How much do you know about the Democratic Republic of Congo?

The Democratic Republic of Congo is the second-largest country in Africa and is tremendously diverse! When CLI chooses to launch a new Leadership Institute site, each community has a different make-up and may have different needs. One of the greatest parts of our curriculum is that it is completely portable and can be adopted by any community. We invite you to come take a look at the diversity of the Congo.

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Kinshasa

  • Population of 7,785,965 people

  • 14th most populous city in the world

  • The demographics include four of the most populous tribes - Mongo, Luba, Kongo (all Bantu), and the Mangbetu-Azande (Hamitic). They make up about 45 percent of the population.

  • Fun fact: Kinshasa faces Brazzaville, the capital of the Republic of the Congo. They are the world's second-closest pair of capital cities after Rome and Vatican City.

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Kikwit

  • Population of 186,991 people

  • The city of Kikwit produces palm oil and kernels, cassava, peanuts (groundnuts), and corn (maize) has replaced rubber as the economic base of the region’s agriculture.

  • It is the biggest city in the province, Bandundu

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Butembo

  • Population of 154,621

  • Butembo is 90% populated by the Nande tribe.

  • This region is known to produce coffee and tea.

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Beni

  • Population of 232,000 people

  • Beni contains four communes, or municipalities: Beni, Bungulu, Ruwenzori and Muhekera.

  • A mixture of tribes and migrants from other countries, the rural areas in the town’s environs, such as Kamango, Kakuka, Mukoko, Parikingi, Abiolos, Eringeti, Mbau and Mavivi, are almost entirely inhabited by Nande.

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Goma

  • Population of 1 million

  • Soaring above the city of Goma and the surrounding Virunga National Park is Nyiragongo, an active volcano. 

  • The Virunga National Park is home to endangered mountain gorillas.

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Uvira (two sites)

  • Population of 170,391 people

  • Uvira is the 2nd biggest city in South Kivu

  • At the Kalundu you can travel by boat to Kalemie in Katanga Province, Kigoma in Tanzania, Pulungu in Zambia and Bujumbura, the capital of Burundi.

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Baraka (a very small town in South Kivu)

  • Estimated population of 120,000 people

  • The name of the city, Baraka, means "blessing" in Swahili

  • The town borders shores of Lake Tanganyika


Although many of these cities and towns are geographically, politically and demographically different, the Congo Leadership Initiative’s leadership program is designed to work at every one of our programming sites. Help support our cause today. We can’t do it without you!


Nathaniel Houghton