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Kwilu
| |
|---|---|
| Province du Kwilu | |
| Coordinates: 5°2′S 18°49′E / 5.033°S 18.817°E | |
| Country | |
| Established | 2015 |
| Named for | Kwilu River |
| Capital | Bandundu |
| Largest city | Kikwit |
| Government | |
| • Governor | Willy Itsundala Asang[1] |
| Area | |
• Total | 78,219 km2 (30,201 sq mi) |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 6,682,300 |
| • Density | 85/km2 (220/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+1 (WAT) |
| License Plate Code | |
| Official language | French |
| National language | Kikongo ya leta |
| Website | https://kwiluprovince.com/ |
Kwilu is a province of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It's 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 2020 population was estimated to be 6,682,300.[4]
The province takes its name from the Kwilu River, which crosses it from the southeast to the northwest.
Towns and territories are:
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
Governor
Between 1966 and 2015, Kwilu was administered as a district as part of Bandundu Province.