska. It is bordered by South Africa to the south and southeast, Botswana and Zimbabwe on the east, Angola on the north, and the South Atlantic Ocean on the west. Rwanda The Republic of Rwanda is a land-locked country located in central Africa. It is bordered on the east by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, with which it shares the shores of Lake Kivu; on the north by Uganda; on the west by Tanzania; and on the south by Burundi. São Tomé and Príncipe São Tomé and Príncipe is located in the Gulf of Guinea 290 kilometers (180 miles) west of Gabon, which is located on the western edge of Africa.

The 2 mountainous main islands of the republic are São Tomé and Príncipe; other rocky islets include Caroco, Pedras, and Tinhosas off Príncipe Island, and Rolas off São Tomé Island. Senegal A relatively small country located in West Africa, Senegal has a total area of 196,190 square kilometers (75,748 square miles), making it slightly smaller than the state of South Dakota. Water composes 4,190 square kilometers (1,618 square miles) of this area, while the coastline, which borders the North Atlantic Ocean, stretches for 531 kilometers (330 miles). Seychelles The Seychelles are a group of islands in the Indian Ocean about 925 kilometers (575 miles) northeast of Madagascar. The country consists of 115 small islands with a total land area of 455 square kilometers (176 square miles) and a total coastline of 491 kilometers (305 miles).

Sierra Leone Sierra Leone is located in West Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, with an area of 71,740 square kilometers (27,925 square miles) and a total coastline of 402 kilometers (250 miles). The country shares a border with Guinea in the north and east and with Liberia in the southeast. Somalia Somalia, formerly known as the Somali Democratic Republic, is a coastal country covering a land area of 637,657 square kilometers (246,199 square miles) and a water area of 10,320 square kilometers (3,985 square miles), with a land-bordered circumference of 2,366 kilometers (1,470 miles). It has a coastline of 3,025 kilometers (1,880 miles) stretching along the Indian Ocean to the southeast and along the Gulf of Aden in the southern mouth of the Red Sea to the north. South Africa South Africa is situated at the southern tip of the continent of Africa.

Ranging from west to east across its northern border are the neighboring countries of Namibia, Botswana, and Zimbabwe; Mozambique lies to the east, as does the small nation of Swaziland, which is nearly encircled by South Africa. Sudan Sudan is located in North Africa. Sudan borders the following countries: Central African Republic (1,165 kilometers, 724 miles), Chad (1,360 kilometers, 845 miles), Democratic Republic of the Congo (628 kilometers, 390 miles), Egypt (1,273 kilometers, 791 miles), Eritrea (650 kilometers, 404 miles), Ethiopia (1,606 kilometers, 998 miles), Kenya (232 kilometers, 144 miles), Libya (383 kilometers, 238 miles), and Uganda (435 kilometers, 270 miles).

Swaziland Swaziland is a small landlocked country in southern Africa, with an area of 17,363 square kilometers (6,704 miles), extending 176 kilometers (109 miles) north to south and 135 kilometers (84 miles) east to west. By comparison, it is slightly smaller than the state of New Jersey. Tanzania A relatively large country located in East Africa, Tanzania has a total area of 945,087 square kilometers (364,900 square miles), rendering it slightly larger than twice the size of California. The area of Tanzania includes the islands of Mafia, Pemba, and Unguja; the latter 2 form a semi-autonomous region called Zanzibar that is part of an official union with the republic of Tanzania. Tunisia Situated in northern Africa, Tunisia is bordered by Algeria on the west and Libya on the southeast and by the Mediterranean Sea on the north, where it has a coastline of 1,148 kilometers (713 miles).

Tunisia has an area of 163,610 square kilometers (63,169 square miles), making it slightly larger than the state of Georgia. Uganda A landlocked state in Eastern Africa, west of Kenya and east of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (former Zaire), Uganda has an area of 236,040 square kilometers (146,675 square miles) and a total land boundary of 2,698 kilometers (1,676 miles). Comparatively, the area occupied by Uganda is slightly smaller than the size of Oregon. Political Map of Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Kenya, Tanzania, Angola, Zambia, Malawi, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Botswana, Mozambique, Swaziland, Lesotho, South Africa, Madagascar - Atlapedia® Online Congo (Republic of) Congo is located in West Central Africa. It is bound by Gabon to the west, Cameroon to the northwest, Central African Republic to the north, Democratic Republic of the Congo (Zaire) to the south and east as well as Angola and the Atlantic Ocean to the southwest....

Democratic Republic of the Congo (formerly Zaire) Democratic Republic of the Congo (Zaire) is located in South Central Africa with a narrow strip of land on the northern bank of the Zaire River. It is bound by the Republic of Congo and the Atlantic Ocean to the west, Angola to the southwest, Zambia to the southeast, Tanzania, Burundi, Rwanda and Uganda to the east, Sudan to the northeast and the Central African Republic to the north and northwest.... Democratic Republic of the Congo Guide Democratic Republic of the Congo Guide Democratic Republic of the Congo Guide Parent page with capital Kinshasa - click to zoom The Democratic Republic of Congo (formerly Zaire) is situated in Central Africa and it crosses the equator in the north-central region. the third largest country in Africa, it is bordered with Central African Republic to the north, Sudan to the northeast, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi and Tanzania to the east, Zambia to the south and southeast, Angola to the southwest, and Angola and the Congo Republic to the west. The 2,733 mile long Congo River lies mostly within the territory of the country.

