Gombe, Kinshasa

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Gombe
Commune de Gombe
La Gombe, Kinshasa, RDC.jpg
Gombe skyline
Gombe, Kinshasa
Gombe, Kinshasa
Gombe, Kinshasa
Gombe on map of Kinshasa city-province
Democratic Republic of the Congo (26 provinces) - Kinshasa.svg
Kinshasa city-province on map of DR Congo
Coordinates: 04°18′11″S15°18′12″E / 4.30306°S 15.30333°E / -4.30306; 15.30333 [1]
CountryFlag of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.svg DR Congo
City-Province Kinshasa
Area
  Total
29.33 km2 (11.32 sq mi)
Population
 (2015 est.)
  Total
89,080
  Density3,000/km2 (7,900/sq mi)

Gombe (formerly known as Kalina), also known as La Gombe, or Downtown Kinshasa, is one of the 24 communes of Kinshasa, in the western part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. [2] Encompassing a vast area of approximately 29.33 square kilometers (11.32 square miles), it is home to an approximate population of 89,080 residents (2015). [3] [4]

Contents

Functioning as both a residential area and a central business district, Gombe houses several key government institutions of the DRC, including the Palais de la Nation, the Central Bank of the Congo, various ministries, media organizations, and diplomatic representations. Gombe serves as the epicenter for the DRC's leading financial establishments, the hub of its business activities, and the headquarters of the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO). [5] [6] [7]

Originally housing colonial administrative offices, cités indigènes, neighborhoods meant for non-colonists, formed around the area. Now it is Kinshasa's fastest-growing commune. [8] According to a 2014 study by the U.S. research firm Mercer, Gombe is one of the most expensive places to live in Africa. [9] Development has increased significantly following 2015 with many new buildings being constructed near Avenue de Colonel Tshatshi including Le Premier, the Kinshasa Financial Center, Galeries la Fontaine, and the Galleria Mall. [10]

Etymology

The name Gombe originates from the Gombe River, which traverses and encircles seven central communes of Kinshasa. The term Gombe is believed to have been borrowed from a traditional title associated with Chief Humbu, a customary ruler who historically governed the region now corresponding to the modern-day Selembao commune, located in the southwestern part of the city. [11]

Geography

Location

The geographical boundaries of Gombe were formally established through Order No. 69-0042, promulgated on June 23, 1969. This legal decree delineates the commune's perimeters, marked by both natural and anthropogenic features:

Northeast

To the north and east, Gombe's boundaries are defined by the natural border of the Congo River. The delineation originates at the point closest to the confluence of the Congo River and the Gombe River, extending to the nearest junction where the Congo River converges with the Funa River. [12] From this juncture, the boundary follows the course of the Funa River until it intersects with the Matadi–Kinshasa Railway. [12] [11]

South

Towards the southwards, it tracks the railway to the Bitshiaku-Tshiaku River, marking an essential transition along the southern periphery. [12] [11] The border then traces the Bitshiaku-Tshiaku River to Tabora Avenue's extended axis. It continues to Avenue du Télégraphe, merging with Avenue Bokasa, then Avenue Rwakadingi, Village, Lualaba, Wangata, and Mont des Arts Avenues. It connects to Avenue Victimes de la Rébellion, Avenue Du 24 Novembre, ending at Camp Lt Col Kokolo. [11]

West

Heading westwards, the boundary goes from Camp Lt Col Kokolo to the high voltage line, descending to the Gombe River and its tributary meeting the Congo River. A conduit links the tributary to the Republic of Congo's nearest border point. [11]

Administration

Gombe, like all communes of Kinshasa, is organized as a decentralized territorial entity (entité territoriale décentralisée, ETD) with legal personality and administrative autonomy. Its governance is structured around two main organs: the Conseil Communal (Communal Council) and the Collège Exécutif Communal (Communal Executive College). [13] The Conseil Communal functions as the deliberative body of the commune. Composed of members known as conseillers communaux, elected through direct universal suffrage, it is entrusted with debating matters of communal interest spanning economic, social, cultural, and technical domains. [13] The council also elects the bourgmestre (mayor) and deputy mayor through indirect suffrage, while supervising the implementation of executive policies and programs. [13]

