Ngaliema
Commune
Commune de Ngaliema
Ngaliema Bay
Show city center Show city-province Ngaliema on map of Kinshasa city-province
Kinshasa city-province on map of DR Congo
Coordinates:04°20′56″S15°15′10″E / 4.34889°S 15.25278°E /-4.34889; 15.25278[1]
Country	DR Congo
City-Province	Kinshasa
Area
• Total	224.3 km2 (86.6 sq mi)
Population  (2015 est.)
• Total	2,025,942
• Density	9,032/km2 (23,390/sq mi)

Ngaliema is acommune in theLukunga District ofKinshasa. Covering an area of approximately 224.3 square kilometers, it is one of the largest communes in the city and had an estimated population of 2,025,942 as of 2015.^[2][3][4] Established on 12 October 1957,^[5] Ngaliema was officially delineated by Ministerial Decree No. 69-042 of 23 January 1969 and is currently governed under Decree-Laws No. 82-006 and 82-008 of 29 January 1982, which define theadministrative andpolitical organization of the country and the status of Kinshasa.^[3]

The commune is composed of 21quartiers (neighborhoods) and is bordered by theRepublic of the Congo to the north,Mont-Ngafula to the south and southeast,Kintambo andGombe to the east, and theCongo andLukunga Rivers to the west.^[3][5] Its name originates from aBrazzaville native, Ngaliema, who settled in the area after defeating a local chief,Lingwala, prior to the arrival of theWelsh-American explorerHenry Morton Stanley.^[3]

Ngaliema is situated within a landscape of hills and valleys, featuring some of the highest elevations in western Kinshasa.^[6] The terrain is marked by significanterosion in certain areas. The commune's boundaries are largely defined by natural and infrastructural landmarks. To the north, Ngaliema borders theRepublic of the Congo along theCongo River, extending from the confluence with theLukunga River to the confluence with theGombe River.^[7] From this point, a straight boundary line separates it from thecommune of Gombe.^[7] The northern boundary continues along a high-voltage power line toward the western edge of the Colonel Kokolo Military Camp, proceeding past theBandalungwa River and arailway intersection near Sport Street. The western boundary follows the Lukunga River southward until it meets the Congo River, forming a straight-line border.^[7] To the south, the boundary extends toward the Bikela River, following it to its confluence with the Lukunga River in theMont-Ngafula commune.^[7] The eastern border runs along Kikwit Avenue to the Lubudi River, then upstream to its source, continuing by a straight line south toLaurent-Désiré Kabila Avenue and connecting with the source of the Bikela River.^[7]

Therocks on the bank of theCongo River from Kinsuka-Pêcheurquartier in Ngaliema

Ngaliema's hydrographic network is primarily composed of boundary-defining rivers, rather than internalwaterways. The most prominent rivers include theLukunga, the Binza, and the Makelele, each of which formsnatural borders with adjacent communes.^[7] These rivers are integral to the region's drainage system, particularly during therainy season, when heavy downpours intensifyflooding anderosion.^[7]

Thesoil composition across Ngaliema is predominantly a mix ofclay andsand, with notable variation depending on the topography. Certain zones are characterized by heavier clay content, showing greaterwater retention, while others are dominated by more porous and less stable sandy soils.^[7]

Ngaliema experiences a typicalequatorial tropical climate, typified by highhumidity and persistently warm temperatures throughout the year. The climatic cycle is split into two primary seasons: arainy season and adry season.^[7] The rainy season spans roughly eight months, from mid-September to mid-May, and is characterized by intense and frequent rainfall that contributes tosoil degradation and the swelling of rivers.^[7] The dry season, lasting from mid-May to mid-September, brings a marked decline in precipitation and a modest reduction in humidity levels. Nevertheless, temperatures remain relatively constant year-round.^[7]

Due to its steep slopes, weak sandy soils, and prolonged wet periods, Ngaliema is particularly prone to erosion.^[8][9] Largegullies andravines, some of which pose threats to residential areas, roads, and public infrastructure, are a recurring issue.^{[10][8][9][11]} This environmental vulnerability is also aggravated by rapid, often unregulated urban expansion, deforestation on hillsides, and inadequate drainage infrastructure.^[8][9][11]

Ngaliema, like all communes within Kinshasa, functions as a decentralized territorial entity (entité territoriale décentralisée, ETD) possessing legal personality and administrative autonomy. Its governance structure is centered on two principal bodies: theConseil Communal (Communal Council) and theCollègeExécutif Communal (Communal Executive College).^[12]

TheConseil Communal serves as the commune'sdeliberative assembly. It is composed of members known asconseillers communaux, who are elected by directuniversal suffrage. The council's responsibilities include debating and deciding on matters of communal interest across economic, social, cultural, and technical sectors.^[12] It also elects thebourgmestre (mayor) anddeputy mayor throughindirect suffrage and oversees the implementation of policies and programs executed by the commune's executive branch.^[12]

