Countries of East Africa. East Africa - description, countries and features Which states are located in East Africa

Africa is a part of the world with an area of ​​30.3 million km 2 with islands, this is the second place after Eurasia, 6% of the entire surface of our planet and 20% of the land.

Geographical position

Africa is located in the Northern and Eastern Hemispheres (most of it), a small part in the Southern and Western. Like all large fragments of the ancient continent, Gondwana has a massive outline, with no large peninsulas or deep bays. The length of the continent from north to south is 8 thousand km, from west to east - 7.5 thousand km. In the north it is washed by the waters of the Mediterranean Sea, in the northeast by the Red Sea, in the southeast by the Indian Ocean, in the west by the Atlantic Ocean. Africa is separated from Asia by the Suez Canal, and from Europe by the Strait of Gibraltar.

Main geographical characteristics

Africa lies on an ancient platform, which causes its flat surface, which in some places is dissected by deep river valleys. On the coast of the mainland there are small lowlands, the northwest is the location of the Atlas Mountains, the northern part, almost entirely occupied by the Sahara Desert, is the Ahaggar and Tibetsi highlands, the east is the Ethiopian Highlands, the southeast is the East African Plateau, the extreme south is the Cape and Drakensberg mountains The highest point in Africa is the Kilimanjaro volcano (5895 m, Masai plateau), the lowest is 157 meters below ocean level in Lake Assal. Along the Red Sea, in the Ethiopian Highlands and to the mouth of the Zambezi River, the world's largest crustal fault stretches, which is characterized by frequent seismic activity.

The following rivers flow through Africa: Congo (Central Africa), Niger (West Africa), Limpopo, Orange, Zambezi (South Africa), as well as one of the deepest and longest rivers in the world - the Nile (6852 km), flowing from the south to north (its sources are on the East African Plateau, and it flows, forming a delta, into the Mediterranean Sea). Rivers are characterized by high water content exclusively in the equatorial belt, due to the large amount of precipitation there; most of them are characterized by high flow rates and have many rapids and waterfalls. In lithospheric faults filled with water, lakes were formed - Nyasa, Tanganyika, the largest freshwater lake in Africa and the second largest lake in area after Lake Superior (North America) - Victoria (its area is 68.8 thousand km 2, length 337 km, maximum depth - 83 m), the largest salty endorheic lake is Chad (its area is 1.35 thousand km 2, located on the southern edge of the world's largest desert, the Sahara).

Due to Africa's location between two tropical zones, it is characterized by high total solar radiation, which gives the right to call Africa the hottest continent on Earth (the highest temperature on our planet was recorded in 1922 in Al-Aziziya (Libya) - +58 C 0 in the shadow).

On the territory of Africa, such natural zones are distinguished as evergreen equatorial forests (the coast of the Gulf of Guinea, the Congo basin), in the north and south turning into mixed deciduous-evergreen forests, then there is a natural zone of savannas and woodlands, extending to Sudan, East and South Africa, to In northern and southern Africa, savannas give way to semi-deserts and deserts (Sahara, Kalahari, Namib). In the southeastern part of Africa there is a small zone of mixed coniferous-deciduous forests, on the slopes of the Atlas Mountains there is a zone of hard-leaved evergreen forests and shrubs. Natural zones of mountains and plateaus are subject to the laws of altitudinal zonation.

African countries

The territory of Africa is divided between 62 countries, 54 are independent, sovereign states, 10 dependent territories belonging to Spain, Portugal, Great Britain and France, the rest are unrecognized, self-proclaimed states - Galmudug, Puntland, Somaliland, Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR). For a long time, Asian countries were foreign colonies of various European states and only gained independence by the middle of the last century. Depending on its geographical location, Africa is divided into five regions: Northern, Central, Western, Eastern and Southern Africa.

List of African countries

Nature

Mountains and plains of Africa

Most of the African continent is plain. There are mountain systems, highlands and plateaus. They are presented:

• the Atlas Mountains in the northwestern part of the continent;
• the Tibesti and Ahaggar highlands in the Sahara Desert;
• Ethiopian Highlands in the eastern part of the mainland;
• Drakensberg Mountains in the south.

The highest point of the country is the Kilimanjaro volcano, 5,895 m high, belonging to the East African Plateau in the southeastern part of the continent...

Deserts and savannas

The largest desert zone of the African continent is located in the northern part. This is the Sahara Desert. On the southwest side of the continent is another smaller desert, the Namib, and from there into the continent to the east there is the Kalahari Desert.

The savannah territory occupies the bulk of Central Africa. In area it is much larger than the northern and southern parts of the mainland. The territory is characterized by the presence of pastures typical of savannas, low shrubs and trees. The height of herbaceous vegetation varies depending on the amount of precipitation. These can be practically desert savannas or tall grasses, with a grass cover from 1 to 5 m in height...

Rivers

The longest river in the world, the Nile, is located on the African continent. The direction of its flow is from south to north.

The list of major water systems of the mainland includes the Limpopo, Zambezi and Orange River, as well as the Congo, which flows through Central Africa.

On the Zambezi River is the famous Victoria Falls, 120 meters high and 1,800 meters wide...

Lakes

The list of large lakes on the African continent includes Lake Victoria, which is the second largest freshwater body of water in the world. Its depth reaches 80 m, and its area is 68,000 square km. Two more large lakes of the continent: Tanganyika and Nyasa. They are located in faults of lithospheric plates.

There is Lake Chad in Africa, which is one of the world's largest endorheic relict lakes that have no connection with the world's oceans...

Seas and oceans

The African continent is washed by the waters of two oceans: the Indian and the Atlantic. Also off its shores are the Red and Mediterranean Seas. From the Atlantic Ocean in the southwestern part, the waters form the deep Gulf of Guinea.

Despite the location of the African continent, the coastal waters are cool. This is influenced by the cold currents of the Atlantic Ocean: the Canary in the north and the Bengal in the southwest. From the Indian Ocean, the currents are warm. The largest are Mozambique, in northern waters, and Agulhas, in southern...

Forests of Africa

Forests make up a little more than a quarter of the entire territory of the African continent. Here are subtropical forests growing on the slopes of the Atlas Mountains and the valleys of the ridge. Here you can find holm oak, pistachio, strawberry tree, etc. Coniferous plants grow high in the mountains, represented by Aleppo pine, Atlas cedar, juniper and other types of trees.

