Website kongocentral.net | Demonym(s) Bakongo National language Kikongo Area 53,920 km² Team TC Elima | |
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Kongo Central, formerly Bas-Congo, is one of the 26 provinces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Its capital is Matadi.
Contents
Map of Bas Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo
History
At the time of independence, the area now encompassing Kongo Central was part of the greater province of Leopoldville, along with the city of Kinshasa and the districts of Kwango, Kwilu and Mai-Ndombe. Under Belgian colonial rule, the province was known as Bas-Congo (as in "Lower Congo River") and was renamed Kongo Central after independence Under the Mobutu regime when the Congo river was renamed "Zaire", it became Bas-Zaïre and then reverted to Bas-Congo. It was subsequently renamed Kongo Central in 2015.
Geography
Kongo Central is the only province with a coastline (Atlantic Ocean). It borders the provinces of Kinshasa to the north-east, Kwango to the east, and the Republic of Angola to the south as well as the Republic of the Congo and Cabinda to the north.
Divisions
The provincial capital is Matadi. The only other official city is Boma. The remainder of the province is divided into the districts of Bas-Fleuve, Cataractes and Lukaya. Towns with their 2010 populations are: