Belgian Congo (now the Congo Democratic Republic), located in the south-central part of Africa, has an area of 905,378 sq. mi. (2,344,920 sq. km.) and a population of 13.6 million. Capital: Kinshasa. The mineral-rich country produces copper, tin, diamonds, gold, zinc, cobalt and uranium. ,In ancient times the territory comprising the Belgian Congo was occupied by Negrito peoples (Pygmies) pushed into the mountains by Bantu and Nilotic invaders. The interior was first explored by the American correspondent Henry Stanly, who was the local chiefs. The Berlin conference of 1885 awarded the area to Leopold, who administered and exploited it as the private property until it was annexed to Belgium in 1907. Belgium received the mandate for the German territories of Ruanda-Urandi as a result of the international treaties after WWI. During WWII Belgian Congolese troops fought on the side of the Allies, notably in Ethiopia. Following the eruption of bloody independence riots in 1959, Belgium granted the Belgian Congo independence as the Republic of the Congo on June 30, 1960.,, Rulers:,,, ,Leopold II, 1885-1907,, ,Belgium, 1907-1960,, Monetary System:,,, ,1 Franc = 100 Centimes to 1967,, 22,BELIZE,bh-flag.gif,"Belize (formally British Honduras) is situated in Central America south of Mexico and east and north of Guatemala. It has an area of 8,867 sq. mi. (22,965 sq. km.) and a population of 242,000. Capital: Belmopan. Sugar, citrus fruits, chicle, and hard woods are exported. ,The area, site of the ancient Mayan civilization, was sighted by Columbus in 1502, and settled by shipwrecked English seamen in 1638. British buccaneers settled the 17th Century. Britain claimed administrative right over the area after the emancipation of Central America from Spain, and declared it a dependency of the Colony of Jamaica in 1862. It was established as the separate Crown colony of British Honduras in 1884. The anti-British People?s United Party, which attained power in 1954, won a constitution, effective in 1964 which established self-government under a British appointed Governor. British Honduras became Belize on June 1, 1973, following the passage of a surprise bill by the People?s United Party, but the constitutional relationship with Britain remained unchanged.,, ,In December 1975, the U.N. General Assembly adopted a resolution supporting the right of the people of Belize to self-determination, and asked Britain and Guatemala to renew their negotiations on the future of Belize. They obtained independence on September 21, 1981. Elizabeth II is Head of State, as Queen of Belize.,, ,For earlier bank notes, see British Honduras.,, Monetary System:,,, ,1 Dollar = 100 Cents ,,