Kwilu Province

Kwilu is a province of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It is one of the 21 provinces created in the 2015 repartitioning. Kwilu, Kwango, and Mai-Ndombe provinces are the result of the dismemberment of the former Bandundu province.^[2] Kwilu was formed from the Kwilu district and the independently administered cities of Bandundu and Kikwit. Bandundu is the provincial capital.^[3] The 2024 population was estimated to be 6,898,105.^[4]

Kwilu Province du Kwilu (French) Kizunga Kikwit (Kikongo)
Province
Province du Kwilu
The Congolian forest–savanna mosaic
Seal
Coordinates: 5°2′S 18°49′E
Country	DR Congo
Established	2015 (2015)
Named after	Kwilu River
Capital	Bandundu
Largest city	Kikwit
Government
• Governor	Philippe Akamituna[1]
Area
• Total	78,219 km2 (30,201 sq mi)
Population  (2024)
• Total	6,898,105
• Density	88/km2 (230/sq mi)
Ethnic groups
• Native	BaYanzi, BaSuku, Dzing, Kwese, BaSonde, AMbuun, BaPende, BaLunda
Time zone	UTC+1 (WAT)
License Plate Code	CGO / 12
Official language	French
National language	Kikongo ya leta
Website	https://kwiluprovince.com/

The province takes its name from the Kwilu River, which crosses it from the southeast to the northwest.

Administrative areas

Towns and territories are:

• Bagata
• Bulungu
• Gungu
• Idiofa
• Mangai
• Masi-Manimba

History

Kwilu was administered as a province from 1962 to 1966. However, in 1964 the administration was taken over by the central government due to a rebellion in southwestern Congo. A rebel administration under Pierre Mulele ran most of Kwilu province from January 1964.^[5] The province was reconquered by the legal government in June 1965. The provincial government was restored on January 18, 1966, but the province was merged with Kwango District and Mai-Ndombe District to create Bandundu Province.

President

• 8 Sep 1962 – 18 Jan 1964 Norbert Leta
• Jan 1964 – Nov 1964 Pierre Mulele (b. 1929 – d. 1968)
  • (commander-in-chief and Head of the General Direction)

Governor

• 18 Jan 1966 – 25 Apr 1966 Henri-Désiré Takizala

Between 1966 and 2015, Kwilu was administered as a district as part of Bandundu Province.