Because alot of areas around timbuktu had great trading
He was the 26th president of the United States and was elected from 1901-1909
Yep thewintershoulder is right. there might be more.
The kingdom went into decline from the mid-16th century CE when the Portuguese, put off by the interference of Kongo's regulations on trade, moved their interests further south to the region of Ndongo. The latter kingdom had already defeated a Kongo army in 1556 CE.