East African countries. South and south-east Africa

Eastern part of Africa in equatorial and subequatorial latitudes. Most of the East. Africa occupies the East African Plateau. The climate is hot, seasonally humid, with precipitation ranging from 500 to 3000 mm per year. In the East Africa is one of the largest in the world... ... Big Encyclopedic Dictionary

East Africa- — EN East Africa A geographic region of the African continent that includes Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda, Ethiopia and Somalia, and also Mt. Kilimanjaro and Lake... ... Technical Translator's Guide

Eastern part of Africa in equatorial and subequatorial latitudes. Most of East Africa is occupied by the East African Plateau. The climate is hot, seasonally humid, with precipitation ranging from 500 to 3000 mm per year. East Africa has one of the largest... Encyclopedic Dictionary

East Africa- East Africa. Physical card. East Africa, a natural country in the equatorial and subequatorial latitudes of the eastern part of Africa, between the Ethiopian Highlands in the north, the Congo Basin in the west and the lower reaches of the river. Zambezi in the south. On... ... Encyclopedic reference book "Africa"

A natural country covering the eastern part of Africa in equatorial and subequatorial latitudes between the Ethiopian Plateau in the north, the Congo Basin in the west, the lower reaches of the Zambezi in the south and the Indian Ocean in the east. Within the borders of E.A. completely ... Great Soviet Encyclopedia

1) British (see Great Britain) and 2) German (see Germany) ... Encyclopedic Dictionary F.A. Brockhaus and I.A. Ephron

Natural country in eastern Africa. Within the East Africa is located in Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Tanzania, Zambia, Malawi, Somalia, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Djibouti. Geography. Modern illustrated encyclopedia. M.: Rosman. Under… … Geographical encyclopedia

- (East Africa) World War 2 After Aug. 1941 15 thousandth English garrison located in Somalia was forced to evacuate the country, Gen. Wavell developed with gene. Sir William Platt and Sir Alan Cunningham plan to... ... Encyclopedia of Battles of World History

Africa Orientale Italiana colony ← ... Wikipedia

Deutsch Ostafrika Colony of Germany ← ... Wikipedia

Books

• East Africa: Tanzania, None. Africa is a huge continent of the Earth, which is washed on all sides by the waters of the world's oceans: the Atlantic, Indian and Mediterranean seas. Previously, the mainland was connected to Asia by Suez... e-book
• East Africa: Kenya, None. Africa is an amazing country, many secrets and mysteries are hidden behind its green forests and endless shrouds and hot deserts. Africa is called the cradle of humanity and is believed to be the most…

The official name of the state is Republic of Mauritius. The republic includes the islands of Mauritius and Rodrigues, as well as the Cargados-Carajos archipelago, the Agalega Islands and many small islets.

The largest and most important island is Mauritius. Its area is 1865 km². The capital of the republic, Port Louis, is located on the island. The population of the island is 1,245,288 people.

Mauritius Island was opened in the 10th century. Arabs. Mauritius was the subject of struggle between colonial powers: the island at various times belonged to Portugal (1507-1513), the Netherlands (1638-1710), France (1710-1810) and the British Empire (1810-1968), after which it gained independence.

Mauritius Island
Rodrigues Island located 560 km east of the island of Mauritius. Area 104 km², surrounded by coral reefs. The island was discovered in 1528 by the Portuguese navigator Diogo Rodrigues. Population 37,838 people.
The islands of Mauritius and Rodrigues are part of the Mascarene Islands archipelago.

Rodrigues Island
Cargados-Carajos Archipelago– a group of small islands (from 16 to 40) and a coral reef in the Indian Ocean. The total area is 1.3 km². The reef stretches from north to south for more than 50 km, and is about 5 km wide. Coconut palms grow on some islands. There are temporary settlements on the islands.
Agalega– two islands in the western Indian Ocean (North and South); they are located 1100 km north of the island of Mauritius. The total area of ​​the islands is 24 km². The islands are covered with mangroves and coconut palms. Population: about 300 people.

State symbols

Flag– is a 4-color rectangular panel with an aspect ratio of 2:3. The color red symbolizes independence; blue – Indian Ocean; yellow – bright future; green – lush vegetation of the islands. The flag was approved on March 12, 1968.