Closer to the coast there are cork oak forests; in the tropical region, evergreen equatorial plants are common, for example, mahogany, sandalwood, ebony, etc...

Nature, plants and animals of Africa

The vegetation of the equatorial forests is diverse, with about 1000 species of various types of trees growing here: ficus, ceiba, wine tree, oil palm, wine palm, banana palm, tree ferns, sandalwood, mahogany, rubber trees, Liberian coffee tree, etc. . Many species of animals, rodents, birds and insects live here, living directly on the trees. On the ground live: brush-eared pigs, leopards, African deer - a relative of the okapi giraffe, large apes - gorillas...

40% of Africa's territory is occupied by savannas, which are huge steppe areas covered with forbs, low, thorny bushes, milkweed, and isolated trees (tree-like acacias, baobabs).

Here there is the largest concentration of such large animals as: rhinoceros, giraffe, elephant, hippopotamus, zebra, buffalo, hyena, lion, leopard, cheetah, jackal, crocodile, hyena dog. The most numerous animals of the savannah are herbivores such as: hartebeest (antelope family), giraffe, impala or black-footed antelope, various types of gazelles (Thomson's, Grant's), blue wildebeest, and in some places rare jumping antelopes - springboks - are also found.

The vegetation of deserts and semi-deserts is characterized by poverty and unpretentiousness; these are small thorny bushes and separately growing tufts of herbs. The oases are home to the unique Erg Chebbi date palm, as well as plants that are resistant to drought conditions and salt formation. In the Namib Desert, unique plants such as Welwitschia and Nara grow, the fruits of which are eaten by porcupines, elephants and other desert animals.

Animals here include various species of antelopes and gazelles, adapted to the hot climate and capable of traveling vast distances in search of food, many species of rodents, snakes, and turtles. Lizards. Among the mammals: spotted hyena, common jackal, maned sheep, Cape hare, Ethiopian hedgehog, Dorcas gazelle, sabre-horned antelope, Anubis baboon, wild Nubian ass, cheetah, jackal, fox, mouflon, there are resident and migratory birds.

Climatic conditions

Seasons, weather and climate of African countries

The central part of Africa, through which the equator line passes, is in an area of ​​low pressure and receives sufficient moisture; the territories north and south of the equator are in the subequatorial climate zone, this is a zone of seasonal (monsoon) moisture and an arid desert climate. The far north and south are in the subtropical climate zone, the south receives precipitation brought by air masses from the Indian Ocean, the Kalahari Desert is located here, the north has minimal precipitation due to the formation of a high pressure area and the characteristics of the movement of trade winds, the largest desert in the world is the Sahara, where the amount precipitation is minimal, in some areas it does not fall at all...

Resources

Natural Resources of Africa

In terms of water resources, Africa is considered one of the poorest continents in the world. The average annual volume of water is only sufficient to satisfy primary needs, but this does not apply to all regions.

Land resources are represented by large areas with fertile lands. Only 20% of all possible lands are cultivated. The reason for this is the lack of adequate water volume, soil erosion, etc.

African forests are a source of timber, including valuable species. The countries in which they grow, export raw materials. Resources are being used unwisely and ecosystems are being destroyed little by little.

In the depths of Africa there are deposits of minerals. Among those sent for export: gold, diamonds, uranium, phosphorus, manganese ores. There are significant reserves of oil and natural gas.

Energy-intensive resources are widely available on the continent, but they are not used due to the lack of proper investment...

Among the developed industrial sectors of the countries of the African continent, the following can be noted:

• the mining industry, which exports minerals and fuels;
• the oil refining industry, distributed mainly in South Africa and North Africa;
• chemical industry specializing in the production of mineral fertilizers;
• as well as the metallurgical and engineering industries.

The main agricultural products are cocoa beans, coffee, corn, rice and wheat. Oil palm is grown in tropical regions of Africa.

Fishing is poorly developed and accounts for only 1-2% of the total agricultural output. Livestock production indicators are also not high and the reason for this is the infection of livestock by tsetse flies...

Culture

Peoples of Africa: culture and traditions

There are approximately 8,000 peoples and ethnic groups living in 62 African countries, totaling approximately 1.1 billion people. Africa is considered the cradle and ancestral home of human civilization; it was here that the remains of ancient primates (hominids) were found, which, according to scientists, are considered the ancestors of people.

Most peoples in Africa can number several thousand people or several hundred living in one or two villages. 90% of the population are representatives of 120 nations, their number is more than 1 million people, 2/3 of them are peoples with a population of more than 5 million people, 1/3 are peoples with a population of more than 10 million people (this is 50% of the total population of Africa) - Arabs , Hausa, Fulbe, Yoruba, Igbo, Amhara, Oromo, Rwanda, Malagasy, Zulu...

There are two historical and ethnographic provinces: North African (the predominance of the Indo-European race) and Tropical African (the majority of the population is the Negroid race), it is divided into such areas as:

• West Africa. Peoples speaking the Mande languages ​​(Susu, Maninka, Mende, Vai), Chadian (Hausa), Nilo-Saharan (Songai, Kanuri, Tubu, Zaghawa, Mawa, etc.), Niger-Congo languages ​​(Yoruba, Igbo, Bini, Nupe, Gbari, Igala and Idoma, Ibibio, Efik, Kambari, Birom and Jukun, etc.);
• Equatorial Africa. Inhabited by Buanto-speaking peoples: Duala, Fang, Bubi (Fernandans), Mpongwe, Teke, Mboshi, Ngala, Como, Mongo, Tetela, Cuba, Kongo, Ambundu, Ovimbundu, Chokwe, Luena, Tonga, Pygmies, etc.;
• South Africa. Rebellious peoples and speakers of Khoisani languages: Bushmen and Hottentots;
• East Africa. Bantu, Nilotes and Sudanese people groups;
• Northeast Africa. Peoples speaking Ethio-Semitic (Amhara, Tigre, Tigra), Cushitic (Oromo, Somali, Sidamo, Agaw, Afar, Konso, etc.) and Omotian languages ​​(Ometo, Gimirra, etc.);
• Madagascar. Malagasy and Creoles.