The enormous semicircular bend in the river delineates a central depression known as the cuvette, with an average altitude of 1,300 ft. Around this densely forested section, which covers nearly half the area of the country, a succession of plateaus rise gradually to height of over 5,000 ft in the northeast and southeast. The highest altitudes are found along the eastern fringe of the country, on the edge of the Great African Rift Valley, where dislocation of the strata has produced important volcanic and mountain masses, the most notable of which is Mt. Ruwenzori, with its peak rising to a level of 16,795 ft. Savannah and park forest vegetation predominate north and south of the equatorial forest belt; the southern savannah belt is far more extensive than the northern one. All major rivers are tributaries of the Zaire; these include the Lomani, the Aruwimi or Ituri, the Itimburi, the Mongala, the Ugangi, the Uélé, the Kasaim the Sankuru, the Lulua, the Kwango and the Kwilu.

The largest lakes include Tanganyika, Albert, Edward, Kivu, Mweru, Leopols II and Tumba. Kingdoms of Africa - Angola / Kongo Kingdom Ruler of the Mbata kingdom. c.1375 The alliance guarantees that each of the two partners ensures the succession of their joint lines. The son and heir of this arrangement, Lukeni lua Nimi becomes the founder of the Kongo kingdom when, in around 1400, he conquers the kingdom of the Mwene Kabunga (or Mwene Mpangala), which lies upon a mountain to his south. The Kingo kingdom had its early tribal origins in the lower stretches of the River Congo, but today the river forms much of the border between the Republic of the Congo to its west and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to its east Early Kings AD 1400 - 1568 Although its trading contacts were limited, by the fifteenth century the kingdom stretched from the River Congo in the north to the River Loje in the south, and from the Atlantic Ocean to beyond the River Kwango in the east. Several smaller autonomous states to the south and east paid tribute to it.

Kongo was ruled by the manikongo, or king, and was divided into six provinces, each administered by a governor who was appointed by the manikongo. The capital was at Mbanza. Unfortunately, the history of the kingdom was only written down in the late sixteenth century, and focussed on the ruling dynasty, largely overlooking any previous ruling dynasties. 1400 - ? Lukeni lua Nimi (Nimi a Lukeni) Founded Kongo kingdom. Nzinga Nkuwu / Joï¿½o I Son. Portuguese explorer Diogo Cao visits the kingdom, impressing the manikongo with Portuguese culture. 1491 Portuguese missionaries, soldiers, and artisans are welcomed at Mbanza. The missionaries soon gain converts, including Nzinga Nkuwu (who takes the name Joï¿½o I), and the soldiers help the manikongo defeat an internal rebellion. 1509- 1543 Alfonso I Mvemba a Nzinga Raised as a Christian. Attempted to convert his subjects.

1543 The Portuguese are primarily interested in increasing their private fortunes (especially through capturing Africans and selling them into slavery), despite the attempts of King Manuel I of Portugal to channel the efforts of his subjects into constructive projects. Following Alfonso's death, they play a major part in weakening the kingdom and reducing the hold of the capital (renamed Sï¿½o Salvador) over the provinces. Kongo declines rapidly and suffers major civil wars. 1543 - 1545 Pedro I Nkanga a Mvemba 1545 Killed while fighting a war in the east. House of Kwilu AD 1568 - 1622 During this period, the Portuguese strengthened their position along the coastline through an aggressive policy of war and treaty, forming a colony that would become Angola . They also sent several missions to Kongo's southern neighbour, Ndongo, which ended in a disastrous uprising in 1579. The Portuguese fled back into Kongo and had to be aided by Kongo's native forces to repel the Ndongo. 1568 - 1587 Alvaro I Nimi a Lukeni lua Mvemba Stepson.

Accession was contested. 1569 Following a request by the manikongo, the Portuguese aid the Kongo kingdom (and their own interests) by helping to repel an invasion from the east by the Lunda ethnic group. 1576 Kongo virtually becomes a Portuguese colony. They are 'allowed' by the manikongo to found what becomes the capital of modern Angola , Luanda, which they use as a base for the slave trade. 1580 - 1583 The War of the Portuguese Succession is fought between Anthony of Portugal and Philip of Spain . Anthony is pushed out of the country in 1581 and ends up occupying the Azores. Defeated in naval battles, his attempt to secure the throne comes to an end in 1583. Philip gains the throne, theoretically uniting Portuguese and Spanish colonial interests. 1587 - 1614 Alvaro II Nimi a Nkanga 1605 The Quilombo of Palmares settlement of escaped slaves is formed in far eastern Brazil (the term 'quilombo' is specifically used for such settlements).

