Mongala

Mongala Province
Province
Coordinates: 02°09′N 21°31′E / 2.150°N 21.517°E / 2.150; 21.517Coordinates: 02°09′N 21°31′E / 2.150°N 21.517°E / 2.150; 21.517
Country	Democratic Republic of the Congo
Capital	Lisala
Government
• Governor	Bienvenu Essimba[1]
Area
• Total	58,141 km2 (22,448 sq mi)
Population (2005 est.)
• Total	1,793,564
• Density	31/km2 (80/sq mi)
Official language	French
National language	Lingala

Mongala is one of the 26 provinces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.^[2] Its capital is the town of Lisala.^[3]

Location

Mongala is located at the northwest of the country on the Congo River, and borders the districts of Tshopo, Bas-Uele, Nord-Ubangi, Sud-Ubangi, Équateur and Tshuapa. It is divided into three territories:

• Bongandanga
• Bumba, major town and site of a former secessionist state (1963) in the province.
• Lisala

The province includes the village of Yambuku.

History

From 1963–1966, Mongala Province was known as Moyen-Congo. However, under Mobutu, the province was reintegrated into Équateur province where it was administered as Mongala District, until 2015. Presidents (later governors) of the Moyen-Congo province were:

• 6 April 1963 – June 1964 Laurent Eketebi (s.a.)
  • (de facto from 15 September 1962)
• April 1963 – 30 July 1963 Denis Akundji
  • (president of secessionist province of Bumba)
• 23 June 1964 – 10 August 1965 Augustin Engwanda
• 10 August 1965 – 25 April 1966 Denis Sakombi (born 1929, died 1985)

References