In the North African province, the main peoples are considered to be Arabs and Berbers, belonging to the southern European minor race, mainly professing Sunni Islam. There is also an ethno-religious group of Copts, who are direct descendants of the Ancient Egyptians, they are Monophysite Christians.

Some historians believe that it was East Africa became the birthplace of human civilization. The borders of the subcontinent run mainly by water - it stretches along the coast of the Indian Ocean, where the easternmost point of Africa is located - Cape Ras Hafun in Somalia. In the north it has access to the Red Sea, and in the west it is limited by the Nile. Today, this region is home to seventeen states, which also includes one of the largest island states - Madagascar and the Seychelles.

Weather and nature - local variations

There is no need to talk about any uniformity when assessing the weather characteristics of this region - they are different East African countries located in radically different climatic zones. The Seychelles is a humid sea tropics that depends on the power of the monsoons; on the continent, something similar can be found in Ethiopia or Tanzania. Somalia is mostly a hot desert, and Uganda has more rainy days than dry ones.

This variability affects the local flora. East Africa is home to savannas and tropical jungles, subequatorial forests and almost dead sands (although there are relatively few of the latter here). The fauna is extremely rich; the region is home to many large and small mammals (including primates), birds, and amphibians. The territory contains large lakes (Tanganyika and Victoria), the Congo, the deep-sea Nile and the Zambezi originate here.

Economic Advantages of the Subcontinent

The abundance of land suitable for grazing has made East African countries the continent's leaders in livestock production. In general, agriculture brings most of the income to the budgets of these countries. Kenya exports fruits and tea, Madagascar - spices, Mozambique - citrus fruits, cashew nuts and cotton, Ethiopia - olives and coffee. Where there is access to the sea, industrial fishing is developed.

The natural resources of the countries of the subcontinent are less rich than those of their neighbors, but there are also important minerals here. The region produces rubies, diamonds and gold, fluorite and iron ore, cobalt and tungsten. The processing and textile industries are actively developing. The most important industry that brings significant income to most countries (primarily island ones) is tourism.

Somalia is considered the poorest country in the region - there are few mineral resources here and the amount of fertile soil is limited. In addition, constant armed conflicts and civil unrest make this state frankly unattractive for investors.

List of East African countries

The group of East African states demonstrates an even greater degree of difference, even contrast, and here individual countries stand out noticeably from the rest, as if they are out of the ordinary. This applies to Ethiopia, Somalia, Tanzania, and some other countries. In general, the countries of the East African region deserve special attention in this sense.

1. Ethiopia- the largest and oldest of them. Its history goes back centuries and has been discussed more than once in previous parts of the work. In the 60s of our century, Ethiopia was an independent and highly respected state in Africa, led by the revered monarch Emperor Haile Selassie I. True, this populous (over 50 million people) and resource-poor country was constantly plagued by natural disasters, especially droughts, almost regularly bringing her economy to a catastrophic state. Droughts, famines, and failures with agrarian reform led the country to an acute political crisis in 1973, which resulted in the deposition of the emperor. Since 1974, power passed to the Provisional Military Administrative Council, whose leaders destroyed each other in a bitter internecine struggle, until M. Haile Mariam came to power in 1977, firmly committed to development according to the Marxist-socialist model.

The nationalization of industry and land, the authorities' strict control over the population led the country's economy to complete degradation over the course of a decade and a half. Droughts became more frequent and their consequences became more and more severe. Millions of people were dying from basic hunger and disorder in the country, while the ruling bureaucracy was mired in lawlessness and corruption. The decisive blow to the ruling party and its leadership was dealt by events in our country related to perestroika and a general change in ideological and political orientation, as well as stopping the flow of supplies from the USSR. The weakening position of the government, aggravated by defeats in the fight against separatists and rebels in the north, led to the collapse of the regime in 1991. The dictator fled, and his successors inherited a difficult inheritance. There was no longer any talk about the Marxist-socialist model. Ethiopia now faces the difficult task of finding its new face and returning to normal life.

2. Somalia, located east of Ethiopia, on the coast, in the Horn of Africa, it is a relatively small state (population approx. 6 million people). The inhabitants of British Somalia gained independence in I960; a democratic parliamentary republic was established on a multi-party basis, one of the first of its kind in Africa. But multi-party democracy led to a weakening of the political structure, which was also undermined by tribalism and clan patron-client ties. The 1969 coup brought to power S. Barre with his dreams of a Greater Somalia and his orientation towards the Marxist-socialist model of development. In 1977–1978 In the war with Ethiopia for the Ogaden, Somalia was defeated, and this was reflected in a change in orientation: the Somali authorities abandoned their previous bet on the USSR, whose leadership preferred to take the side of Ethiopia, and began to seek support in the West. In 1984, Somalia was forced to renounce its claims to the part of Kenya inhabited by Somalis. The idea of ​​Great Somalia has collapsed. An era of acute internal crisis has arrived, caused by military spending, devastation, and inflation that is unsustainable for a small country. Rebel protests began against the regime of S. Barre. In 1989, he tried to soften his regime, took a course towards economic liberalization and privatization, promised a multi-party system and democracy, and even introduced a new constitution in October. But it was already too late. In early 1991, Barre's regime fell to rebel attacks. In 1992, bloody civil strife began in the country. The instability of power during the struggle for political dominance of various ethno-political groups created a situation of dangerous instability in Somalia and led the country to famine.

3. Kenya Located south of Ethiopia and southwest of Somalia, a former British colony, it became quite widely known in the first post-war years, when a broad national movement led by D. Kenyatta developed here. This movement was closely connected with the terrorist actions of the Mau Mau society, which terrified the British. In 1953, the Mau Mau movement was defeated, and Kenyatta ended up behind bars. In 1960, the country gained independence, and Kenyatta became its president. In 1978, after his death, the country was headed by D. Moi. The one-party presidential system suffered serious disruptions under this president: corruption became noticeable, and the opposition became more active, demanding a multi-party system. In 1990, Moi made concessions and at the end of 1991 announced the introduction of a multi-party system. The country's economy is still in a difficult situation, the standard of living of the population (about 25 million people) is low, but in the recent elections (1993), Moi was again elected president.