The settlement's population is formed largely of free-born enslaved Africans and is ruled by chiefs who apparently have a princely origin within Africa. One of the last rulers is Zumbi, claimed as a grandson of an unnamed manikongo. Elements of the royal family are captured at the Battle of Mbwila in 1665, so the claim is not without merit. 1614 - 1615 Bernardo II Nimi a Nkanga 1615 - 1622 Alvaro III Nimi a Mpanzu House of Nsundi (Kinkanga) AD 1622 - 1631 In around 1615, the Portuguese encouraged Imbangala bands that were ravaging the kingdom of Benguela to cross the River Kwanza and serve in the colonial armies. They were used well in attacks against Ndongo from 1618. Meanwhile the still-independent Kongo kings had to manage a balancing act between the interference of the Portuguese and the interests of the Spanish . Relations with the latter seemed preferable, but the Portuguese presence in the region was too strong for Kongo to be able to act too openly in that direction.

1622 - 1624 Pedro II Nkanga a Mvika 1624 - 1626 Garcia I Alphonse Mvemba a Nkanga 1626 - 1631 Ambrosio (Ambrose) I Nimi a Nkanga House of Kimpanzu AD 1631 - 1636 The Portuguese suffered a loss of authority during a series of wars in 1626 and 1628 against the ruler of Ndongo, thanks to mistakes made by the Portuguese governor. Negotiations and skirmishes continued until 1639. 1631 - 1636 Alvaro IV Nzinga a Nkuwu 1636 Alvaro V Mpanzu a Nimi House of Kinlaza AD 1636 - 1665 Relative peace returned to the Kongo kingdom in 1639 following the conclusion of a peace treaty with Ndongo. A new Portuguese governor from 1648 attempted to restore colonial authority as much as possible, although he made little progress.

1636 - 1641 Alvaro VI Alphonse Nimi a Lukeni a Nzenze a Ntumba 1641 - 1660 Garcia II Alphonse Nkanga a Lukeni a Nzenze a Ntumba 1640 - 1665 The protracted Portuguese Restoration War (or Acclamation War) is triggered in 1640 by the accession to the Portuguese throne of John the Restorer. It only ends when Portuguese independence is fully recognised in 1668. Perhaps taking advantage of the situation, Garcia allies himself to the Dutch in an attempt to control Portuguese slave traders, but in 1665 a Portuguese force decisively defeats the army of Kongo at the Battle of Mbwila. The manikongo becomes little more than a Portuguese vassal. The kingdom disintegrates into a number of small states, all controlled to varying degrees by the Portuguese.

Portuguese relations with the Kongo kingdom were usually dictatorial, and they became even more so after a decisive Portuguese victory at the Battle of Mbwila in 1665 1661 - 1665 Antonio (Anthony) I Nvita a Nkanga Civil War Kings AD 1665 - 1678 After the Battle of Mbwila (or Ulanga), the kingdom was involved in a long and brutal civil war. The House of Kimpanzu, with the support of Soyo, was often based at Mbamba Luvota, while the rival House of Kinlaza held Mbula (or Lemba), south of the River Congo, and Nkondo in the upper Mbidizi/Lukunga system. A third house, Agua Rosada, which was descended from both the other two, ruled in Kibangu. Soyo more or less became independent but regularly intervened in Kongo's affairs. Defeat at the hands of the Portuguese at Mbwila changed a good deal for the rulers of Kongo.

Previously the positions of power under the manikongo had fluctuated, sometimes changing their titles and powers with each succession of manikonga, sometimes lasting for more than one succession. During the civil war period, there was little time or appetite for such 'fiddling'. Instead positions and titles became largely set in stone, forming a more certain courtly administration for generations to come. While many of the rulers in this period did not recognise the legitimacy of their rivals, the numbering was maintained by later generations to include them all. (Additional information from Elite Women in the Kingdom of Kongo: Historical Perspectives on Women's Political Power, John Thornton (Journal of African History 47, 2006).) 1665 House of Kinlaza. Continued to rule at Mbula/ Lemba . 1669 - 1670 Alavaro IX Mpanzu a Ntivila House of Kimpanzu. Rafael I Nzinga a Nkanga House of Kimpanzu. Afonso III Mvemba a Nimi House of Kimpanzu. Daniel I Miala mia Nzimbwila House of Kimpanzu.

1678 Sï¿½o Salvador is sacked and destroyed, considerably weakening the country's centre to the benefit of the rival faction based on the kingdom's edge. House of Kibangu for the Agua Rosada AD 1669 - 1709 The Kimpanzu retreated south to Mbamba Lovata, which territory was to some extent under the protection of the prince of Soyo. Under the informal leadership of Suzanna de Nobrega, they opposed the Kinlaza and any other group claiming to rule Kongo. The kingdom's population also retreated to the mountains or fell victim to the slavers. The manikongo of Kibangu still claimed sovereignty over the kingdom, but their power never extended beyond their fortress.

1669 - 1685 Garcia III Nkanga a Mvemba 1685 Andrï¿½ I Mvizi a Nkanga 1685 - 1688 Manuel Afonso Nzinga a Nlenke 1688 - 1695 Alvaro X Nimi a Mvemba Agua Rosada 1695 - 1709 Pedro IV Nusamu a Mvemba Gained the entire kingdom, creating the Rotating Houses . 1695 During his reign Pedro IV gains control over the entire kingdom. He is not regarded as a legitimate ruler by twentieth century descendants of the later manikongos. King of Lemba for the House of Kinlaza AD 1669 - 1709 Following the destruction of the capital in 1678, the Kinlaza retreated to their fortress at Mbula/Lemba, Pedro III continued his reign and Joao II followed. 1669 - 1680 Ruled Kongo (1669). Continued diminished reign at Mbula/Lemba.

