Kasai

Kasai, often written Kasaï in French, is a geographic name used for a river and for a central region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It is associated with the Kasai River, a major tributary of the Congo River, which rises in the highlands of Angola and flows northeast through central Africa before joining the Congo.

The Kasai region in the Democratic Republic of the Congo lies along the Kasai River and has historically been recognized as part of a larger Kasaï area that was divided during the country’s administrative reforms. In the 2010s the DRC reorganized its internal borders, creating new provinces derived from the former Kasai-Occidental (West Kasai) and Kasai-Oriental (East Kasai) territories. The area is home to major towns such as Mbuji-Mayi and Kananga and a diverse population that includes ethnic groups such as the Luba, Songye, and Mongo. Languages spoken in the region include Tshiluba, Lingala, Swahili, and French is used in administration and education.

Economically, the Kasai region has a diverse mix of mining, agriculture, and forestry. Diamond mining is historically associated with towns in the western part of the old Kasai region, and river transport remains important for local trade and movement. The area has also faced governance and security challenges, including periods of political conflict and humanitarian concern, particularly in the mid-2010s.

See also: Kasaï-Central, Kasaï-Oriental, Kasaï-Occidental, Kasai River.