4. Uganda- a state west of Kenya with a population of 16–17 million people. In 1962 it gained independence and became a republic with the former King of Buganda Mutesa II as president and M. Obote as prime minister. In 1966, Obote took full power, and the 1967 constitution abolished the monarchy in the country. In 1971, as a result of a military coup, the bloody dictator Idi Amin came to power. The Amin regime was overthrown in 1979 with the support of Tanzania, and in 1980, Obote, who won the elections, again became president. A military coup in 1985 removed Obote; Since 1986, the country has been led by I. Museveni. Uganda is one of the few African countries where for quite a long time, albeit with ^ in fits and starts, the multi-party system has operated and continues to operate. The country's economy is undeveloped, the standard of living of the population is very low. Economic liberalization at the turn of the 80s–90s, however, began to produce positive results (6–7% growth per year).

5. Tanzania, located south of Kenya and Lake Victoria, was created in 1964 as a result of the unification of Tanganyika, which had been independent since 1961, with the island of Zanzibar, which gained independence in 1963. This is perhaps the only case in which this kind of unification turned out to be viable. Population approx. 25 million people Tanzania is a presidential republic with a very stable political system. For many years, the president of the country was D. Nyerere, under whom experiments were undertaken related to an orientation toward the Marxist-socialist model (nationalization, cooperation in the Ujamaa style, etc.). President A.H., who replaced Nyerere in the late 1980s. Mwinyi is inclined to support the economic revival program adopted in 1986, associated with economic liberalization and a move away from socialist experiments.

6–7.Rwanda(approx. 7 million) and Burundi(approx. 5 million people) in 1908–1912 were included in German East Africa, from 1923 they became a mandatory territory of Belgium, and in 1962 - an independent republic and a monarchy, respectively. Rwanda's republican structure has proven resilient. Burundi, having experienced a number of military coups, also became a republic. Both states have a one-party system, the economy is poorly developed, and the standard of living is low.

8–12. Djibouti(0.5 million population), as well as a number of island states - Reunion(0.6 million), Seychelles(0.07 million), Comoros(0.5 million), Mauritius(1.1 million) - are small independent countries of East Africa that gained their independence relatively late, in 1968–1977. (Reunion remains an overseas department of France). Mauritius is a multi-party parliamentary republic that formally recognizes the Queen of England as its head of state. Djibouti is a one-party presidential republic. In the Seychelles, the 1979 coup brought to power a party oriented towards the Marxist-socialist model. In the Comoros, a similar coup in 1975 had a different fate: another coup in 1978 returned the government of A. Abdallah to power, which then steadily ruled the country for many years. What all these small states have in common is their comparative youth as independent structures (this does not apply to Reunion), a fairly noticeable degree of political stability and, with the exception of Djibouti, remoteness from the mainland, which greatly affects their destinies. It is important to note that Arabs predominate in Comoros, Indo-Pakistanis in Mauritius, Christian Creoles in the Seychelles and Reunion.

13. Madagascar, a large island east of Africa, gained its independence in I960. Population - over 11 million people. Initially, the leader of the Social Democrats, F. Tsiranana, was the head of the state and government. The 1972 coup brought the military to power; in 1975, the Supreme Revolutionary Council, headed by D. Ratsiraka, set a course for development along the Marxist-socialist model. The National Front for the Defense of the Revolution, created by the council, united 7 political parties, banning the activities of the rest. The economy has been nationalized and the public sector is absolutely dominant. In the early 90s, Ratsiraka's power and his political course collapsed. A powerful opposition movement developed in the country.

So, among the 13 large and small countries in the region, four large ones (Ethiopia, Somalia, Tanzania and Madagascar) and at least two others (Seychelles, Comoros) attempted to develop according to the Marxist-socialist model, and in three cases (Ethiopia, Tanzania and Madagascar) these were long-term experiments, counting in decades. The experiment could have turned out to be just as lengthy in Somalia if the political situation had not prompted S. Barre to change his earlier orientation. And only in Uganda, and even then only intermittently, did a multi-party system function. All large countries in the region are underdeveloped and have a low standard of living. Only a few of the islands (Mauritius, Reunion and tiny Seychelles) stand out for the better against the general bleak background. With reservations, the same can be said about Djibouti. The standard of living in politically relatively prosperous Kenya is slightly higher than in other large countries in the region.

The group of East African states demonstrates no less degree of differences, even contrast, and here, too, individual countries stand out noticeably from the rest, as if they are out of the ordinary. This applies to Ethiopia, Somalia, Tanzania, and some others. In general, the young states of this region deserve special attention.

Ethiopia(88 million, Christians), the largest and oldest country in Africa. Moreover, if we do not touch upon the Arab Maghreb and Egypt with its ancient history, it turns out that this continent did not know a more ancient, developed and, importantly, country that would exist in the form of a strictly formalized state. The history of Ethiopia is impressive, and it has been discussed more than once in the previous parts of the two-volume book. In the 1960s the country was an independent and highly respected state led by a completely legitimate and revered monarch, Emperor Haile Selassie I. True, this populous and resource-poor country was constantly plagued by natural disasters, especially droughts, which almost regularly brought its economy to a catastrophic state. Droughts, famines, and failures with agrarian reform led the country to an acute political crisis in 1973, which resulted in the deposition of the emperor. Since 1974, power passed to the Provisional Military Administrative Council, whose leaders destroyed each other in a bitter internecine struggle, until in 1977 Haile Mariam, who dealt with the elderly Emperor Mengistu, came to power and set a course for development according to the Marxist-socialist model.

The nationalization of industry and land, strict government control over the population over the course of a decade and a half led the country's economy to complete degradation. Droughts became more frequent and their consequences became more and more serious. Millions of people died from hunger and unrest, while the ruling bureaucracy was mired in lawlessness and corruption.

The decisive blow to the ruling party and its leadership was dealt by events in our country related to perestroika and a general change in ideological and political orientation, which stopped the flow of supplies from the USSR. The weakening position of the government, aggravated by defeats in the fight against separatists and rebels in the north of the country, led to the collapse of the regime in 1991. The bloody dictator fled, and his successors inherited a difficult inheritance. There was no more talk about the Marxist-socialist model. Ethiopia faced the difficult task of finding its new face and returning to normal life.

