Home

Kisangani

Kisangani, formerly Stanleyville, is a major city in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It is the capital of Tshopo Province and an important regional urban center in the northeastern part of the country.

Geography and transport: The city lies on the Congo River, near a wide bend known as the

History: Kisangani was founded in the late 19th century by Belgian explorers and was known as Stanleyville

Economy and demographics: The local economy relies on river transport, timber processing, forestry, and regional commerce,

Overall, Kisangani functions as a key northeastern city in the DRC, linking interior networks with riverine

Stanley
Falls.
It
spans
the
river’s
banks
with
Grand
Island
in
the
middle,
and
it
is
connected
by
ferries
and
bridges.
Kisangani
serves
as
a
river-port
hub
and
a
gateway
to
the
interior
via
the
Congo
River
system.
Bangoka
International
Airport
provides
air
links
to
other
parts
of
the
country
and
the
region.
during
the
colonial
era.
After
independence,
it
served
as
the
administrative
center
of
Orientale
Province
and
was
renamed
Kisangani
in
1966
as
part
of
post-independence
renaming
policies.
The
city
was
a
focal
point
during
the
Congo
Crisis
of
the
1960s
and
has
since
developed
as
a
regional
administrative
and
economic
hub.
with
services
supporting
the
surrounding
area.
The
city
is
ethnically
diverse,
reflecting
a
mix
of
local
groups,
and
languages
commonly
spoken
include
French,
Lingala,
and
Swahili.
trade
and
serving
as
a
center
of
administration,
commerce,
and
culture.