Coat of arms- a shield divided into four parts into azure and gold. In the first quarter there is a golden ship, in the second there are three green palm trees, in the third there is a scarlet key in a pillar with the beard down and to the left, in the fourth there is a silver five-pointed star above a lowered pyramid of the same metal. The shield is supported by the dodo bird and the Indian sambar deer. On the sides of the shield are two sugar cane stalks of natural color. At the bottom, on a scarlet ribbon, the motto is inscribed in black Latin letters: “The Star and the Key of the Indian Ocean.”
The ship symbolizes the colonization of the islands by Europeans, the palm trees symbolize tropical nature. The key and star represent the motto of Mauritius: The Star and Key of the Indian Ocean. The coat of arms was approved on August 25, 1906.

Mauritian dodo- a large flightless bird, extinct in the 17th century, is a symbol of the island of Mauritius.

Indian sambar
Sambar symbolizes the Sambars, brought by the Dutch from Java and settled on the island. Cane is the main agricultural crop of the islands.

State structure

Form of government- parliamentary republic.
Head of State– President, elected by parliament for 5 years (a second consecutive term is possible). There is a post of vice president.

Incumbent since 2012 Rajkeswur Purriag
Head of Government- Prime Minister.

Capital and largest city- Port Louis.
Official language- No. English and French predominate.
Territory– 2,040 km². Mauritius officially claims the Chagos Archipelago (British Indian Ocean Territory) and the French islet of Tromelin.
Administrative division– 9 districts and 3 dependent territories (Agalega Islands, Cargados-Carajos archipelago, Rodriguez Island).

Population– 1,295,789 people. Average life expectancy is 69.7 years for men, 76.9 years for women.
Religion– Hindus 48%, Catholics 23.6%, Muslims 16.6%, Protestants 8.6%. In Mauritius, different cultures come into contact, this is reflected in the architecture: the capital is home to the Juma Mosque, the Hindu temple of Maeswarat and the Christian Cathedral of St. James.
Currency– Mauritian rupee.
Economy– based on sugar production (sugar cane is grown on approximately 90% of cultivated farmland), tourism and the textile industry.
The standard of living is quite high. Offshore and banking business, production and processing of seafood and fish are developing. Approximately 8% of the population is below the poverty level. Export: sugar, clothing and fabrics, flowers, shellfish, fish. Import: industrial goods, food, petroleum products, chemicals.

Education– Mauritius ranks one of the first in the world in terms of education level. The modern education system includes primary schools, secondary schools, vocational schools and higher education institutions. Kindergartens are attended by children aged 3-5 years. Primary school educates children from 5 to 13 years old.
Instruction in primary and secondary schools is conducted in English and French. It's free. Secondary educational institutions with a 3-year cycle of education (incomplete) and a 7-year cycle (full). In junior high school, education is conducted according to a single program; in junior high school, students can choose programs with a predominance of humanities or natural sciences. Vocational and technical education has been developed. The main higher education institution in the country is the University of Mauritius.
Sport– water sports (snorkeling, sailing, windsurfing, kitesurfing), horse riding, golf are popular. Mauritian athletes took part in the Summer Olympics in Los Angeles for the first time. Since then, Mauritius has not missed a single Summer Olympics. The country did not participate in the Winter Olympics. During its entire participation at the Olympics, Mauritius won only one Olympic medal: at the Summer Olympic Games in Beijing (2008), boxer Bruno July won bronze in the up to 54 kg category.
Armed forces- numbering about 20 thousand people, which are used to eliminate the consequences of natural disasters (typhoons) and are an analogue of the forces of the Ministry of Emergency Situations, there are police, police special forces and a maritime patrol service.

Nature

The island of Mauritius is of volcanic origin. The shores are fringed with coral reefs.
The first colonists grew spices in Mauritius, the French - coffee, the British - tea. All these crops could have produced excellent harvests if cyclones had not destroyed the crops. And only sugar cane stalks withstand the onslaught of the elements.

Sugar cane plantation
On the plateau, under the cover of the mountains, tea, tobacco, and agave are grown.
The plateaus and mountains of Mauritius are cut through by hundreds of small rivers with rapids and waterfalls. The most significant rivers of Mauritius are the Grand River South East and the Grand River North West. During the rainy season, rivers turn into rapid mountain streams. The largest lakes on the island are Grand Bassin and Mar aux Vacoa.
The craters of extinct volcanoes are interesting.

The crater of the extinct Trou aux Cerfs volcano
Dense forests with valuable tree species have been cut down and replaced by plantations of Canarian pine and eucalyptus.