The 1990s passed under the sign of democratic reforms and economic liberalization. The new leaders of the country from among the leftist-oriented politicians who took, especially after the collapse of the USSR, a more moderate position, Meles Zenawi (first president, then prime minister, to whom, however, all power passed) and Negasso Gidada, who became president in his place, made a lot of efforts in order to carry out the necessary reforms and provide the people with at least the most necessary things. But in a poor country, crippled by long Marxist experiments in their very harsh form, this was not easy to achieve. The rapid growth of the poor population (3% growth per year is a very large figure even for Africa), stagnation in agriculture, lack of water and much more hampered it. The development of private enterprise encouraged by the new regime and its privatization of inefficient state-owned enterprises yielded some results. But the armed conflict with the northern provinces, which ended with the separation of Eritrea from Ethiopia with its access to the sea and fraught with sporadic military clashes with it, almost destroyed the country’s already weak successes. Having got out of all the difficulties with great difficulty and not without losses, Ethiopia in the 1990s. took the path of democratization and liberalization of the economy. Many parties, a parliament and a president appeared.

Prime Minister Zenawi and President Wolde Girma, elected in 2001, have achieved quite a lot. Ethiopia has strengthened somewhat and began to pursue an active policy in its region, including clashes with Somalia in the 2000s. But the economy is still bad. The country remains among the poor and backward states with a rapidly growing poor population. GDP per capita is 0.9 thousand US dollars.

Eritrea(6 million, 50% Christians and Muslims each), a state that arose as a result of the liberation war of the northern tribes, formerly part of Ethiopia. In 1987, Eritrea achieved autonomy, and in 1989 it began a war of independence. After the 1993 referendum, Eritrea became an independent state, and the authorities of Ethiopia, weakened as a result of the Marxist experiment, were forced to agree to this. At the end of the 1990s. Armed clashes broke out between Ethiopia and Eritrea.

Economically, the new state is very poorly developed. The war with Ethiopia did not lead this small country to success, but it contributed to its alliance with Somalia, or more precisely, with some part of this split state, which in 2006-2009. fought with Ethiopia. Eritrea has one ruling party led by President Isaiah Afwerki (since 1993). The economy is extremely underdeveloped, GDP per capita is 0.7 thousand US dollars.

Somalia(10 million, Muslims), in the past a British colony, a very unique state today, or rather, even a complex of unformed state formations that is unclear to the world, located east of Ethiopia, on the coast in the Horn of Africa. Having gained independence in 1960, this country was initially a decolonized state of Tropical Africa, distinguished from others by a clearly expressed tendency towards development along the Western path. Somalia established a democratic parliamentary republic on a multi-party basis, one of the first of its kind. But multi-party democracy has led to a weakening of the country's political foundation, undermined by tribalism and clan-based patron-client ties. The 1969 coup brought to power Mohammed Siad Barre with his dreams of a Greater Somalia and orientation toward the Marxist-socialist model of development. In 1977-1978 Somalia was defeated in the war with Ethiopia for the Ogaden, which affected the change in the political orientation of the state. The Somali authorities lost the support of the USSR, whose leadership chose to take the side of Ethiopia, and began to look for it in the West. In 1984, Somalia was forced to renounce its claims to the part of Kenya inhabited by Somalis.

The idea of ​​Great Somalia has collapsed. An era of acute internal crisis has arrived, caused by military spending, devastation, and inflation that is unsustainable for a small country. Rebel protests against the Barre regime began. In 1989, he tried to soften his regime, taking a course towards economic liberalization and privatization, promising a multi-party system and democracy, and even introducing a new constitution. But it was too late. In early 1991, Barre's regime fell to rebel attacks. In 1992, bloody civil strife broke out in the country. The instability of power during the struggle for political dominance of various ethno-political groups created a situation of dangerous instability in Somalia and led the country to famine.

We can say that with the departure of the Barre regime from political reality, Somalia as a state ceased to exist. It fell apart into several parts warring with each other, each of which, reflecting the interests of a certain tribal group, became involved in a brutal internecine struggle. An attempt by American soldiers as part of a UN peacekeeping mission in 1993 to restore order in Somalia failed. Over time, political infighting by the end of the 1990s. led to the creation of three new states in the country, Puntland in the north, Somaliland in the center and Jubaland in the south. However, within each of these new entities, the internal struggle of local tribal leaders continues. About a million people have fled Somalia in recent years.

The economy of all new political state formations claiming independence is in a state of paralysis. In September 2000, at a session of the Provisional Parliament of Somalia, held in the neighboring Republic of Djibouti, a new president, Kassim Hassan, was elected, whom the Somalis greeted with great enthusiasm in the capital Mogadishu. Tired of the long internecine struggle, they counted on the revival of the unity of the country. Many African states, the Organization of African Unity, the League of Arab States and the UN, represented by their high-ranking representatives, announced recognition of the results of the democratic procedure for electing a new Somali president. But the leaders of Somaliland and Puntland were in no hurry to make similar recognition. Roughly the same thing happened in 2004, when Hassan’s opponent Abdullahi Ahmed came to power with the support of a pro-Ethiopian group, or in 2009, when Somali parliamentarians gathered in Djibouti elected Sheikh Ahmed as the new president, who controls only a small part of the country, or rather even part its capital. A fairly large territory of Somalia in general, as we know, has turned into a state of pirates terrorizing sea routes in this region of the world. GDP per capita is 0.6 thousand US dollars.

Djibouti(0.7 million, Christians), a small coastal enclave between Eritrea and Somalia, a former French colony, an independent republic since 1977, which in 1992 acquired a constitution, a multi-party regime with a parliament and a prime minister. This small country is a rare case for Africa of existing without coups and special conflicts. The favorable geographical location - the main seaport for landlocked Ethiopia - provides a good income. GDP per capita is 2.8 thousand US dollars.

