"Congo" typically refers to the Congo River and the two countries named after it: the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and the Republic of the Congo. The Congo River is the second-longest river in Africa, flowing through several countries in central Africa before emptying into the Atlantic Ocean. The DRC is the larger of the two countries and is located to the east of the Congo River, while the Republic of the Congo is located to the west of the river. The term "Congo" can also be used to refer more broadly to the region surrounding the river and its tributaries.