Canarian pine
Mangroves remain along the east coast. In cities, towns and along roads, ornamental plants brought to the island predominate: jacarandas, acacias, sycamores, oleanders, hibiscus, red jasmines. Along the beaches there are plantings of casuarinas. There are coconut palm groves on the coast.

Oleander
Mauritius had a diverse fauna. Many of the animals that lived there were not found anywhere else in the world. An abundance of huge land turtles and a richness of the bird world were observed.

Turtles and dodos were destroyed by pirates and sailors. The Indian mynah is the most common bird species on the island, because it destroys sugar cane pests.

Brown Indian mynah
Mongooses, rodents and monkeys were also introduced to the island. As a result, almost nothing remained of the original fauna.
In the national park Black River Gorges Relict pink pigeons, Mauritian kestrel, and Mauritian necklace parrots have been preserved. Also near Mauritius there is a nature reserve called Krugly Island, where unique reptiles are found: Telfer skinks, geckos and ground boas.

Tourism

Mauritius Island
Mauritius is popular among European tourists, although it is located far from Europe. It is one of the most beautiful and expensive tourist resorts along with the Maldives and Seychelles.
In Mauritius, beach holidays are common; excursions to the ocean and deep into the island are popular.
One of the natural attractions is The seven-colored sands of the village of Chamarel.

These are sand dunes consisting of sand of seven different colors (red, brown, violet, green, blue, purple and yellow). The multi-colored layers do not mix even after heavy rains due to different densities and masses. Scientists believe that the different colors were due to the fact that the lava layers cooled at different temperatures.
Sand is sold in a test tube as a souvenir. If you shake the test tube and mix the sand, then after a while it will again clearly separate into seven colors.
Rodrigues Island is popular among fans of eco-tourism. Hiking trips around and deep into the island, trips to the François Legault turtle sanctuary, and a bird sanctuary on Cocos Island are organized.

Snorkeling
There are all opportunities for water sports: diving, fishing, snorkeling, etc.

Culture

The culture of Mauritius is diverse. She was influenced by European, Arab, and Indian cultures.
Folk crafts are developed: weaving baskets, bags, mattresses, mats, lampshades and hats from aloe fiber, bamboo and coconut leaves. Models of sailing ships made from rare wood species are popular among foreign tourists.

Pottery, the art of embroidery and silk dyeing, the making of handmade carpets, and the manufacture of jewelry from silver, gold and semi-precious stones are developing.

Mauritian literature is multilingual, but most works are written in French. The poet M. de Chazal is considered one of the founders of national literature. Famous writers: J. Fanchette, E.J. Monique et al.
At different times, Joseph Conrad and Mark Twain visited the island of Mauritius, they left their memories about it.

The music combines the traditions of the peoples of Mauritius. People from India have preserved the genre diversity of the music and dances of their ancestors, and the art of playing national musical instruments. But a professional theater troupe was formed at the Port Louis theater only in 1981.
The cuisine of Mauritius is also diverse: it combines Creole, European, Chinese, Indian, and Arabic cuisines.

Preference is given to seafood dishes. Popular Muslim dishes include biryani, Indian chicken curry, Chinese pork dishes, Creole roast beef and French vegetable dishes. Boiled rice is served with almost all dishes. They also prepare rougalli, a Mediterranean dish made from tomatoes, onions, garlic and some type of meat or fish, and daube, a stewed octopus.

UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Mauritius

Aapravasi Ghat (translated from Hindi as “immigration terminal”)

A complex of buildings in Port Louis, which became the first reception point for migrant workers from British India in the British colonies. From 1849 to 1923, approximately half a million Indian indentured laborers passed through Aapravasi Ghat, from which they then went to work on plantations throughout the British Empire. Large-scale migration of workers from India eventually led to the emergence of the Indian diaspora. In Mauritius, approximately 68% of the current population is of Indian descent. Aapravasi Ghat became an important starting point in the formation of the historical and cultural identity of Mauritius.
Today, of the entire complex, only the ruins of three stone buildings have survived. They are protected by the Mauritian government as a national monument. Work is underway to restore the dilapidated buildings to bring them to their 1860s appearance.

Cultural landscape of Le Morne Brabant

A peninsula on the southwestern tip of the island of Mauritius. A hill and basalt rock rise above the peninsula to a height of 556 meters. This place is a popular tourist destination.
The area became famous in the 19th century, when fugitive slaves found refuge in the numerous caves of the hill.

Paddleboard
This is one of the best places in the world for kite surfing, windsurfing and paddleboarding.