Kenya(40 million, Christians), located south of Ethiopia and southwest of Somalia, formerly a British colony. Inhabited by many groups of Swahili-speaking tribes, as well as a considerable number (tens of thousands) of English colonists, this colony became quite widely known in the early post-war years, when a broad national movement led by Jomo Kenyatta developed here. It was closely connected with the terrorist actions of the Mau Mau rebels, who demanded that the lands be taken away from the British and given to the blacks. In 1953, the movement that terrified the colonists was crushed, and Kenyatta ended up behind bars. But when the country gained independence in 1960, he became its president. In 1978, after his death, the country was led by Daniel Moi. The one-party presidential system has suffered serious disruptions under this president. Corruption became noticeable, and the opposition intensified, demanding a multi-party system. Moi made concessions and at the end of 1991 announced the introduction of a multi-party system. In the 1993 elections, he was again elected president and remained in power until 2002, and in the 1990s. carried out a number of economic reforms in the country. However, the results were poor. President Mwai Kibaki, elected in 2002, also failed to do much to improve the economy of the country, which had seen much better times in the past under the British.

The defeat of the Mau Mau played a clearly positive role in the history of this country, unlike neighboring Zimbabwe under Mugabe. It is difficult to say how well the colonists feel in modern Kenya, but their presence is still felt. It is noticeable at least in the fact that the country’s cities are considered important trading and financial centers throughout Africa, industry and agriculture function normally, and the service sector - an important indicator of the level of development - accounts for over 60% of GDP in a country that is not abundant in underground resources. The GDP per capita here is 1.6 thousand US dollars.

Uganda(33 million, Christians), a country west of Kenya, off the coast, near Lake Victoria. Gained independence in 1962 and became a republic with former King Mutesa II of Buganda as president and Milton Obote as prime minister. In 1966, Obote received full power, and the 1967 constitution abolished the monarchy in the country. In 1971, as a result of a military coup, the bloody dictator Idi Amin came to power. His reign was marked by the requisition of land and other property of Europeans and Asians (Indian and Pakistani colonists) and their expulsion from the country, as well as rapprochement with the USSR, supplies of Soviet weapons and war with its neighbors. Tanzania, having received weapons from China, managed to fight back and invaded Uganda itself, which was the end for the dictator. Amin's regime was overthrown in 1979, and in 1980, Obote, who won the elections, again became president. A military coup in 1985 removed Obote. From 1986 to this day, Yoweri Museveni has remained president.

Uganda is one of the few African countries where a multi-party system has operated for quite a long time, albeit intermittently. But the country's economy is undeveloped, the standard of living of the population is low. The country is rich in natural resources, but there was no one and no time to skillfully use it. Liberalization of the economy only at the turn of the 1980-1990s. began to give positive results (6-7% growth per year). In the 1990s. the reform policy was continued. There is stable economic growth. GDP per capita is 1.3 thousand US dollars.

Tanzania(42 million, Muslim, 30% Christian) is located south of Kenya and Uganda, near Lake Victoria. The tribes inhabiting it speak mainly Swahili. It arose in 1964 as a result of the unification of Tanganyika, which had been independent since 1961, with the island of Zanzibar, which gained independence in 1963. This is perhaps the only case when this kind of unification turned out to be viable. Tanzania is a presidential republic with a very stable political system. For many years (1964-1985), the country's president was Julius Nyerere, under whom experiments were undertaken related to an orientation toward Marxism and even a claim to building communism (nationalization, ujamaa-style cooperation, production associations of peasants such as collective farms, labor conscription and militarization with mobilization readiness of the entire population, etc.). Discontent and uprisings, especially vigorous in Zanzibar, were ruthlessly suppressed. Nyerere's successor as president, Ali Hassan Mwinyi (1985-1995), began implementing a new economic revival program aimed at liberalizing the economy and moving away from socialist experiments. The new president, Benjamin Mkapa, who came to power in 1995, continued the policies of his predecessor.

Mwinyi and Mkapa managed to dismantle the unviable socialist system. Multi-party pluralism and freedom of the press gained the right to exist in the country, some economic growth (3-4%) and an influx of investment were ensured, which, in particular, contributed to the development of tourism. In modern Tanzania, under President Jakaya Kikwete, private entrepreneurship is encouraged, hotels and roads are being built, and mining is developing (the country has deposits of diamonds and other precious stones). The administration system, however, is not free from corruption, and in general, straightening out Nyerere's crippled economy, not to mention the people, is not easy. Despite the reforms, in the second half of the 1990s. The state of the economy has deteriorated noticeably due to the influx of Rwandan refugees (there are about a million of them). GDP per capita is 1.4 thousand US dollars.

Rwanda(11 million, Christians) at the beginning of the 20th century. was part of German East Africa, from 1923 it became a mandatory territory of Belgium, and in 1962 an independent republic.

Located near the equator, this territorially small country is advantageously located on the hills in the rift valley region and is characterized by a favorable cool climate, lush vegetation (savanna, rainforests), and a large amount of natural resources. But all this did not help her. In the 15th century The Hutu farmers who lived here were conquered by the tall Tutsi herders. An ethno-caste society arose, the Hutus paid tribute to the Tutsi masters. The Belgians initially supported the stability of the structure and, accordingly, the power of the Tutsi. Then they revised their policy. As a result, a war between the Hutus and the Tutsis began, which ended with the expulsion of the Tutsis from the country. Rwanda's political system after independence initially appeared stable under a one-party system led by Hutu President Grégoire Kayibanda (1962-1973). Juvenal Habyarimane (1973-1994), who came to power as a result of a military coup, basically continued the same course. He not only opposed the Tutsi emigrants rushing to Rwanda, but also persecuted the Hutu supporters of the president he overthrew. Combining the state economy with the market economy, in the late 1980s. he, following the trends of the times, went to create a multi-party system, which practically meant recognition of the rights of the Tutsi. As a result, one of the bloodiest ethnic strifes that occurred at the end of the century in Africa began. It's about the war between the Hutu and Tutsi.

At the turn of the 1980-1990s. Tutsi emigrants in Uganda united into the rebel group Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF). Led by Paul Kagame, they invaded Rwanda. A civil war began, which was hardly extinguished with the active participation of a number of states. But in 1994, the war broke out again, taking on the guise of a merciless and savage mutual genocide. As a result, almost a million Rwandans died, and over a million, perhaps up to two, fled the country. Having come to power, the leaders of the RPF installed Pasteur Bizimunga as president (1994-2000). Bizimunga, and after him Kagame, ultimately became masters of the situation, but it is easy to understand how the genocide and the tragedy of millions affected the country and its economy. Despite assistance from a number of Western countries, it was very difficult to restore normalcy to the local population, including returning refugees, although by 1997, according to some reports, the situation had largely improved, with the country's production level reaching about three-quarters of its level. pre-war. The standard of living is, of course, still low today. GDP per capita is about 1 thousand US dollars.

