The region was dominated by Bantu-speaking tribes, who built trade links leading into the Congo River basin. Congo-Brazzaville was formerly part of the French colony of Equatorial Africa. Upon independence in 1960, the former colony of French Congo became the Republic of the Congo. The People's Republic of the Congo was a Marxist–Leninist one-party state from 1970 to 1991. Multi-party elections have been held since 1992, although a democratically elected government was ousted in the 1997 Republic of the Congo Civil War and President Denis Sassou Nguesso has ruled for 26 of the past 36 years. COUNT 4
QSN1 What language was spoken in the area that became the Congo? ANS1 Bantu QSN2 When did the Congo gain its independence from colonial rule? ANS2 1960 QSN3 Who is the ruler of the Congo? ANS3 Denis Sassou Nguesso QSN4 What title does Nguesso hold? ANS4 President