Province of Équateur

This article is about the present-day province of the DRC. For the former province, see Équateur (former province).

Équateur is one of the 21 newest provinces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo created by the 2015 repartitioning. The provinces of Équateur, Mongala, Nord-Ubangi, Sud-Ubangi, and Tshuapa are the result of the division of the former Équateur province.^[2] The current province was formed from the Équateur district and the independently administered city of Mbandaka which retained its status as a provincial capital.

Équateur Province de l'Équateur (French)
Province
Basankusu Cathedral
Country	DR Congo
Established	2015 (2015)
Named after	The Equator
Capital	Mbandaka
Government
• Governor	Bobo Boloko[1]
Area
• Total	103,902 km2 (40,117 sq mi)
• Rank	11th
Population  (2020 est.)
• Total	1,856,000
• Rank	22nd
• Density	18/km2 (46/sq mi)
Demonym	Equatorian
Ethnic groups
• Native	AnaMongo, Pygmies, Ngombe, Bangi, BaLoi
Time zone	UTC+1 (WAT)
License Plate Code	CGO / 03
Official language	French
National language	Lingala

The 2020 population was estimated to be 1,856,000.^[3]

History

Main article: Équateur (former province) § History

The province of Équateur created in 1917 was much larger than today. Over time it went through a number of border and name changes. Under Article 2 of the 2006 Constitution it was to assume its current boundaries,^[4] but administratively they were not finalized until 2015.

Administrative divisions

The province consists of eight administrative subdivisions, one of which is the provincial capital, Mbandaka; and seven of which are territories:^[5][6]

1. Bikoro Territory (Bukoro Territory) with the town of Bikoro
2. Lukolela Territory with the town of Lukolela
3. Basankusu Territory with the town of Basankusu
4. Makanza Territory with the town of Makanza
5. Bolomba Territory with the town of Bolomba
6. Bomongo Territory with the town of Bomongo
7. Ingende Territory with the town of Ingende

See also

• Bolenge