Burundi(9 million, Christians), with the same predominance of Hutus, in the past a colony of Germany, then a mandatory territory of Belgium, since 1962 it has become an independent kingdom led by Tutsis. The situation is similar to Rwanda, but exactly the opposite. In the first half of the 20th century. both countries were one (Rwanda-Urundi). Internecine clashes led to a series of military coups, during which the monarchy was ended, and in the fall of 1966, President Michel Michombero took over the country. His power was unstable, because it was accompanied by attempts at successive coups, not to mention the tension in relations between the Hutus and Tutsis. The 1980s, especially after Pierre Buoy came to power in 1987, began, as in Rwanda, ethnic clashes. In the first democratic elections in 1993, the Hutu Melchior Ndadaye became president, as one would expect. He ruled for about two months, after which he was killed by Tutsi soldiers. In February 1994, he was replaced by Cyprien Ntaryamira, elected by the Hutu parliament. In April 1994, he and the Tutsi President of Rwanda Habyarimana, who was flying with him, tragically died in a plane crash. From this disaster, which both sides took advantage of to sharply escalate the policy of ethnic hostility, which quickly escalated into the genocide mentioned in the story about Rwanda. Ethnic massacres - there is no other way to put it - also affected Burundi. In the 1996 elections, Buoya came to power again. After him, Hutus Domitien Ndayizeye (2003-2005) and Pierre Nkuruziza (2005 to present) became presidents. It is clear that for the population of the country the genocide turned into a real tragedy, the consequences of which, as in Rwanda, will be felt for a long time. At the same time, the situation in the more backward Burundi is much worse. GDP per capita here is $300.

Seychelles Archipelago(90 thousand, Christians), very small sparsely populated islands east of Tanzania, formerly a British colony, a republic since 1976. In 1977, power in the country was seized by Marxists led by France Rene, who, however, in 1991 decided to switch to a multi-party parliamentary-presidential constitutional system of government. His successful economic reforms laid the foundations for the archipelago's prosperity. The main source of income is the tourism industry. GDP per capita is over 19 thousand US dollars.

Comoros(0.8 million, Muslims), just south of the Seychelles, a former French colony, an independent republic since 1975. In 1976-1978 Ali Sualikh, who came to power as a result of a coup d'etat, tried to rule with the help of the ideas of Marxist socialism, but was killed by the French adventurer B. Denard who landed on the islands. Then a multi-party, unstable parliamentary-presidential regime with fairly frequent military coups was established in the republic. According to the 2002 constitution, different islands have their own presidents. GDP per capita is about 1 thousand US dollars.

Mauritius(1.3 million, Hindus, Christians), an island state just east of Madagascar, a former British colony, since 1968 an independent state and a member of the British Commonwealth, since 1992 a republic. Parliamentary multi-party stable regime. Operating in Mauritius since the 1970s. a free export zone and mass, well-established tourism bring good income. GDP per capita is more than 12 thousand US dollars.

Reunion(0.8 million, Christians), an island next to Mauritius, an overseas department of France with all the ensuing beneficial consequences for it, including a democratic regime and a very developed economy. GDP per capita is 12 thousand US dollars.

Madagascar(21 million, 45% Christian), a special and extremely distinctive part of Africa. It is not just a very large island off the east coast of the African continent and a former French colony that gained independence in 1960. Madagascar is an island with a very specific population, the bulk of which are descendants of the Malays who settled it from the islands of Indonesia. The resettlement, given its time (II-V centuries), was clearly not a conscious migration. Rather, the sea current and winds played a role, facilitating movement from the mentioned islands precisely to the west, towards a huge massif, which was reached by someone carried away by the sea and wind far from home. I reached and began to get used to new places. If we consider that the settlement of the island world of Southeast Asia took place in those distant centuries (later, apparently, some measures were taken to prevent the winds), then it is not surprising that the language of the main part of the population of Madagascar, Malagasy, is related to other Austronesian dialects and has little in common with African ones. However, migration from the African continent of nearby tribes of the Bantu language group also took place later.

In the XVIII-XIX centuries. there was a kingdom here Imerina, and at the end of the 18th century. French troops landed on the island, and Madagascar became a colony. After independence, Philibert Tsiranana became the head of the state and government. The 1972 coup brought the military to power, and in 1975 the Supreme Revolutionary Council, led by Didier Ratsiraka, set a course for development along the Marxist-socialist model. The National Front for the Defense of the Revolution, created by this council, united seven political parties, banning the activities of the rest. The economy was nationalized and the public sector absolutely dominated. In the early 1990s. Ratsiraka's power and his political course collapsed. A powerful opposition movement developed in the country. It resulted in the resignation of the president and a referendum in 1992, which led to the adoption of a new constitution. In 1993, the country was led by President Albert Zafi. But in 1996 he was replaced by Ratsiraka, who returned to power. In the 2002 elections, with great difficulties and in a controversial situation, Marc Ravalomanana became president, who was replaced in 2009 without any elections by the young and popular DJ in the country Andre Rajoelina, who had recently been elected mayor of the capital and supported by the youth and the army. This president was not recognized in the world, and a year and a half later the army tried to overthrow him. But at the end of December 2010, a report appeared in the press that the head of the Supreme Transitional Administration of Madagascar (note, not the president) Rajoelina signed the country’s new constitution, approved in a popular referendum on November 17, 2010.

In the process of political upheavals, the country gradually developed, although its economy leaves much to be desired, and the standard of living is accordingly not very high. GDP per capita is only about 1 thousand US dollars.

So, in some of the 14 large and small countries in the region (Ethiopia, Somalia, Tanzania and Madagascar, as well as Comoros, Seychelles), attempts were made to develop according to the Marxist-socialist model. In three cases (Ethiopia, Tanzania and Madagascar) these were long-term experiments, amounting to decades. The experiment could have turned out to be just as lengthy in Somalia if the political situation had not prompted S. Barre to change his earlier orientation. And only in Kenya and Uganda, and even then with interruptions, did a multi-party system function stably and for quite a long time. All large countries in the region are underdeveloped and have a low standard of living. Only a few of the islands (Mauritius, Reunion and tiny Seychelles) stand out against the general bleak background. With reservations, the same can be said about Djibouti. The standard of living in politically relatively prosperous Kenya is slightly higher than in other large countries in the region.

