One of the most geologically enigmatic regions of the continent is found in central Africa, which includes Cameroon, the Central African Republic (CAR), Chad, Congo, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Equatorial Guinea and Gabon, although some progress has been made in the latter two countries, probably because of their currently high level of oil and mineral exploration.

UNESCO: EARTH SCIENCES FOR SOCIETY

He described Union cooperation in Africa, including the deployment of two military operations in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and one in Chad, as well as a naval operation off the coast of Somalia and assistance for the African Union operation and the Transitional Federal Government in the country.

UN: Security Council

Most of the refugees have gone to the north of the Democratic Republic of Congo, others to Chad and Cameroon.

BBC: Central Africa Republic crisis: Refugee numbers 'swell'

Aid workers are hoping the U.N. will have an easier time getting the governments of the Central African Republic and Chad to open the door for better security.

NPR: U.N. Weighs Force to Protect Darfur Aid Efforts

The new funding will support HIV and AIDS prevention in 14 French-speaking countries in West and Central Africa, namely Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Gabon, Guinea, Ivory Coast, Mali, Niger, Senegal, and Togo.

UNESCO: Regional workshop for UNESCO staff working in HIV and AIDS in Central and West Africa | United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization

The governments of three Central African nations -- Cameroon, the Central African Republic and Chad -- announced Saturday they would muster as many as 1, 000 soldiers for joint military operations to protect the region's last remaining savanna elephants, as the Sudanese poachers are still active in the region.

CNN: Cameroon elephant slaughter latest in string of killings