The Collège Exécutif Communal, headed by the bourgmestre and assisted by the deputy, acts as the executive branch of the commune. In addition to the two top officials, it includes two échevins communaux (aldermen) who are appointed on the basis of competence, credibility, and community representation. [13] This body is responsible for the daily administration of the commune and the execution of decisions adopted by the council. These institutions ensure the commune's autonomy in managing local affairs under the broader oversight of the Governor of Kinshasa. [13]

Administratively, Gombe is subdivided into quartiers (neighborhoods), which are also partitioned into avenues. [13] [11] [14] The size and structure of these quartiers vary considerably. Planned urban quartiers typically follow a formal grid with smaller quartiers, whereas semi-urban or informally developed quartiers often encompass larger populations and constitute much of Kinshasa's urban sprawl. [13] Each quartier is overseen by a local administration that includes a chef de quartier (neighborhood chief), a deputy, a secretary, a population officer, and a team of enumerators (agents recenseurs). [13] These officials are appointed by the Governor of Kinshasa. [13]

Gombe is divided into 10 quarters (French: quartiers) and 198 avenues: [11]

  • Batetela (18 avenues)
  • Fleuve (6 avenues)
  • Lemera (19 avenues)
  • Gare (25 avenues)
  • Révolution (28 avenues)
  • Croix Rouge (14 avenues)
  • Haut Commandement (19 avenues)
  • Golf (27 avenues)
  • Commerce (19 avenues)
  • Cliniques (23 avenues)

The commune's administration also hosts decentralized representations of central government ministries, allowing it to manage a wide spectrum of public services locally. These municipal services include offices for civil status, population, economy, small and medium enterprises, infrastructure and public works, health and hygiene, environment and sustainable development, culture and arts, urban planning, housing, legal affairs, sports and leisure, youth, gender and family, and energy. [13] [15] In addition, Gombe's communal administration integrates national agencies and specialized state services such as the National Intelligence Agency, the Directorate General of Migration, [13] as well as offices for human rights, rural development, industry, public function (both for active employees and retirees), tourism, political parties, and non-motorized transport. [15]

History

Before the establishment of European colonial rule, the area now known as Gombe formed part of the fishing village of Nshasa (today Kinshasa), inhabited primarily by the Teke and Humbu peoples along the Congo River. [16] [17] In March 1882, a year after the founding of Léopoldville, Henry Morton Stanley initiated negotiations with Teke chief Ntsuvila (Ngobila) to secure a site for a second station on Stanley Pool. [18] While Stanley was absent upriver, Captain Edmond Hanssens attempted to conclude a treaty for the land, but the chiefs were preoccupied with the activities of the French to the north of the Pool. [18] Negotiations repeatedly stalled until April 1883, when Stanley finally secured an agreement with Ntsuvila. Work began under Alphonse van Gèle near what is now Beach Ngobila, although local resistance led Stanley to appoint his English colleague, Anthony Swinburne, to oversee the post. [18] By early 1884, Swinburne's station was nearly complete, though French agents under Pierre Savorgnan de Brazza attempted to assert French claims based on a prior treaty with the Bateke paramount chief, Makoko. These efforts were repelled by Ntsuvila, who prevented the raising of the French flag at Kinshasa. [18]

During the 1880s, Kinshasa began to emerge as a commercial and strategic post. American commercial agents such as W. P. Tisdel and E. H. Taunt recognized its advantages over Léopoldville, noting its location and navigability. [18] In 1885, Antoon Greshoff established a Dutch trading post for the Nieuwe Afrikaansche Handels-Vennootschap (NAHV), while the Sanford Exploring Expedition, closely tied to Leopold II, expanded American commercial interests in the region. [18] Belgian entrepreneur Alexandre Delcommune arrived in 1887 on behalf of Albert Thys' Compagnie du Congo pour le Commerce et l'Industrie (CCCI), which aimed to develop a railway link between Matadi and Stanley Pool. [18] By late 1888, the railway survey was complete, and in 1889, the Société Anonyme Belge pour le Commerce du Haut-Congo (SAB) established a trading house at Kinshasa, consolidating Sanford's earlier efforts. [18] Among those present during this period was the young Józef Teodor Konrad Korzeniowski, later known as the novelist Joseph Conrad, who in 1890 commanded the steamer Roi des Belges from Stanley Pool. [18]