TheCollège Exécutif Communal, led by thebourgmestre and assisted by the deputy mayor, acts as the executive organ responsible for the daily administration of the commune.^[12] It also includes twoéchevins communaux (aldermen), appointed based on competence, credibility, and community representation. This body executes decisions adopted by the council and manages local governance under the broader authority of theGovernor of Kinshasa.^[12]

Administratively, Ngaliema is divided into 21quartiers (neighborhoods), which are further subdivided into avenues.^[3] The size and layout of thesequartiers vary, with planned urbanquartiers generally following a formal grid pattern, while semi-urban or informal areas tend to be larger and form part of Kinshasa'surban sprawl.^[12] Eachquartier is managed by a local administration composed of achef de quartier (neighborhood chief), deputy, secretary, population officer, and a team of enumerators (agents recenseurs). These officials are appointed by the Governor of Kinshasa.^[12]

Source: Report from the Commune of Ngaliema (2009)^[7]

Avenue Ma Campagne is a street located in the northeast of Ngaliema

Ngaliema serves as aresidential andindustrial hub within Kinshasa, characterized by a mix of upscalequartiers (neighborhoods) and industrial zones. The commune is home to members of the upperbourgeoisie and high-income earners, which makes it one of the city's more affluent areas.^[7] Many of itsquartiers aremixed-use, where factories coexist alongside well-developed residential areas, connected by a network of paved roads.^[7] However, the commune also bears traces of unregulatedurban expansion, especially in the aftermath ofCongolese independence in 1960. Spontaneous settlements emerged in areas unsuitable for construction, such as hillsides, wetlands, and flood zones, often in violation of urban planning laws.^[7] This disorderly urbanization was driven by several factors, including the sudden exodus of colonial administrators, unauthorized land sales by traditional chiefs and local officials, the instability of the post-independence civil war, and rapidrural-to-urban migration.^[7] The resultinghousing crisis accelerated the creation ofinformal settlements such as Kinsuka Pêcheursquartier.^[7]

Gravel trade along Avenue du Tourisme in Ngaliema

In addition to its residential and industrial functions, Ngaliema contributes to Kinshasa'surban agriculture through its involvement in the Green Belt and Presidential Valleys (Ceintures Vertes et Vallées Présidentielles; CVVP) program, launched in 1972 as part of a broader governmental initiative to promotefood security andurban horticulture.^[7] This initiative sought to develop productive agricultural zones around Kinshasa, including areas within Ngaliema.^[7] The Lukunga site, located in the Lukungaquartier, became a focal point formarket gardening activities in the commune.^[7] The program was supported by French cooperation and institutionalized through the establishment of CECOMAF (Centre de Coopération Maraîchère de Kinshasa), an organization tasked withland management, infrastructure oversight, and the dissemination of modern agricultural techniques.^[7] Although CECOMAF faced limitations in product commercialization, it facilitated the organization of over 8,000 market gardeners into 12 cooperatives.^[7] These cooperatives focus primarily on cultivating fast-growing crops, such asamaranth (biteku-teku),sweet potato leaves (matembele),roselle (ngai-ngai),spinach, andchives, which are staples in the diet of Kinshasa residents.^[7]

SimsChapel, located on Avenue de l'Avenir in the Basoko quartier (neighborhood) of Ngaliema, is the firstChristian building ever constructed in the city.

Saint-Léopoldcatholic parish in Ngaliema

Ngaliema is the most ancient and historically significant commune in the city. As the site whereWelsh-American explorerHenry Morton Stanley first established an encampment that later evolved into modern-day Kinshasa, Ngaliema features several heritage landmarks and scenic locations, with its strategic position along theCongo River offering visitors panoramic views ofNgaliema Bay and the Kinsuka Rapids.^[13]

The commune is home to several significant cultural and historical attractions. Among these landmarks are Sims Chapel (1891), established by Reverend Aaron Sims of theAmerican Baptist Foreign Mission Society and considered the firstChristian structure in Kinshasa;^[13][14] the Saint-Léopoldcatholic parish, founded in 1899; and theInstitute of National Museums of Congo, which preserves and exhibits national artifacts and historical collections.^[13]

TheThéâtre de la Verdure in 1974

TheMarble Palace, originally a guest residence duringMobutu Sese Seko's regime and later the official presidential residence underLaurent-Désiré Kabila, is located within the commune.^[15][16][17] Nearby is theColonel Tshatshi Military Camp, a military complex housing theMinistry of Defense and the jointChief of Staff of theArmed Forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (FARDC), as well as aRepublican Guardmilitary hospital.^[18] Adjacent to the camp is the traditional presidential residence, situated onMount Ngaliema (formerlyMount Stanley during the colonial era) initially used as the residence of the governor of the formerLéopoldville.^{[19][20][21][22]} FollowingCongolese independence in 1960, the site became the residence of the Republic's first president,Joseph Kasa-Vubu. In 1966, under President Mobutu, the site was renamedMont Ngaliema and redeveloped as aParc Présidentiel (Presidential Park), with landscaping and garden designs by the Franco-Tunisian architectOlivier-Clément Cacoub.^[19][23] The park was adorned with statues of historical figures such asLeopold II of Belgium andHenry Morton Stanley, and featured theThéâtre de la Verdure, an open-airamphitheater modeled on classicalGreco-Roman designs, completed in 1970.^[19] The presidential palace and surrounding complex were subject to extensive looting in 1997, following the collapse of the Mobutu regime during theFirst Congo War.^[19][24] Ngaliema also contains theAfrican Union City, a complex established in September 1967 to host heads of state attending theOrganization of African Unity (OAU) summit held in Kinshasa.^{[24][25][26][27]}

