West and Central African Rift System

[1] These are genetically related, but are physically separated and show structural differences.

[2] The Logone Birni Basin constitutes a transitional area between the two sub-systems.

The WCARS is older than the East African Rift System.

[3] This rifting almost tore apart the African continent but instead formed a complex system of extensional, wrench and pull-apart basins.

[3][4] Such basins can be found from Nigeria and Cameroon on the Atlantic, east into Chad and the Central African Republic, through Sudan to Kenya on the Indian Ocean and north of Lake Chad extending into southern Algeria.