1680 - 1716 Joï¿½o II Nzuzi a Ntamba The Period of Rotating Houses AD 1709 - 1764 Following Dona Beatriz's religious movement which re-populated Sï¿½o Salvador, Pedro IV seized the kingdom and tried Dona Beatriz for heresy. With the church behind him, he secured Kongo and appeased the opposition faction by ensuring that a Kimpanzu heir would succeed each Kinlaza ruler at the end of his reign. The names of kings shown in red are from the list by Francisco das Necessidades, which was compiled from oral traditions and documents found in Sï¿½o Salvador in 1844. Records for the kingdom in the eighteenth century and early nineteenth are sparse. Lists of rulers up to Pedro V can conflict with one another, and little is known as all of the kingdom. 1709 - 1718 Pedro IV Nusamu a Mvemba Reunited the kingdom. House of Kinlaza. 1718 - 1743 Manuel II Mpanzu a Nimi House of Kimpanzu.

Garcia IV Nkanga a Mvandu House of Kinlaza. Nicolau I Misaki mia Nimi House of Kimpanzu. Ruled after 1758. Afonso IV Nkanga a Nkanga House of Kinlaza. Antï¿½nio II Mvita a Mpanzu House of Kimpanzu. Sebastiï¿½o I Nkanga kia Nkanga House of Kinlaza. Pedro V Ntivila a Nkanga House of Kimpanzu. Overthrown. 1764 Pedro V is overthrown by Alvaro XI. He is later excised from the numbering for all Pedros, with Pedro VI of 1859-1891 signing himself Pedro V from the very start of his reign. House of the Southern Kinlaza AD 1764 - c.1790 When Pedro V was overthrown he withdrew to Mbamba Lovata as Alvaro XI seized power.

Alvaro XI and his successors were apparently from the Kinlaza who controlled Nkondo on the upper River Mbidizi and had been in place since the late 1680s when Ana Afonso de Leao had established herself there. These were termed 'Southern Kinlaza', as the Northern Kinlaza , centred in Mbula continued to exist. As expected, the territory of the southern Kinlaza lay to the south of the capital at Sï¿½o Salvador. (Additional information from Elite Women in the Kingdom of Kongo: Historical Perspectives on Women's Political Power, John Thornton (Journal of African History 47, 2006), from Mbanza Kongo/Sao Salvador: Kongo's Holy City, John Thornton, and from Urban Africa; Histories in the Making (Africa's Urban Past), David M Anderson & Richard Rathbone (Eds).) 1764 - 1778 Alvaro XI Nkanga a Nkanga Of the Kivusi Clan of the Southern Kinlaza.

1778 - 1785 Josï¿½ I Mpasi a Nkanga 1785 - 1787 Seized the throne. Killed or exiled? 1787 With the unexpected death of Afonso V the succession becomes disputed. Alvaro XII seizes the throne, but his reign is of uncertain length. It could be his immediate successor who begins to rebuild the kingdom, or more probably the one after him, Joaquim I. Kings of Kongo c.AD 1790 - 1891 Although regarded as supreme kings of the Kongo kingdom by the Portuguese , they were in fact the most powerful of the region's various chieftains, these being the mwene (singular, meaning 'lord', or awene, plural). Various lesser positions also existed in order to maintain the apparatus of state. The manikongo did not rule a single unitary kingdom but instead collected tribute from subsidiary chiefs and maintained their loyalty. But for the Portuguese presence, it is most likely that the normal cycle of rise and fall would have continued, perhaps with an eventual unitary kingdom emerging.

A struggle for the throne had been triggered by the unexpected death of Afonso V in 1787. Alvaro XII of the Southern Kinlaza seized control for an unknown period of time but, after his death or defeat at an uncertain date between 1787-1793, the throne passed from house to house in no particular order, and records covering kings and the kingdom itself continued to be very scrappy and sparse. The capital remained Sï¿½o Salvador (renamed in 1570 from M'banza-Kongo, and now the capital of Zaire Province in Angola ). (Additional information from Elite Women in the Kingdom of Kongo: Historical Perspectives on Women's Political Power, John Thornton (Journal of African History 47, 2006), from Mbanza Kongo/Sao Salvador: Kongo's Holy City, John Thornton, from Urban Africa; Histories in the Making (Africa's Urban Past), David M Anderson & Richard Rathbone (Eds), and from Kongo's Incorporation into Angola: A Perspective from Kongo, John Thornton.) ?

- 1793 Alexio I Mpanzu a Mbandu Won the throne from Alvaro XII? 1793 - 1794 Parentage unknown. Seized the throne? 1794 - 1803 Henrique II Alphonse Masaki ma Mpanzu Parentage unknown. Began rebuilding the kingdom. 1803 In an effort to end the factional fighting for the throne, Henrique agrees a policy of succession with Garcia. Possibly agreeing only to give himself time, in 1803 (or 1805) Garcia proclaims himself sole king. This illustration shows slaves being transported by canoe, apparently under the control of the kingdom of Kongo - the slave trade was an important source of revenue for many central and western Africa kingdoms, but all that was soon to change 1803 - 1830 Garcia V Nkanga a Mvemba Parentage unknown. Andrï¿½ II Mvizi a Lukeni Son. Of the Northern Kinlaza. ? - 1842 Andrï¿½ III Ndondele Beya Sometimes merged with Andrï¿½ II. Died of lung complications.