Other attractions of Mauritius

Black River Gorges

Mauritius National Park. The park is located in the southwestern part of the island of Mauritius. Its area is 35.94 km². The highest point of the island, the Rivière Noire peak (826 m), is located in the park.

Peak Rivière Noire
About 25% of the flora and fauna are endemic to the island, including 8 rare bird species, such as the pink pigeon. The park is designed to protect the tropical evergreen forests and endemic flora and fauna of the island.

Pink dove

Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam Botanical Garden

The oldest botanical garden, located near Port Louis. In 1988, it was named after the independence fighter and first Prime Minister of Mauritius Seewoosagur Ramgoolam.
The garden is one of the oldest such gardens in the Southern Hemisphere: it was founded back in 1770 by the French plant grower Pierre Poivre (1719-1786).
The garden area is about 37 hectares. 500 plant species grow here. The garden is famous for its collection of plants from which spices are obtained; Ebony trees, sugar cane, and 85 species of palm trees from Central America, Asia, Africa and the Indian Ocean islands grow here. Many trees were planted personally by the leaders of several countries: Indira Gandhi, Francois Mitterrand, Robert Mugabe.

One of the attractions of the garden is a large lake with a collection of water lilies. Several varieties of lotuses grow here, including Amazonian giant lotuses, white, blue and pink nympheas, and giant Amazonian Victorias.

Flic-en-Flac

The best beach in Mauritius. This is a cozy, well-kept resort town on the western coast of the island: a wide strip of snow-white sand, a gentle descent into the water, all the conditions for a relaxing holiday.
But those who love active recreation can also have a great time here - this is one of the best places for diving.

Ganga Talao Lake

Crater Lake is located in a secluded mountainous area in the center of Mauritius. The lake is located at an altitude of 549 m above sea level.
The lake is considered the holiest Hindu place in Mauritius. In the center of the lake is the island of God.

Story

The island of Mauritius was discovered at the beginning of the 16th century. by the Portuguese in 1510. It was then uninhabited. They gave it the name Sishna - that was the name of one of the Portuguese ships.
In 1598, the Dutch occupied the island and named it after the Latin form of Moritz of Orange. In those days, the island served only as a temporary stop for merchant ships. The first Dutch settlement arose here in 1638. Plantations of sugar cane, cotton, and tobacco began to be created, and livestock began to be raised. Slaves were brought from Madagascar.
In 1710, the Dutch left Mauritius to escape an infestation of rats that had entered the island from European ships.

In 1715, the island came into the possession of France and was renamed Ile-de-France. The French founded their first settlement in 1721. During the years of French colonization, several forts were built on the Ile-de-France, roads were laid, and a shipyard was built.
In the second half of the 18th century. Colonists from other French provinces moved to Ile-de-France, and coffee, corn, cassava, cloves, indigo, vegetables and fruits began to be grown on the island.
In 1810, the island came into the possession of Britain and in 1814 officially became a British colony; the name Mauritius was returned to it.
By the beginning of English colonization, the population of Mauritius was about 70 thousand people (of which over 50 thousand were slaves). In 1835, slavery was abolished. For agricultural work, workers from India began to be imported to Mauritius from the 1830s, and earlier from China, and the cultivation of tea and tobacco began.
Rodrigues Island was discovered in 1528 by the Portuguese navigator Diego Rodrigues. In 1691-1693 was occupied by the Dutch. In the 18th century colonized by the French. From 1810 to 1968 The island was owned by the British, after which it became the possession of the state of Mauritius.

Independence

On 12 March 1968, Mauritius was declared an independent state within the British Commonwealth.
In 1970-1971 There were major strikes in many sectors of the economy, with demands for increased wages, the Mauritian government introduced a state of emergency, which was in effect until March 1978. On March 12, 1992, Mauritius became a republic.
Mauritius is politically stable and belongs to the group of countries with high per capita income.

Within the Dark Continent there are 60 countries, including unrecognized and self-proclaimed states. Regions of Africa differ from each other according to many criteria: cultural, economic, demographic, etc. How many of them are there in total on the mainland? Which countries do they belong to?

Features of continental macrozonation: regions of Africa

Each African country is unique and distinctive. However, some common features between these states (natural, historical, social and economic) allow geographers to divide the continent into several large regions. There are five of them in total, according to the generally accepted UN classification.

All regions of Africa are listed below:

• Northern;
• Central, or Tropical;
• South;
• Western;
• East Africa.