The completion of the Matadi–Kinshasa Railway in 1898 transformed the settlement into an important river port linked to the Atlantic. Additional infrastructure, such as the oil pipeline of 1914 and the telegraph and wireless stations, also cemented its strategic role. By the early twentieth century, Kinshasa was described by visiting American naturalist James Chapin as a large town with modern amenities, including hotels, banks, stores, and steamship services. [19] [16] [20] [18] Administrative reforms in 1919 designated Kinshasa as the capital of Moyen-Congo District within the newly formed Congo-Kasaï Province, while Léopoldville retained its status as provincial capital. Throughout the 1920s, Kinshasa expanded rapidly, soon surpassing Léopoldville in commercial importance. Colonial policies imposed strict racial segregation. [18] In 1920, a European-only residential zone known as "Kalina Quartier " was established, later becoming the nucleus of what is now Gombe. Plans for a government and administrative quarter were advanced after the Second World War. [18] [21] In 1948, Belgian architect Georges Ricquier presented a master plan envisioning monumental boulevards and official buildings radiating from Kalina Point. [21] His design sought to rival European capitals in grandeur, with Boulevard du 30 Juin envisioned as a boulevard surpassing the Champs-Élysées in scale. These projects entailed large-scale expropriation of African land and the creation of buffer zones separating European quarters from African quarters. [21]

In March 1957, administrative reforms divided Léopoldville into 13 communes, with Kalina officially designated as one of them. Belgian official Robert Van Heck was appointed the first bourgmestre (mayor) of Kalina. [11] After the country gained independence, leadership of the commune transitioned to Congolese authorities, with Mr. Ikama serving as bourgmestre from 30 June 1960 until 1968. [11] In October 1971, as part of Mobutu Sese Seko's authenticité -driven policies, the name Kalina was replaced with Gombe. [11] Some notable former mayors are Catherine Nzuzi Wa Mbombo (1968-1970), Marie-Rose Kasa-Vubu (1971-1974), Mabanza Tukalakiese (1977-1982), and Albert-Joseph Kasongo Wa Kapinga (1982-1988).

Government and infrastructure

CHESD, Gombe, November 2022 College des hautes etudes de strategie et de defense, Gombe, RDC.jpg
CHESD, Gombe, November 2022

Gombe accommodates some of the DRC's principal governing bodies, including the Palais de la Nation and the Central Bank of the Congo on the Boulevard Colonel Tshatshi. Various ministries, diplomatic and media organizations are also situated in Gombe. [22] Kinshasa's City Hall and Provincial Assembly are both located in Gombe. Parenthetically, the DGM of the Ministry of the Interior and Security is located in Gombe, as well as the headquarters of the BPEA, an agency of the Ministry of Transport and Channels of Communication. [23]

Gombe at night Gombe la nuit.jpg
Gombe at night

MONUSCO, the United Nations peacekeeping force, is strategically located in Gombe. [24] The Boboto College is a prominent education institution located in Gombe [25]

The Régie de Distribution d'Eau (REGIDESO), the national water utility enterprise, is located on Boulevard Du 30 Juin in Gombe, [26] whereas the Société Nationale d'Électricité (SNEL), the national electricity company, also has its headquarters here. [27] Gare de l'Est, the principal train station, is conveniently situated in Gombe. The Kinshasa Financial Center, housing significant institutions such as the Ministries of Finance and Budget, various General Directorates, the General Inspectorate of Finance, the General Secretariat of Finance, and the Development Bank, is the largest financial complex in the DRC and is based in Gombe. [28] [29]

Kinshasa General Hospital, one of the largest and most well-known hospitals in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, is headquartered in Gombe. [30]

The state-owned Société Commerciale des Transports et des Ports (SCPT) is headquartered in Gombe, overseeing transportation and port management. [31] The Collège des Hautes Études de Stratégie et de Défense (CHESD) is the premier institution for strategic and defense studies, strategically positioned in Gombe. [32]