1836 In line with prevailing efforts across Europe that are largely being pushed forwards by Britain , Portugal officially abolishes the slave trade south of the equator. The practice of trafficking people largely goes underground and continues until after the First World War. Legitimate trade switches from the government-controlled 'packaging' of people to individuals working and trading on their own behalf, and a new level of prosperity begins to seep down through society. 1842 - 1857 Henrique III Mpanzu a Nsindi a Nimi a Lukeni Of the Southern Kinlaza. Son. Expelled. 1857 As the son of Henrique III, Alvaro gains the throne upon his father's death with the support of the electors. He is opposed by Pedro, usually shown as being a son of one of Henrique's sisters. Pedro is expelled from Sï¿½o Salvador and seeks support from the Portuguese who have recently captured Bembe, which lies to the south of Pedro's own southerly domain. Then he embarks on a drawn-out campaign that ends with Alvaro being driven out. 1859 - 1891 Cousin (sometimes shown as a brother).

1859 Pedro VI now has full control of the kingdom. His power-base lies around Madimba, which is to the south of the capital at Sï¿½o Salvador. This is territory inherited from the Southern Kinlaza . From the very start of his reign Pedro refers to himself as Pedro V, excising from the records Pedro V Ntivila a Nkanga (1763-1764) of Kimpanzu (king briefly during the period of Rotating Houses ). 1888 Pedro VI signs the Treaty of Vassallage with Portugal . Based on the outcome of the Conference of Berlin of 1884-1885, the territory of Kongo is incorporated mostly into Angola and partly into the 'Independent State of Congo' (largely but not entirely within the modern Democratic Republic of Congo). Local resistance persists, however, and the manikongo rule a reduced kingdom, the independent state of Congo , firstly under Pedro and then under his son, Alvaro.

Kings of the Independent State of Congo (Angola) AD 1891 - 1914 Under Portuguese control, the native elected rulers governed a reduced Kongo from their capital at Sï¿½o Salvador. The rulers continued to be titled the manikongo (this being a Portuguese alteration from the native 'Mwene Kongo', or 'Lord of Kongo'), and their territory formed parts of what is now Congo and Angola. As previously, those manikongo who bore the name Pedro continued to ignore the original Pedro V (1763-1764), numbering themselves lower than was strictly accurate. This false numbering is given in parenthesis. Following their removal from power in 1914, the manikongos apparently retained their titles but had no power. These titular rulers are shown below with a shaded background. Any claim to the former throne seems to have ended with the country's independence in 1975, although it has been rumoured that Angola's current, long-lasting dictator, Jose Eduardo dos Santos, can claim descent in part from the royal family.

This at least would explain the lack of any royal pretender to the lost throne, but it seems to be without any real basis or support (and his parents were immigrants into Luanda). The former capital city is now the capital of Zaire Province in Angola . (Additional information from Elite Women in the Kingdom of Kongo: Historical Perspectives on Women's Political Power, John Thornton (Journal of African History 47, 2006), from Mbanza Kongo/Sao Salvador: Kongo's Holy City, John Thornton, and from Urban Africa; Histories in the Making (Africa's Urban Past), David M Anderson & Richard Rathbone (Eds).) 1891 - 1896 Son. A minor at accession. 1896 - 1901 Uncle and regent during Pedro's minority. 1910 - 1911 Son of Pedro VII. Died a year after accession. 1911 - 1915 Deposed. 1914 - 1915 The position of manikongo is abolished by the Portuguese following a revolt against them that is lead by Alvaro Buta.

The reduced kingdom is merged into the Portuguese colony of Angola. Manuel III remains manikongo in name only until 1915, when the royal family decree his replacement by Alvaro XV. In 1914, Portugal was far too busy with the threat to its colonial possessions posed by Germany to tread softly with a revolt in the state of Congo - Portuguese troops are shown here embarking for Portuguese West Africa (largely today's Angola) to protect it from German invasion - so the Kongolese kingdom was arbitrarily extinguished and its territory incorporated directly into the West Africa colony 1915 - 1923 Pedro VIII (VII) Alphonse 1951 Angola's Portuguese status changes from colony to overseas province. Between this point and 1961 a nationalist movement develops and guerrilla war begins. 1955 - 1957 Antï¿½nio III Alphonse 1957 - 1962 Pedro IX (VIII) Alphonse Mansala 1960 To the north of Angola, the Democratic Republic of Congo achieves independence from Belgium , while the former French region of Middle Congo becomes the Republic of the Congo.