Each of the listed macro-regions covers a number of countries in the corresponding part of the continent. Thus, the leader in the number of states is the Western region. Moreover, most of them boast access to the World Ocean. But North and South Africa are the largest regions of the continent in terms of area.

Most countries in the Eastern region have shown significant growth in GDP per capita in recent years. In turn, the central part of Africa concentrated in its vast expanses the poorest and most economically and scientifically backward states on the planet.

It should be noted that not everyone accepts the existing zoning scheme proposed by the UN. So, for example, some researchers and travelers highlight a region such as South-East Africa. It includes only four states: Zambia, Malawi, Mozambique and Zimbabwe.

North Africa

The region covers six sovereign states and one partially recognized one: Tunisia, Sudan, Morocco, Libya, Western Sahara (SADR), Egypt and Algeria. North Africa, in addition, also includes several overseas territories belonging to Spain and Portugal. The countries of this region have relatively large areas.

Almost all North African states have wide access to the Mediterranean Sea. This fact played a significant role in their development, indicating fairly close economic ties with European countries. Most of the region's population is concentrated in a narrow coastal strip of the Mediterranean, as well as in the Nile River valley. The waters of the Red Sea wash the shores of two more states in this region: we are talking about Sudan and Egypt. On the map of North Africa, these countries occupy the extreme eastern position.

Average GDP per capita in the region is not so high. However, according to IMF forecasts, they will only increase in the near future. The poorest country in the macroregion is Sudan, and the most prosperous are oil-producing Tunisia and Algeria.

North Africa has a fairly developed (by African standards) agriculture. Citrus fruits, dates, olives are grown here. This region is also popular among travelers. Countries such as Egypt, Tunisia and Morocco are visited annually by millions of tourists from different parts of the world.

The largest cities in the region: Casablanca, Tunis, Tripoli, Cairo, Alexandria.

Algeria and Egypt on the map of Africa: interesting facts

Egypt is a state within which one of the world's oldest civilizations arose. This is a country of mysterious pyramids, secret treasures and legends. It is the absolute leader on the entire Black Continent in terms of the development of the recreational and tourism sector. At least 10 million tourists visit Egypt every year.

Not everyone knows that this country is one of the most industrialized on the mainland. Oil, gas, iron and manganese ores, gold, coal, etc. are actively mined and processed here. The chemical, cement and textile industries operate effectively in the industrial sector.

An equally interesting state in North Africa is Algeria. This country is the largest on the continent in size. Interestingly, she received this honorary title only in 2011, when Sudan collapsed. In addition to this record, Algeria is interesting for other facts. For example, did you know that:

• about 80% of Algeria's territory is occupied by desert;
• one of the lakes of this amazing country is filled with real ink;
• there are seven UNESCO World Heritage Sites on the territory of the state;
• there is not a single McDonald's or Orthodox church in Algeria;
• Alcohol here is sold exclusively in specialized stores.

In addition, Algeria amazes travelers with the diversity of its natural landscapes. Here you can see everything: mountain ranges, dense forests, hot deserts, and cool lakes.

West Africa

This African region is the absolute leader in the total number of independent states. There are 16 of them: Mauritania, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Benin, Ghana, Gambia, Burkina Faso, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Cape Verde, Cote d'Ivoire, Senegal, Sierra Leone and Togo.

Most of the countries in the region are underdeveloped states with low GDP. Nigeria can be called a certain exception from this list. The IMF forecasts for this region are disappointing: GDP per capita will not grow in the near future.

Almost 60% of West Africa's population is employed in agriculture. Cocoa powder, wood, and palm oil are produced here on a large scale. The manufacturing industry is sufficiently developed only in Nigeria.

The main problems of the region include the following:

• poor development of the transport network;
• poverty and illiteracy;
• the presence of a large number of language conflicts and hot spots.

The largest cities in the region: Dakar, Freetown, Abidjan, Accra, Lagos, Abuja, Bamako.

Central Africa

Central Africa consists of eight countries of significantly different sizes (Chad, Cameroon, Gabon, Central African Republic, Republic of the Congo, DR Congo, Equatorial Guinea, and the island nation of Sao Tome and Principe). The poorest country in the region is the Democratic Republic of Congo, with an extremely low GDP of $330 per capita.

In the economy of the macroregion, the leading positions are occupied by agriculture and the mining industry, which was left to the countries as a legacy from colonial times. Gold, cobalt, copper, oil and diamonds are mined here. The economy of Central Africa has been and remains resource-based.

