Mai-Ndombe District was a district of pre-2015 Bandundu Province in the Democratic Republic of the Congo . It covered roughly the same area as the colonial-era Lac Léopold II District . In 2015, it was merged with Plateaux District , all in pre-2015 Bandundu Province , to form the new Mai-Ndombe Province .
11-566: Mai-Ndombe extends north from the Kasai River and is separated from the Congo River to the east by the Plateaux District . The district takes its name from the large but shallow Lake Mai-Ndombe , which covers 2,300 square kilometres (890 sq mi) but expands to double or triple that size in the rainy season. The Lukenie River flows from the east and runs through the southern part of
22-669: A westerly direction. The lower stretch of the river, from the confluence with Fimi river until it joins the Congo at Kwamouth northeast of Kinshasa, is also known as the Kwa(h) River . The Kasai basin consists mainly of equatorial rainforest areas, which provide an agricultural land in a region noted for its infertile, sandy soil. It is a tributary of Congo river and diamonds are found in it. Around 60% of diamonds in Belgium go from Kasai river for cutting and shaping. Henry Morton Stanley reached
33-615: Is a left bank tributary of the Congo River , located in Central Africa . The river begins in central Angola and flows to the east until it reaches the border between Angola and the Democratic Republic of the Congo , where it turns north and serves as the border until it flows into the DRC. From Ilebo , between the confluences with Lulua river and Sankuru river , the Kasai river turns to
44-517: The confluence on 9 March 1877, calling the river Nkutu, a "powerful and deep river", but recognizing it as originating from David Livingstone 's Kwango. The Kasai's main tributaries upstream from the confluence with the Congo: The tributaries of River Kasai are clear of obstacles like cataracts and river weed, making them very navigable. They facilitate the transport sector and form an important trade artery. The river's role in transport and trade
55-568: The February 2006 constitution, Plateaux District , Mai-Ndombe District and the city of Bandundu were to be combined into a new Mai-Ndombe Province , with the change taking effect before 18 February 2009. As of October 2010, this had not taken place, and the ruling party was calling for a further extension to the deadline. Kasai River The Kasai River ( Swahili : Mto Kasai , French : Kasaï [ka.sa.i] ; called Cassai in Angola)
66-539: The country. Even by the standards of the country, Mai-Ndombe District is relatively undeveloped. During the colonial era the region was a major producer of rubber, copal, textile fibers, palm nuts and lumber. Since independence it has been neglected. Buildings such as schools, health centers, hospitals, offices and churches from the earlier period have been allowed to deteriorate. Although roads in Kutu territory have been maintained by non-government organizations, Oswhe territory in
77-692: The district. The Lukenie joins with the Fimi River , which drains Lake Mai-Ndombe and continues westward to join the Kasai at Mushie . The district includes the Mai Ndombe Conservation Concession, an area of 299,640 hectares (740,400 acres) on the western shore of Lake Mai Ndombe in the Inongo Territory. The concession extends over the Ntomba, Baselenge, and Bolia sectors. This is the first REDD + community-based forest conservation project in
88-419: The east no longer has any roads or bridges. Ports have also been abandoned. The Forest Development Corporation SODEFOR employs several hundred workers, and a few other companies also operate in the district. Bokoro, Inongo, Kiri, Kutu, Nioki, Oshwe Mai-Ndombe included the following territory-level division units: The administrative center is the town of Inongo on the east shore of Lake Mai-Ndombe. Under
99-496: The most notorious slave traders like John Matthews, a renowned British slave vendor. These activities, though they occurred between the 18th and 19th centuries, left a lasting impact in the regions where they were most prominent, such as between the Kwango and the Kwilu rivers. The population has never recovered fully, with the population density lower than that of areas that did not experience
110-524: The slave trade. The most probable trigger to British and Portuguese great interests in the Kasai River was the presence of alluvial diamonds lying in rich deposit beds, especially at the river's mouth. More deposits lie along the beds of a major tributary, the Kwango River. In fact, it is common to hear the phrase “the diamond heartland of North Eastern Angola” used in reference to the Kwango River valley. This
121-519: Was more prominent during the pre-colonial period when the slave trade was legal. Slave traders used one of its major tributaries, the Kwango River, to navigate the equatorial rain forest, capture slaves and find their way back to the Atlantic Ocean where they had docked their ships. It is greatly controversial that some of the local kingdoms that were along the Kasai River supported the slave trade. The Rund kingdom for instance, readily provided slaves for
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