Gombe, February 2013 2013-02-23 12.30.12 Kinshasa (8757839660).jpg
Gombe, February 2013

The Hôtel du Gouvernement, an administrative edifice along Boulevard du 30 Juin, serves as the headquarters for numerous central government ministries and public services. [33] Incidentally, Gombe houses Lycée Bosangani (Bosangani High School), [34] Institut National de Sécurité Sociale (INSS), [35] Centre Médical de Kinshasa (CMK), [36] and Palais de la Justice. [37]

Attractions

Académie des Beaux-Arts (ABA)

Academie des Beaux-Arts, June 2013 Academie Beaux Arts Kinshasa 2.JPG
Académie des Beaux-Arts, June 2013

The Académie des Beaux-Arts (Academy of Fine Arts), located in Gombe, is an educational institution that focuses on teaching visual and applied arts. The academy encompasses the areas of Avenue de la Libération, Avenue de La Science, and Avenue de la River and is surrounded by a park where visitors can view original sculptures, oil paintings, and other student-made objects on display. Additionally, tourists can witness artists at work and engage in conversations with them. [38] [39]

The academy was established in 1943 by Belgian missionary Marc Stanislas Wallenda in Gombe-Matadi in the Kongo Central Province. [39] Originally called "École Saint-Luc," it started as a sculpture workshop due to the abundance of wood in the region. [39] In 1949, the Saint Luc school was relocated to Léopoldville (Kinshasa) and was renamed "Académie des Beaux-Arts" in 1957. Over time, new options were added, including painting (1950), ceramics (1953), Beaten Metal (1971), advertising (1970), interior decoration (1970), and the conservation and restoration of works of art (2013). [39]

Today, the academy provides a training environment and a platform for experimentation and exhibitions in Gombe, allowing students to develop their artistic personalities. [38]

Marché Central

The Kinshasa Central Market, referred to as the Zando in Lingala, is a bustling and dynamic marketplace in Gombe. It is one of the liveliest markets in Kinshasa with market activity spilling over into the neighboring streets of the Kinshasa and Barumbu communes. The market is well known for its wide assortment of products, including fresh fruits, vegetables, spices, locally sourced meat and fish, clothing, fabrics, shoes, accessories, and household goods. The market also offers unique Congolese handicrafts and souvenirs for tourists and visitors alike. [40] [41] [42]

Jardin Botanique

Jardin Botanique de Kinshasa, August 2022 BOT 039.jpg
Jardin Botanique de Kinshasa, August 2022

The Jardin Botanique is a botanical garden in Gombe, opposite the Jardin Zoologique. Covering an area of seven hectares, It features a diverse collection of 286 plant species, including baobabs, mangoes, bananas, papayas, and coffee. [43] [44] The garden is maintained by the Congolese Institute for the Conservation of Nature (Institut Congolais pour la Conservation de la Nature; ICCN). It serves as a platform for environmental education activities and boasts over 100 species of trees. [44]

Beach Ngobila

Beach Ngobila (referred to by locals as simply Beach) serves as a port for passengers traveling across the Congo River between Kinshasa and Brazzaville. It is located near the islet Ile aux Pierres and the Kinshasa East railway station. The port is managed by Société Commerciale des Transports et des Ports (SCPT) in partnership with the former Agence Transcongolaise des Transports to ensure smooth operations. [45] [46] [47]

Mémorial du Soldat Congolais

The Mémorial du Soldat Congolais is a memorial located at the FORESCOM Roundabout in Gombe. It was erected to commemorate the Congolese soldiers who were instrumental in shaping the country's history. It represents remembrance, honor, and patriotism, and offers visitors a space to reflect on and pay tribute to the fallen soldiers. Every year on May 17, it is commemorated with great reverence. [48] [49] [50]

Other tourist sites

Site NameRef.
Centre Culturel Boboto [51]
Centre Culturel Congolais le Zoo [51]
Bibliothèque Wallonie-Bruxelles de Kinshasa [51]
Institut Français/Halle de la Gombe [51]
National Institute of Arts [51]
Marché des Valeurs [51]
Poste Centrale de Kinshasa [51]
Monde des Flamboyants [51]

