Cuvette Centrale Province was a province of the
Democratic Republic of the Congo
The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), also known as the DR Congo, Congo-Kinshasa, or simply the Congo (the last ambiguously also referring to the neighbouring Republic of the Congo), is a country in Central Africa. By land area, it is t ...
that existed between 1963 and 1966 during the
Congo Crisis
The Congo Crisis () was a period of Crisis, political upheaval and war, conflict between 1960 and 1965 in the Republic of the Congo (Léopoldville), Republic of the Congo (today the Democratic Republic of the Congo). The crisis began almost ...
.
Location
Cuvette Centrale Province covered the area of the present provinces of
Équateur and
Tshuapa
Tshuapa is one of the 21 provinces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo created in the Subdivisions of the DR Congo#New provinces, 2015 repartitioning. Tshuapa, Équateur Province, Équateur, Mongala, Nord-Ubangi, and Sud-Ubangi provinces are ...
in the northwest of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
It is named after the Cuvette Centrale (Central Basin), a geological basin covering an area of around to the north of Kinshasa.
This is a region of swamps and dense tropical forest, with few roads and no railways.
Under the law of 14 August 1962 Cuvette Centrale Province comprised the territories of
Basankusu
Basankusu is a town in Province of Équateur, Équateur Province, Democratic Republic of the Congo. It is the main town and administrative centre of the Basankusu Territory. In 2004, it had an estimated population of 23,764. It has a gravel Basank ...
,
Bolomba, Coq-Kalamba,
Ingende and
Bikoro
Bikoro is a market town in Équateur Province in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, lying on Lake Tumba, south of Mbandaka.
It is the administrative center of Bikoro Territory.
In 2012, the estimated population was 7,426.
Bikoro was the ...
in
Équateur District
Équateur District was a former district of the Congo Free State, Belgian Congo and Democratic Republic of the Congo.
In 1914, it became part of former Équateur Province. The district went through various changes of extent and name over the year ...
;
Boende
Boende is a city and capital of Tshuapa Province, lying on the Tshuapa River, in the Democratic Republic of Congo. It is a river port with riverboats sailing to Kinshasa via Mbandaka and is also home to an airport. As of 2009, it had an estimat ...
,
Befale,
Bokungo
Bokungu is a territory of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It is located in Tshuapa Province
Tshuapa is one of the 21 provinces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo created in the 2015 repartitioning. Tshuapa, Équateur, Mongala, No ...
,
Djolu,
Ikela
Ikela is a market town in Tshuapa, Democratic Republic of Congo, lying on the Tshuapa River east of Boende. Founded by Belgium in the early twentieth century as a trading post, it became an important local centre.
It is the headquarters of the ...
and
Monkoto
Monkoto is a territory of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It is located in Tshuapa Province
Tshuapa is one of the 21 provinces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo created in the 2015 repartitioning. Tshuapa, Équateur, Mongala, Nor ...
in
Tshuapa District
Tshuapa District (, ), was a district of the Belgian Congo and the Democratic Republic of the Congo created in 1933 in the Coquilhatville Province. At its greatest extent it roughly corresponded to the present provinces of Équateur and Tshuapa. ...
, and the Bongandanga sector in
Bongandanga Territory
Bongandanga is a small town in Mongala Province in the northwestern part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo
The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), also known as the DR Congo, Congo-Kinshasa, or simply the Congo (the last ambiguou ...
.
History
Cuvette Centrale Province was established on 14 August 1962, when the country was divided into 21 provinces.
Équateur Province Équateur, French for equator, may refer to:
Places
* Province of Équateur, a province of the Democratic Republic of the Congo since 2015
* Équateur (former province), a former province of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, 1966–2015
* � ...
was divided into the Cuvette-Centrale and
Ubangi provinces.
The capital of Cuvette Centrale Province was Coquilhatville (
Mbandaka
Mbandaka (, formerly known as Coquilhatville in French, or Coquilhatstad in Dutch) is a city in the Democratic Republic of Congo located near the confluence of the Congo and Ruki rivers. It is the capital of Équateur Province.
The city was f ...
).
Léon Engulu
Léon Engulu, or Engulu Baangampongo Bakokele Lokanga (1 April 1934 – 4 February 2023) was a politician from the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
He was prominent in the politics of Équateur Province in the period leading up to and following ...
was president of the province and Raphael Bokanga was president of the assembly.
The new province hosted sessions of the Coquilhatville constitutional conference from 31 January to 10 February 1963.
On 5 February 1963 the northern part of Cuvette-Centrale was split off as
Moyen-Congo Province Moyen-Congo may refer to:
* A former French colony in Africa, known as:
** French Congo (''Congo français'', 1882–1903)
** ''Moyen-Congo'' or ''Middle Congo'' (1903–1958), part of French Equatorial Africa between 1910 and 1958
** The Republic o ...
.
Under an emergency ordinance Joseph Ekombe was designated Extraordinary Commissioner General for the province of Cuvette Centrale on 22 April 1963 but did not take up this position.
Victor Rutaha was designated on 27 April 1963 and took over in Coquilhatville on 8 May 1963.
An ordinance of 8 July 1963 cancelled the position.
This was quickly followed by a drastic reduction in funding from the central government in Léopoldville.
The regions of Boende, Bokungu and Ikela were full of rebels, and the central government provided some assistance in pacification.
There were plans to hold National and provincial elections between 18 March and 30 April 1965, but these were cancelled.
On 6 January 1966 all the provincial governors met in Kinshasa in an attempt to resolve the conflicts that were tearing apart the country.
On 6 April 1966 the number of provinces was reduced from 21 to 12, and towards the end of the year from 12 to 8.
On 25 April 1966 the provinces of Cuvette Centrale, Moyen-Congo and Ubangi were reunited as Équateur Province under the leadership of Léon Engulu, who held office until 3 January 1967.
Notes
Sources
*
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Cuvette Centrale Province
Former provinces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (pre-1966)