Kindu

Kindu

A street in Kindu
Kindu

Location in Democratic Republic of the Congo

Coordinates: 2°57′S 25°57′E / 2.950°S 25.950°E / -2.950; 25.950Coordinates: 2°57′S 25°57′E / 2.950°S 25.950°E / -2.950; 25.950
Country Democratic Republic of the Congo
Province Maniema
Area
 • Total 150 km2 (60 sq mi)
Elevation 504 m (1,654 ft)
Population (2012)
 • Total 172,321
 • Density 1,100/km2 (3,000/sq mi)
National language Swahili

Kindu is a city in the Democratic Republic of Congo, the capital of Maniema province. It has a population of about 200,000 and is situated on the Lualaba River at an altitude of about 500 metres, and is about 400 km west of Bukavu.

Kindu is linked by rail to the mining areas of Kalemie, Kamina and Kananga to the south. It also has an airport with a 2,200 metre runway and has historically been an important port along the Congo River system.

History

Ikondu village as seen by Stanley

The town was an important centre for the ivory, gold and the slave trade during the nineteenth century. Arab-Swahili slave traders were based here from about 1860 and sent caravans overland to Zanzibar.[1]

Henry Morton Stanley came upon "this remarkable town" on 5 Dec. 1876, describing it as "remarkably long" with a "broad street, thirty feet wide, and two miles in length" and "behind the village were the banana and the palm groves."[2]:Vol.Two,132–133

In November 1961, during the Congo Crisis, the Kindu atrocity took place in Kindu. During the rule of Mobutu Sese Seko Kindu was also the former capital of Nord-Kivu subregion of Kivu region.

Geography

Kindu is located 2°57′S, 25°55′E at an elevation of approximately 1500 ft (450 m) above sea level.

Demographics

The city's population is estimated at between 140,000[3] and 200,000[4] residents. As with the rest of Congo, the vast majority adhere to a Christian denomination or sect. Just under half of the population is Catholic.[5] Slightly under 10% of the population are Anglican[4] and there is also a small Muslim community in the city.

Economy

Local people offering goats for sale.

The main economic activity in Maniema Province is mining. diamonds, copper, gold and cobalt are mined outside of Kindu.[6] There is also a market in Kindu as well as shops throughout the town.

Government and Politics

Kindu is the provincial capital and is home to the provincial assembly and ministries.

Transportation

Kindu Port

Kindu is served by Kindu Airport. Most of the goods coming to town come from Goma, Bukavu and Kinshasa by air.

It is also served by the Congo Railway which connects it to Lubumbashi among other destinations.

There is also a port in Kindu which is located on the western bank of the Lualaba River.

Roads in Maniema Province are unsurfaced and in a generally poor condition.

Education

The town has primary and secondary education facilities. The University of Kindu is also located in the city.

Climate

Climate data for Kindu
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Average high °C (°F) 30
(86)		 31
(87)		 31
(87)		 31
(87)		 31
(88)		 31
(87)		 29
(84)		 30
(86)		 31
(87)		 31
(87)		 31
(87)		 30
(86)		 31
(87)
Average low °C (°F) 21
(70)		 21
(69)		 21
(70)		 21
(70)		 21
(70)		 20
(68)		 19
(67)		 20
(68)		 20
(68)		 21
(69)		 21
(69)		 21
(70)		 21
(69)
Average precipitation cm (inches) 18
(7)		 15
(6)		 19.3
(7.6)		 15.7
(6.2)		 10.7
(4.2)		 3
(1.2)		 3.3
(1.3)		 7.1
(2.8)		 10.9
(4.3)		 15.7
(6.2)		 19.8
(7.8)		 20.8
(8.2)		 159.5
(62.8)
Source: Weatherbase [7]

See also

References

  1. ↑ The Editors of Encyclopædia Britannica
  2. ↑ Stanley, H.M., 1899, Through the Dark Continent, London: G. Newnes, Vol. One ISBN 0486256677, Vol. Two ISBN 0486256685
  3. ↑ Geonames 2013 calculation
  4. 1 2 Diocese of Kindu
  5. ↑ Lavigerie : Site officiel des Missionnaires d'Afrique (Soeurs Blanches et Pères Blancs belges) - Notre confrère Willy Ngumbi, nouvel évêque du diocèse de Kindu, R.D.C.
  6. ↑ Maniemamining LTD, 2014
  7. ↑ "Weatherbase: Historical Weather for Kindu, Democratic Republic of the Congo". Weatherbase. 2011. Retrieved on November 24, 2011.
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