Economy

Marsavco-Biggest FMCG Company of DRC & Central Africa, Part of RAWJI Group-Largest Group in DRC.jpg
MARSAVCO

The commune is home to the central government offices, a variety of industries, the nation's primary financial institutions, and the headquarters of major multinational and local companies. Gombe's industrial zone, situated to the north and east along the Congo River, hosts a diverse range of factories and enterprises. Among the most notable are Beltexco, TEXAF, MARSAVCO, SEP-Congo (Services des Entreprises Pétrolières Congolaises), MIDEMA, Intraplast, CELCO, SOCIMEX, Sodefor, Stone, Solidiam, and Concorde. [52] Feronia Inc., a multinational corporation specializing in palm oil and agricultural products, also maintains its base in the commune. [53] [54] [55] This industrial corridor connects Kinshasa to regional markets and international trade routes via the river and port facilities. Gombe's economic hub is its central business district, bordered by Avenue des Huileries on the west, the Congo River to the north, Avenue Rwakadingi to the south, and Avenue des Poids Lourds to the east, which accounts for about 70 percent of Kinshasa's socio-economic activity, with a dense concentration of diplomatic missions, multinational companies, and domestic enterprises. [52]

Equity BCDC headquarter in Kinshasa.jpg
EquityBCDC headquarter in Gombe
Batiment administrative BCC.jpg
Seat of the Central Bank of the Congo in Gombe

Gombe hosts the headquarters or branches of virtually all major financial institutions operating in the country. These include Equity Banque Commerciale du Congo (BCDC), BIC, Banque Internationale pour l'Afrique au Congo (BIAC), BGFIBank Group, Trust Merchant Bank (TMB), Banque Centrale du Congo (BCC), Ecobank, Rawbank, Banque Congolaise, Standard Bank, Bank of Africa (BOA), Fransabank, FirstBank, Banque Minière du Congo, MECREKIN, Western Union, SOFICOM, Solidaire, Société Financière de Développement (SOFIDE), Ami Fidèle, FINCA, and United Bank for Africa (UBA). [52] The commune also serves as a hub for telecommunications and media, with key mobile and internet providers like Airtel Congo, Orange RDC, Vodacom, Africell, Standard Telecom, and Iburst operating from the commune. [52] [56] [57] The headquarters of the state broadcaster, Radio-Télévision Nationale Congolaise (RTNC), is housed in the RTNC Building. [58]

Kin Mart- Super Markets of Kinshasa DRC.jpg
Kin Mart
Kin 16 BOULEVARD.jpg
Kin Marché

Since the late 1990s, Gombe has witnessed an expansion in retail and commerce, particularly in the food sector. Much of this growth has been driven by entrepreneurs of Indian descent, whose supermarket chains and retail brands have come to dominate the market. [59] The "mart" retail concept, popularized by Indian entrepreneurs who began settling in the DRC at the close of the 20th century, has become synonymous with large-scale retail. Their presence coincided with the decline or closure of older family-run businesses, such as Hasson & Frère (a Jewish-owned group founded in the 1930s, liquidated in 2018) and the Abdoulaye Yerodia Ndombasi family's Carrefour/Peloustore supermarket. [59] Lebanese chains, including City Market (Sun Rise) and Kin Mart, as well as Greek-owned Hyper Psaro, remain active but face stiff competition from new entrants. Hyper Psaro, historically linked with the French Casino franchise, has pursued reentry strategies through partnerships with Carrefour, maintaining its drugstore presence in Kin Plaza Mall. [59] The current retail market is dominated by five major supermarket chains: Regal, a subsidiary of Gay Impex founded in 1998 by Indian entrepreneur Parmanand Daswani; Kin Marché, which launched its first store in Gombe in 2004 and has since made the commune its headquarters; GG Mart, also headquartered in Gombe; S&K, which maintains its central base there as well; and Maison Galaxy, created in 2014 by Ashiq Adatia and managed by Popatiya Rahim Suleman. [59] [60] Maison Galaxy, initially focused on cosmetics, now operates more than twenty outlets in Kinshasa under the Galaxy and Shayna brands, having diversified into the food sector. Smaller competitors such as Swiss Mart also maintain a presence. [59]