Between 1957-1962, Isabel Maria da Gama, widow of Antï¿½nio III, acts as regent for the young Pedro IX. Upon his untimely death, she renews her role as regent for the kingdom despite there not seeming to be another candidate for the title of manikongo. 1962 - 1975 First female claimant to the title, although entitled regent. Modern Angola AD 1975 - Present Day Angola lies in south-central Africa, with the Democratic Republic of Congo on its northern border, Zambia to the east, and Namibia to the south. It also has an enclave province called Cabinda which is wedged onto the coast to the north. It lies sandwiched between the republic of the Congo to the north and the democratic republic of Congo west and south. The Angolan capital is at Luanda, once one of the world's busiest slave-trading ports. In a history that saw the usual nineteenth century colonial interference, Angola emerged mainly out of the territory of the former Kongo kingdom which encompassed much of the Lower Congo and northern Angola.

The region, and the native Bantu kingdom, was a Portuguese colonial territory during the late nineteenth century and much of the twentieth century. Before that, it had seven hundred years of recorded or remembered history, and up to three thousand years of settlement. People who spoke ancient versions of Kikongo probably arrived in the region that is encompassed by the two modern Congo republics, plus Angola itself and Gabon to the west as part of the larger Bantu migration. The people here were practicing agriculture by at least 1000 BC, and working iron by at least 400 BC. Between 1974-1975, there was revolution in Portugal and as a result of the turmoil its overseas empire collapsed. Angola gained independence in 1975 as the republic of Angola without any official handover or preparation. A power struggle immediately ensued between the MPLA (People's Movement for the Liberation of Angola), backed by Cuba and Soviet Russia , and the FNLA and Unita, backed by South Africa and the USA . The civil war rumbled on for years, and even today foreign travellers are advised against entering the country's north-eastern corner on all but the most essential of trips.

However, an oil boom is making Angola one of the fastest-growing economies in the world, and one of the most expensive in which to live for those who have the money (principally foreign oil workers). Outside of this it is still one of the least developed countries, having to import almost everything it needs other than the very basic essentials. (Additional information from External Links: British Foreign Office at Gov.UK , The New Yorker , and BBC Country Profiles .) 1975 - 1995 Sudden and unexpected independence from Portugal in 1975 is the touch-paper for a destructive civil war between the two main factions in the country, the MPLA (People's Movement for the Liberation of Angola) on one side, and the FNLA and Unita on the other. With interference mainly by Cuba (with 50,000 troops in the country) and South Africa (with its army there), the civil war alternates between phases of relative calm and intense action.

The long-running civil war in Angola saw heavy weaponry being supplied to both sides by their respective sponsors, both of whom were similarly able to arm themselves thanks in part to the Cold War At the same time as independence is proclaimed and civil war breaks out, the former colonial masters pull out of the country, taking everything that can be moved. The memoirs of Ryszard Kapuscinski, entitled Another Day of Life, describe efforts to cram the entire city into a series of wooden crates and ship most of it to Lisbon. Entire streets of abandoned, rusting cars are left behind, but just about everything else is removed. 1979 - Present 'President' in name with a firm grip on power. 1991 - 1992 Moves are made to withdraw troops after Unita and the MPLA government sign a peace accord in Lisbon. However, the elections in 1992 are disputed and fighting begins again. 1998 - 2002 The war flares up following tensions, and finally ends when Unita signs a ceasefire in 2002. The real end is apparently signalled when Jonas Savimbi is assassinated by being shot in the head.

For the duration of the civil war he had proved himself to be a murderous despot who had embraced Maoist principles, despite being backed by the CIA and South African mercenaries. True peace finally arrives in Angola, notwithstanding a high crime rate and several kidnappings and murders of political opponents. 2003 The republic's long-term president - Jose Eduardo dos Santos - appoints Fernando da Piedade Dias dos Santos as the first prime minister to assume the post in more then three years. 2008 - 2010 The ruling MPLA of which President Jose Eduardo dos Santos is a member wins the country's first parliamentary elections for sixteen years. A new constitution is approved in 2010 which substitutes direct election of the president with a system under which the top candidate from the largest party in parliament becomes president. It also strengthens the presidency's powers, prompting the Unita opposition to accuse the government of 'destroying democracy'. 2010 Elements of the 'Front for the Liberation of the Enclave of Cabinda' (Flec) attack a police convoy which is escorting Togo's national football team on its way to attend the Africa Cup of Nations, killing three team members.

The World Factbook — Central Intelligence Agency Background: South Africa occupied the German colony of South-West Africa during World War I and administered it as a mandate until after World War II, when it annexed the territory. In 1966, the Marxist South-West Africa People's Organization (SWAPO) guerrilla group launched a war of independence for the area that became Namibia, but it was not until 1988 that South Africa agreed to end its administration in accordance with a UN peace plan for the entire region. Namibia has been governed by SWAPO since the country won independence in 1990, though the party has dropped much of its Marxist ideology. Prime Minister Hage GEINGOB was elected president in November 2014 in a landslide victory, replacing Hifikepunye POHAMBA who stepped down after serving two terms. SWAPO retained its parliamentary super majority in the November 2014 elections and established a system of gender parity in parliamentary positions.