Africa is a continent that is second in area after Eurasia. It is washed by the waters of the Atlantic and Indian oceans, the Red and Mediterranean seas. Together with the islands, the mainland occupies approximately 30.3 million square kilometers, which is about 6% of the total land area on the planet. This is the hottest continent, its entire territory is located exclusively in hot zones and is intersected by the equator.

East Africa

This part of the continent includes countries located east of the Nile River. There are 4 language groups in the region and there are about 200 nationalities. That is why there are huge cultural and social differences and frequent conflicts, leading to real civil wars. The borders of currently existing states are in most cases set by colonial countries, without taking into account any cultural interests of the people living here. Which had a negative impact on the economic development of the region. The situation is especially difficult for countries that do not have access to the world's oceans. East Africa, like the entire continent as a whole, is also called the “cradle of humanity.” Many anthropologists are completely sure that it was here that man appeared and the development of civilization began.

East African countries

Today, there are 22 countries located in the eastern part of the continent (UN classification), of which 18 are completely independent. The remaining 4 countries are located on islands or a group of islands, are controlled territories of one or sometimes a state located outside the continent.

Independent states

Burundi is the capital of Bujumbura. The country is home to about 11 million people. The state gained independence from Belgium in 1962. The country's territory is predominantly a mountainous plateau located at an altitude of 1.4 to 1.8 thousand meters above sea level.

Zambia. A medium-sized country with a population of 14.2 million people, it does not have its own access to the sea. The capital is Lusaka. The state freed itself from British oppression in 1964.

Zimbabwe. About 14 million people also live here, the capital is Harare. Independence was gained in 1980; in fact, from this date the country was ruled by Roberto Mugabe, who was removed as a result of a military coup last year.

Kenya. A small country located in South East Africa, with a population of 44 million people, the capital is Nairobi. Gained freedom from Great Britain in 1963. The country is famous for its national parks, where every effort is made to preserve pristine nature.

Madagascar. One of the large states in eastern Africa, with a population of 24.23 million people. The capital is Antananarivo. It is also an island state, with magnificent nature and good tourism infrastructure.

Malawi. The country has a population of 16.77 million and its capital is Lilongwe. This country is also called the “warm heart of Africa” due to the fact that very friendly people live here. However, there are problems with obtaining a visa, so in terms of tourism, the country is not so attractive for Russian citizens.

Mozambique. More than 25 million people live here. The capital is Maputo. This is a former Portuguese colony. The crime situation in the country is still quite serious, so bars are even installed on the 15th floor. By the way, it was here that the famous architect of the Eiffel Tower erected an iron structure, in which no one could live - it was too hot.

Rwanda. The population is more than 12 million people, the capital is Kigali. In terms of development rates, the country has already surpassed even Luxembourg. In this East African country, 4G Internet connections have been operating for a long time, and children are taught using interactive information technologies. But back in 1994, there was a massacre of the local population, when more than 800 thousand people died.

Tanzania. Population - 48.6 million people. The capital is Dodoma. First of all, the country is unique with 2 interesting facts:

• here is the largest concentration of representatives of the wild animal world;
• The territory contains the highest African peak - Kilimanjaro, 5895 meters high.

Uganda. It is also a fairly large country, population 34 million, capital Kampala. The country managed to survive the civil war and the economic “abyss”. Today, peace has reigned here and even stability is observed.

Ethiopia. A large state with a population of 90 million people, the capital is Addis Ababa. Quite an attractive country in terms of tourism. An interesting fact is that in Ethiopia the calendar is divided into 13 months.

South Sudan. Population - 12.34 million people. The capital is Juba. The country is quite poor, and only 30 kilometers of roads are covered with asphalt. Most of the population works in quarries. It is very dirty here, because no one even knows about the word garbage dump, garbage is simply thrown onto the road, there is no running water, and there is no gas.

Eritrea, with a population of 6 million people, the capital is Asmara. The state does not have its own access to the sea, but the people have achieved complete freedom of speech and action. There is no theft here, no one fastens bicycles with chains, and forgotten things are brought to the police.

Small states in terms of population

Djibouti. The country liberated itself from France in 1977. The territory is home to 818 thousand people, the capital is Djibouti. The state is famous for its magnificent nature; it is here that unique natural monuments are concentrated: the Mabla and Goda mountain ranges, the Boura ridge, the Garbi and Hemed mountains, the Bab el-Mandeb Strait and Lake Assal. A particularly unique place in East Africa is the Boina fumarole field. These are holes and cracks in the ground at the foot of the volcano, which is 300 meters high. Hot gases are constantly released from these funnels, and their depth reaches 7 meters.

Comoros or Comoros Islands. With a population of 806 thousand people. The capital is Moroni.

Mauritius. Population 1.2 million people, capital - Port Louis. Today it is a real tourist Mecca. The state itself is located on several islands and the Carcados-Carajos archipelago in the Indian Ocean. The nature here is unique, very contrasting, with forests and steep cliffs, lakes and waterfalls.

Somalia. The capital is Mogadishu, the total population of the state is 10.2 million people. It is the easternmost state of East Africa itself. The modern history of the country is inextricably linked by the civil war, which has lasted here since 1988. Other countries, the United States and UN peacekeepers have already been drawn into the military conflict.

Seychelles. The capital of the state is the city of Victoria. The country has a population of just over 90 thousand people. This is peculiar

French dependent countries

One of the overseas regions is Mayotte. France and Comoros are still arguing about ownership. More than 500 thousand people live here, the capital is the city of Mamoudzou. It consists of the large island of Mayotte and several nearby smaller islands.

Reunion. Another island in East Africa, part of the Mascarene Islands archipelago, home to more than 800 thousand people. The administrative center is the city of Saint-Denis. Here is the Piton de la Fournaise volcano, which periodically wakes up, but it is absolutely safe to observe it.

There are no permanent residents in the southern lands; only scientific expeditions come here.