The supermarket boom has been closely tied to the proliferation of shopping centers and galleries, often referred to as malls. Originally driven by Indian entrepreneurs who combined supermarkets with hotels, restaurants, and service providers, the concept has evolved to include complexes emphasizing boutiques, luxury outlets, and leisure spaces. [59] Notable malls and shopping galleries in Gombe include Premier Shopping Mall, Congo Trade Center, LC Waikiki Flo Tower, Kin Plaza Mall (adjacent to the Kin Plaza Arjaan by Rotana Hotel), Galerie La Fontaine, Gallery Riviera, Galerie Marchande (Memling), Galleria Mall, Galeries Présidentielles, Galerie Pacha, Galerie Mayalos, Galerie du 3Z, Galerie IPGI, Galerie LBK, Galerie Albert, Galerie Botour, and Galerie Massamba. [52] [59]

Demographics

Historical population of Gombe, Kinshasa
Year19671970198420032004
Population17,89022,61517,36031,30732,373

As of late 2012, Gombe population totaled 44,013 residents, comprising 9,309 foreign residents (21.2%) and 34,709 Congolese nationals (78.8%). [61]

PopulationMenWomenBoysGirlsTotalPercentage
Congolese8,5577,9099,0799,16134,70478.8%
Foreigners3,8422,1571,6821,6289,30921.2%
Total10,9018,42710,76110,78944,013100%

Source: Maison communale, Secretariat, Annual Report 2012 [61]

Gombe's demographic evolution during 2008–2012:

YearCongolese population%Foreign population%Total
MenWomenTotalMen
200814,03013,61627,64678.5%3,072
200914,62714,12128,74877.7%4,824
201014,97814,06029,33875.5%5,242
201115,14614,63229,77877.5%4,133
201217,63617,06834,70478.8%3,842

The foreign population demonstrated a steady upward trend over previous years; for instance, in 2008, the number of foreign residents stood at 7,559, increasing to 9,309 by 2012. [61]

Gombe has traditionally attracted a diverse mix of residents from various national and professional backgrounds. The most recent influx includes personnel affiliated with the United Nations and other international organizations, as well as traders and entrepreneurs from Indo-Pakistani, Lebanese, West African, and other Sub-Saharan African communities. [61] Many expatriates are drawn to Gombe—and the adjacent commune of Ngaliema—due to high-quality services, heightened security, and closeness to embassies and workplaces. [61]

Distribution of the population by Neighborhood in 2011:

No Quartiers (neighborhoods)Congolese population%Foreign population%Total population%
MaleFemaleTotalMaleFemaleTotal
01Batetela1,7211,6973,41811.454834088810.34,30611.2
02Cliniques1,6361,6913,32711.153843096811.24,29511.1
03Commerce1,7171,5993,31611.17504051,15513.44,47111.6
04Croix-Rouge1,1791,1562,3357.82932255186.02,8537.4
05Fleuve7638041,5675.2----1,5674.0
06Gare1,8041,7343,53812.06235021,12513.04,66312.1
07Golf1,9221,7073,62912.17945241,31812.84,94712.9
08Haut-commandement1,6171,6503,26711.159633793311.04,20010.9
09Lemera1,1149962,1107.02361844204.92,5306.5
10Révolution1,6731,5983,27111.07974941,29115.04,56211.8
Total15,14614,63229,7785,2803,3368,61638,394100
%77.522.5

Among Congolese nationals, 12.1% resided in the Golf neighborhood, compared to just 5.2% in Fleuve. Foreigners were similarly concentrated in Golf (12.8%), whereas Lemera hosted only 6.5% of them. [61] In 2012, Gombe continued to be the least populated commune, with only 38,084 residents recorded in 2010, representing just 1.8% of Kinshasa's estimated urban population of 9.5 million in 2011. [61] However, more recent figures indicate that Gombe's population nearly doubled by 2015, reaching an estimated 89,080 residents. [4]

Education

Both campuses of the French international school, Lycée Français René Descartes Kinshasa, are in Gombe: Site Gombe and Site Kalemie; the latter is across from the residence of the Ambassador of France. [62]

Lycée Prince de Liège, a Belgian international school, is in Gombe. [63]

References

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