Geography :: NAMIBIA party to: Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements first country in the world to incorporate the protection of the environment into its constitution; some 14% of the land is protected, including virtually the entire Namib Desert coastal strip People and Society :: NAMIBIA Population: 2,436,469 note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality, higher death rates, lower population growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2016 est.) country comparison to the world: 143 Ethnic groups: black 87.5%, white 6%, mixed 6.5% note: about 50% of the population belong to the Ovambo tribe and 9% to the Kavangos tribe; other ethnic groups include Herero 7%, Dam

ara 7%, Nama 5%, Caprivian 4%, Bushmen 3%, Baster 2%, Tswana 0.5% Languages: Oshiwambo languages 48.9%, Nama/Damara 11.3%, Afrikaans 10.4% (common language of most of the population and about 60% of the white population), Otjiherero languages 8.6%, Kavango languages 8.5%, Caprivi languages 4.8%, English (official) 3.4%, other African languages 2.3%, other 1.7% note: Namibia has 13 recognized national languages, including 10 indigenous African languages and 3 Indo-European languages (2011 est.) Demographic profile: Planning officials view Namibia’s reduced population growth rate as sustainable based on the country’s economic growth over the past decade.

Prior to independence in 1990, Namibia’s relatively small population grew at about 3% annually, but declining fertility and the impact of HIV/AIDS slowed this growth to 1.4% by 2011, rebounding to close to 2% by 2016. Namibia’s fertility rate has fallen over the last two decades – from about 4.5 children per woman in 1996 to 3.4 in 2016 – due to increased contraceptive use, higher educational attainment among women, and greater female participation in the labor force. The average age at first birth has stayed fairly constant, but the age at first marriage continues to increase, indicating a rising incidence of premarital childbearing. The majority of Namibians are rural dwellers (about 55%) and live in the better-watered north and northeast parts of the country. Migration, historically male-dominated, generally flows from northern communal areas – non-agricultural lands where blacks were sequestered under the apartheid system – to agricultural, mining, and manufacturing centers in the center and south. After independence from South Africa, restrictions on internal movement eased, and rural-urban migration increased, bolstering urban growth.

Some Namibians – usually persons who are better-educated, more affluent, and from urban areas – continue to legally migrate to South Africa temporarily to visit family and friends and, much less frequently, to pursue tertiary education or better economic opportunities. Namibians concentrated along the country’s other borders make unauthorized visits to Angola, Zambia, Zimbabwe, or Botswana, to visit family and to trade agricultural goods. Few Namibians express interest in permanently settling in other countries; they prefer the safety of their homeland, have a strong national identity, and enjoy a well-supplied retail sector. Although Namibia is receptive to foreign investment and cross-border trade, intolerance toward non-citizens is widespread.

0-14 years: 37.39% (male 460,016/female 451,058) 15-24 years: 20.35% (male 246,266/female 249,570) 25-54 years: 34% (male 395,417/female 432,994) 55-64 years: 4.25% (male 46,769/female 56,798) 65 years and over: 4.01% (male 41,518/female 56,063) (2016 est.) population pyramid: Executive branch: chief of state: President Hage GEINGOB (since 21 March 2015); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government head of government: President Hage GEINGOB (since 21 March 2015); Prime Minister Saara KUUGONGELWA-AMADHILA (since 

21 March 2015) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president from among members of the National Assembly elections/appointments: president elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 28 November 2014 (next to be held in November 2019) election results: Hage GEINGOB elected president; percent of vote - Hage GEINGOB (SWAPO) 86.7%, McHenry VENAANI (DTA) 5.0%, Hidipo HAMUTENYA (RDP) 3.4%, Asser MBAI (NUDO)1.9%, Henk MUDGE (RP) 1.0%, other 2.0% Legislative branch: description: bicameral Parliament consists of the National Assembly (104 seats; 96 members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by proportional representation vote to serve 5-year terms and 8 nonvoting members appointed by the president) and the National Council, which primarily reviews legislation passed and referred by the National Assembly (26 seats (to be expanded to 42 in 201

6); members indirectly elected 2 each by the 13 regional councils to serve 5-year terms) elections: National Council - elections for regional councils to determine members of the National Council held on 27 November 2015 (next to be held in November 2020); National Assembly - last held on 28 November 2014 (next to be held in November 2019) election results: National Council - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - SWAPO 40, NUDO 1, DTA 1; National Assembly - percent of vote by party - SWAPO 80.0%, DTA 4.8%, RDP 3.5%, APP 2.3%, UDF 2.1%, NUDO 2.0%, CPN 1.5%, other 3.8%; seats by party - SWAPO 77, DTA 5, RDP 3, APP 2, UDF 2, NUDO 2, CPN 2, SWANU 1, UPM 1, RP 1 Judicial branch: highest court(s): Supreme Court (consists of the chief

 justice and at least 3 judges in quorum sessions) judge selection and term of office: judges appointed by the president of Namibia upon the recommendation of the Judicial Service Commission; judges serve until age 65 but can be extended by the president until age 70 subordinate courts: High Court; Labor Court; regional and district magistrates' courts; community courts Political parties and leaders: All People's Party or APP [Ignatius SHIXWAMENI] Communist Party of Namibia or CPN (formerly known as Workers' Revolutionary Party or WRP) [Attie BEUKES and Harry BOESAK] Democratic Turnhalle Alliance of Namibia or DTA [McHenry VENAANI] National Unity Democratic Organization or NUDO [Asser MBAI] Rally for Democracy and Progress or RDP [Jeremiah NAMBINGA] Republican Party or RP [Henk MUDGE] South West Africa National Union or SWANU [Usutuaije MAAMBERUA] South West Africa People's Organization or SWAPO [Hage GEINGOB, acting president] United Democratic Front or UDF [Justus ||GAROEB] United People's Movement or UPM [Jan J.