African Union City

Other notable sites include the Cimetière des Pionniers (Pioneers' Cemetery) and remnants of colonial infrastructure such as the original shipyard and port, as well as the Kintambo-Magasins commercial center.^[13][28][29]

Ngaliema is home to theterminus of an old caravan route and communal buildings, which were originally constructed in 1930 as the first hospital for Europeans in the region.^[13] The commune also showcases artisanalcraftsmanship through furniture workshops usingkekeleliana, along with natural attractions known as the Symphonies Naturelles.^[13]

Ngaliema has experienced significant demographic growth over the past two decades. In 2005, the population was estimated at 518,821 inhabitants, increasing to 555,770 by 2008.^[30]

In 2009, Ngaliema's population was distributed across its 21quartiers (neighborhoods), with notable variations in size and density. The most populousquartiers included Binza-Pigeon (39,197), Bumba (38,435), Lukunga (35,720), and Manenga (31,802), each surpassing 30,000 inhabitants and representing key centers of urban concentration.^[7] Other sizeablequartiers include Monganga (28,185), Musey (28,608), Ngomba Kikusa (27,542), and Lonzo (24,475). Mid-sizedquartiers included Anciens Combattants (22,686), Punda (20,386), Congo (19,591), and Djelo Binza (17,618), with populations ranging between 15,000 and 23,000.^[7] Basoko (8,342), Kinkenda (4,166), Mama-Yemo (3,569), Mfinda (3,837), Kinsuka Pêcheur (2,690), and Lubudi (2,344) represented the least populatedquartiers, with the smallest being Joli Parc, which had only 1,859 residents.^[7]

Source: Report from the Commune of Ngaliema (2009)^[7]

By 2015, the number of residents had risen sharply to an estimated 2,025,942, making Ngaliema one of the most densely populated and rapidly growing communes in the capital.^[2]

The commune is linguistically diverse, withLingala serving as the most widely spoken language in daily communication and urban life.^[31]French, theofficial language of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, is used in administration, education, and formal settings.Tshiluba andKikongo are also commonly spoken among communities originating from other regions of the country.^[31]

Religious affiliation in Ngaliema is marked by a mix of traditionalChristian denominations and newer revivalist movements. The principal faith communities include theRoman Catholic Church,Protestant churches, and theKimbanguist Church.^[31] In recent decades, however,revival or "églises de réveil" (born-again churches) have gained widespread popularity, attracting large followings despite the longstanding presence of traditional churches.^[31]

Ngaliema is home to a wide array of educational institutions, ranging frompreschool touniversity level. Among its notable schools is theAmerican School of Kinshasa (TASOK), one of the leadinginternational schools in the country, and the publicUniversité Pédagogique Nationale, the DRC's firstpedagogical university.^[32][33][34] Other private institutions include the Ecole Internationale Bilingue le Cartésien and the Groupe Scolaire Aurore-Matanelo, the latter of which operates campuses in Ngaliema andLimete, offeringprimary,secondary, andhumanities education.^[34][35] The commune also hosts several public and religious institutions, including the Bobokoli Institute, entrusted to theMarist Brothers, which was initially established as aprimary school but expanded to secondary education in 1973.^[36][37] Although itsliterature section was transferred toCollège Boboto shortly thereafter, the institute specialized in thesciences and, over time, introduced specialized streams such asmathematics andphysics for both boys and girls.^[36]

Other significant establishments include the Lycée Tobongisa,^[38][39][40] Complexe Scolaire Mafuta,^[41][42] Collège Don Bosco de Lukunga,^[43][44] and Collège Saint Cyprien primary school.^[45] The commune also hosts the Institut Technique Professionnel Ngaliema (ITP), which traces its roots back to 1920, when it was founded as a vocational school. It later evolved into the Centre de Spécialisation Professionnelle (CSP) before being restructured as ITP in 2000.^[46][47][48]

TheFrench Embassy in the Democratic Republic of the Congo is located in the northern part of the commune, at 1 Colonel Mondjiba Avenue, in the Basokoquartier, near the border withGombe.^[49]

The Lebanese Embassy is located in the Joli Parcquartier, Ma Campagne, at 19 Joli Parc Avenue.^[50]

Wikimedia Commons has media related toNgaliema.

• Binza Rotary Club
• Pictures of the gardens of the Mont Nagliema palace
• Map of Kinshasa (2001)
• Map of Léopoldville (1954)

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• Ngaliema

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