Mongala

For the river see Mongala River.

Mongala Province
Province
Coordinates: 02°09′N 21°31′E
Country	Democratic Republic of the Congo
Capital	Lisala
Government
• Governor	Bienvenu Essimba
Area
• Total	58,141 km2 (22,448 sq mi)
Population (2005 est.)
• Total	1,793,564
• Density	31/km2 (80/sq mi)
Official language	French
National language	Lingala

Mongala is one of the 26 provinces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Its capital is the town of Lisala.

Location

Mongala is located at the northwest of the country on the Congo River, and borders the districts of Tshopo, Bas-Uele, Nord-Ubangi, Sud-Ubangi, Équateur and Tshuapa. It is divided into three territories:

• Bongandanga
• Bumba, major town and site of a former secessionist state (1963) in the province.
• Lisala

The province includes the village of Yambuku.

History

From 1963–1966, Mongala Province was known as Moyen-Congo. However, under Mobutu, the province was reintegrated into Équateur province where it was administered as Mongala District, until 2015. Presidents (later governors) of the Moyen-Congo province were:

• 6 April 1963 – June 1964 Laurent Eketebi (s.a.)
  • (de facto from 15 September 1962)
• April 1963 – 30 July 1963 Denis Akundji
  • (president of secessionist province of Bumba)
• 23 June 1964 – 10 August 1965 Augustin Engwanda
• 10 August 1965 – 25 April 1966 Denis Sakombi (born 1929, died 1985)