VAN WYK] National Society for Human Rights or NAMRIGHTS The Affirmative Repositioning Movement or AR [Job AMUPANDA, Dimbulukweni NAUYOMA, George KAMBALA] other: various labor unions International organization participation: ACP, AfDB, AU, C, CD, CPLP (associate observer), FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NAM, OPCW, SACU, SADC, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNISFA, UNMIL, UNMISS, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO chief of mission: Ambassador Martin ANDJABA (since 3 September 2010) chancery: 1605 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009 telephone

: [1] (202) 986-0540 chief of mission: Ambassador Thomas Frederick DAUGHTON (since 6 October 2014) embassy: 14 Lossen Street, Windhoek mailing address: Private Bag 12029 Ausspannplatz, Windhoek telephone: [264] (61) 295-8500 Flag description: a wide red stripe edged by narrow white stripes divides the flag diagonally from lower hoist corner to upper fly corner; the upper hoist-side triangle is blue and charged with a yellow, 12-rayed sunburst; the lower fly-side triangle is green; red signifies the heroism of the people and their determination to build a future of equal opportunity for all; white stands for peace, unity, tranquility, and harmony; blue represents the Namibian sky and the Atlantic Ocean, the country's precious water resources and rain; the yellow sun denotes power and existence; green symbolizes vegetation and agricultural resources Economy - overview: The economy is heavily dependent on the extraction and processing of minerals for export.

Mining accounts for 11.5% of GDP, but provides more than 50% of foreign exchange earnings. Rich alluvial diamond deposits make Namibia a primary source for gem-quality diamonds. Marine diamond mining is increasingly important as the terrestrial diamond supply has dwindled. The rising cost of mining diamonds, increasingly from the sea, combined with increased diamond production in Russia and China, has reduced profit margins. Namibian authorities have emphasized the need to add value to raw materials, do more in-country manufacturing, and exploit the services market, especially in the logistics and transportation sectors. Namibia is the world's fifth-largest producer of uranium. The Chinese owned Husab uranium mine in expected to start producing uranium ore in 2017. Once the Husab mine reaches full production, Namibia is expected to become the world’s second-largest producer of uranium. Namibia also produces large quantities of zinc and is a smaller producer of gold and copper. The mining and quarrying sectors employ 2% of the population. Namibia's economy remains vulnerable to world commodity price fluctuations, and drought. Namibia normally imports about 50% of its cereal requirements; in drought years food shortages can be a problem in rural areas.

A high per capita GDP, relative to the region, hides one of the world's most unequal income distributions. A priority of the current government is poverty eradication. A five-year, Millennium Challenge Corporation compact ended in September 2014. As an upper middle income country, Namibia is ineligible for a second compact. The Namibian economy is closely linked to South Africa with the Namibian dollar pegged one-to-one to the South African rand. Namibia receives 30%-40% of its revenues from the Southern African Customs Union (SACU). Volatility in the size of Namibia's annual SACU allotment complicates budget planning.

country comparison to the world: 20 Transnational Issues :: NAMIBIA Disputes - international: concerns from international experts and local populations over the Okavango Delta ecology in Botswana and human displacement scuttled Namibian plans to construct a hydroelectric dam on Popa Falls along the Angola-Namibia border; the governments of South Africa and Namibia have not signed or ratified the text of the 1994 Surveyor's General agreement placing the boundary in the middle of the Orange River; Namibia has supported, and in 2004 Zimbabwe dropped objections to, plans between Botswana and Zambia to build a bridge over the Zambezi River, thereby de facto recognizing a short, but not clearly delimited, Botswana-Zambia boundary in the river Trafficking in persons: current situation: Namibia is a country of origin and destination for children and, to a lesser extent, women subjected to forced labor and sex trafficking; victims, lured by promises of legitimate jobs, are forced to work in urban centers and on commercial farms; traffickers exploit Namibian children, as well as children from Angola, Zambia, and Zimbabwe, for forced labor in agriculture, cattle herding, domestic service, fishing, and street vending;

 children are also forced into prostitution, often catering to tourists from southern Africa and Europe; San and Zemba children are particularly vulnerable; foreign adults and Namibian adults and children are reportedly subjected to forced labor in Chinese-owned retail, construction, and fishing operations tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List – Namibia does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking; however, it is making significant efforts to do so; Namibia was granted a waiver from an otherwise required downgrade to Tier 3 because its government has a written plan that, if implemented would constitute making significant efforts to bring itself into compliance with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking; in 2015, the Child Care and Protection Bill passed, criminalizing child trafficking; the government’s first sex trafficking prosecution remained pending; no new prosecutions were initiated and no trafficking offenders have ever been convicted; accusations of forced labor at Chinese construction and mining companies continue to go uninvestigated; authorities failed to fully implement victim identification and referral processes, which led to the deportation of possible victims (2015)

Question: Which country on the West African coast lies between The Democratic Republic of the Congo and Namibia?
Answer: Angola