A significant problem in the region is the presence and periodic military conflicts.

The largest cities in the region: Douala, N'Djamena, Libreville, Kinshasa, Bangui.

East Africa

This region covers ten independent Djibouti, Ethiopia, Somalia, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Burundi, the beautifully named country Rwanda and the newly formed South Sudan), as well as several unrecognized state entities and dependent territories.

East Africa is a region of young states, backward economies and a predominance of monoculture agriculture. In some countries, piracy is thriving (Somalia), and armed conflicts (both internal and between neighboring countries) are not uncommon. In some countries the tourism industry is quite well developed. In particular, tourists come to Kenya or Uganda to visit local national parks and get acquainted with wild

The largest cities in the region: Juba, Addis Ababa, Mogadishu, Nairobi, Kampala.

South Africa

The last macro-region of the continent includes 10 Zambia, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, South Africa, as well as two enclaves (Lesotho and Swaziland). Madagascar and the Seychelles are also often included in this region.

Countries differ from each other in terms of development level and GDP indicators. The most economically developed state in the region is the Republic of South Africa. South Africa is an amazing country with three capital cities.

Tourism is quite well developed in some countries in the region (primarily South Africa, Botswana and the Seychelles). Swaziland attracts many travelers with its well-preserved culture and colorful traditions.

The largest cities in the region: Luanda, Lusaka, Windhoek, Maputo, Pretoria, Durban, Cape Town, Port Elizabeth.

Conclusion

All countries of the African continent are original, extremely interesting and often so different from each other. However, geographers were still able to group them according to historical, socio-economic and cultural criteria, identifying five macro-regions: North, West, Central, East and South Africa.

The article contains general information about the East Africa region. Forms an idea of ​​the socio-economic situation in this part of the continent. Indicates the reasons that hinder the development and growth of the territory from an economic point of view.

East Africa

The area of ​​the region is 7.7 million square meters. km. The population of the region is close to 200 million people.

Rice. 1. Map of the region.

The list of East African countries includes:

• Sudan;
• Ethiopia;
• Eritrea;
• Djibouti;
• Somalia;
• Kenya;
• Rwanda;
• Uganda;
• Burundi;
• Tanzania;
• Malawi;
• Zambia.

East Africa is not on the list of regions that are rich in natural resources.

The states of this part of the continent act rather as large producers and suppliers of coffee to the world market. Tea is also grown here, and sisal and cotton are produced. Leather production and raw material extraction are developed here. Somalia and Djibouti contain 1/4 of all pastures. To supply the domestic market in the region, they grow:

TOP 4 articleswho are reading along with this

• millet,
• sorghum,
• corn,
• legumes,
• sweet potato,
• cassava

Rice. 2. Pastures of East Africa.

In this part of the continent there are enterprises for the primary processing of agricultural and livestock products, as well as food and light industries.
Interesting: East Africa is recognized by anthropologists around the world as the cradle of all humanity.

East African states

In the past, the territorial boundaries of the main part of the states of East Africa were once introduced by the colonial powers in an arbitrary manner. Natural ethnic and cultural boundaries were not taken into account. Because of this, the overall development of the entire region was significantly complicated.

In many states, civil armed conflicts have raged for many decades. The reason for this is religious and ideological differences.
Interesting: A number of East African countries formed a customs union in 1967, which was called the “East African Community”.

Rice. 3. Economic map of the region.

East Africa contains 17 sovereign states.

Four language groups have become widespread here.

East Africa is considered one of the most problematic regions of the continent. The following are common occurrences here: infectious diseases, hunger, low socio-economic level of population development.

Most of the states in the region are once former colonies of European powers. They received sovereignty only in the 60s of the last century. The detachment of developed countries regarding the issue of investing in the economic sector of East Africa significantly slows down progress in the economy of the entire region.

What have we learned?

From the article we found out the features of the economic development of the region. We established which factors have the greatest influence on the dynamics of the functioning of certain industries characteristic of East Africa. We learned when the eastern region of the continent gained independence from colonial influence on the main spheres of life.

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 entities 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. The Amin 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, cooperation in the Ujamaa style, 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 noticeably deteriorated 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 geographically small country is advantageously located on the hills in the rift valley area and is characterized by a favorable cool climate, lush vegetation (savanna, rainforests), and a large number 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 Tutsis. 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, 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, contributing to the movement from the mentioned islands precisely to the west, towards the 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.