Inverse asked him about how the city is changing, and how Citilinks, other firms, and the floundering government can brace itself for a populous, demanding future. [36] The Belgian development agency (Coopération technique belge; CTB) since 2006 sponsors the Programme d’Appui aux Initiatives de Développement Communautaire (Paideco), a 6-million-euro program aimed at economic development. The current urban infrastructure, rail and road systems, is inherited from the 1960s and the spatial growth of the city was mostly informal and oriented to the east along the Lumumba Avenue, which is in the axis of the Congo River. [57] By some accounts, crime in Kinshasa is not so rampant, due to relatively good relations among residents and perhaps to the severity with which even petty crime is punished. Under the Köppen climate classification, Kinshasa has a tropical wet and dry climate (Aw). The quartier Matonge is known regionally for its nightlife. Du Jeudi 11 Mai 2017 au Samedi 10 Juin 2017 à la Salle d’exposition de l’Institut Français de Kinshasa, Entrée libre. This is in contrast to African cities further north featuring this climate where the dry season typically begins around December. Nadine Siegert was there as the curator of the exhibition Kinshasa 2050.. Achille Mbembe says that to see the future, the world must look to Africa. Are you sure you want to delete this comment? A pop culture ideal type in Kinshasa is the mikiliste, a fashionable person with money who has traveled to Europe. How do they improve on what is currently in place? Kinshasa is the home to much of the Congo's intelligentsia, including a political class which developed during the Mobutu era. The city has recently[when?] The port, called 'Le Beach Ngobila' extends for about 7 km (4 mi) along the river, comprising scores of quays and jetties with hundreds of boats and barges tied up. [30] Each commune has its own Bourgmestre. The pluridisciplinary artists who present their works are: Vernissage: May 11, 2017, 6:30 pm [14] In 2017, the most recent population estimate for the city, it has a population of 11,855,000. According to Congolese sources , an agreement with a Chinese construction company was signed in 2006, according to which this Chinese company will finance the renovation of the track, the rolling stock, the communication channels the signaling and the electrical energy, the ex -ONATRA has, in fact, opted for an aggressive commercial policy to revive the rail. Read the original article on Business Insider UK. Please continue to respect all commenters and create constructive debates. In 1914, a pipeline was installed so that crude oil could be transported from Matadi to the upriver steamers in Leopoldville. The indigenous people of the area include the Humbu [fr] and Teke. Guangzhou, China has recently proven that it can have the same capacity as a metro. The Congolese military intelligence organization, Détection Militaire des Activités Anti-Patrie (DEMIAP) operates the Ouagadougou prison in Kintambo commune with notorious cruelty. It will be an immense “rurban” rural-urban young city with a major challenge of education. 57,862,345. Less than a year after Lumumba's election, the Belgians and the U.S. bought the support of his Congolese rivals and set in motion the events that culminated in Lumumba's assassination. Houses and apartments in the central area are expensive, with houses selling for a million dollars and apartments going for $5000 per month. We’ve successfully received An architect and urban planner, Goethals co-founded Citilinks, an international design partnership currently working in the city. Many float on barges down the Congo River.[24]. The line connecting the port of Matadi to Kinshasa is 366 km long. Opening hours: Tuesday-Saturday, 9 am – 1 pm and 2 pm – 6 pm, Goethe Institut/Institute Francais, 33, Avenue de la Gombe, Kinshasa An average of ten international flights depart each day from N'djili Airport. [44], Kinshasa has a flourishing music scene which since the 1960s has operated under the patronage of the city's elite. KINSHASA 2050 : DIGITAL CITY ? Aurélie Fontaine, "Housing: Kinshasa is for the rich”; Jonny Hong, "Gang crime threatens the future of Congo's capital". Most of the media uses French and Lingala to a large extent; very few use the other national languages. [29], The head of Kinshasa ville-province has the title of Gouverneur. In 1966, Léopoldville was renamed Kinshasa, for a village named Kinshasa that once stood near the site, today Kinshasa (commune). This being the height of the Cold War, the U.S. and Belgium did not want to lose control of the strategic wealth of the Congo, in particular its uranium. Since 1991, Monkole Hospital is operating as a non-profit health institution collaborating with the Health Department as district hospital in Kinshasa. Due to the sheer scale of this comment community, we are not able to give each post the same level of attention, but we have preserved this area in the interests of open debate. [24], In 2005, 55% of households had televisions and 43% had mobile phones. The river is an important source of hydroelectric power, and downstream from Kinshasa it has the potential to generate power equivalent to the usage of roughly half of Africa's population. Mumbai is predicted to have a population of over 42m by the middle of the century, These will be the world's 10 biggest cities in 2050, Philip Hammond and Mark Carney are in China to secure £1 billion of trade deals, • Facebook admits that social media can be bad for you, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo: 35m people, You may not agree with our views, or other users’, but please respond to them respectfully, Swearing, personal abuse, racism, sexism, homophobia and other discriminatory or inciteful language is not acceptable, Do not impersonate other users or reveal private information about third parties, We reserve the right to delete inappropriate posts and ban offending users without notification. Research estimates Lagos, Nigeria will be world's most populous place by 2100. In 2010/2011, Citilinks made the Urban Mobility Plan of Kinshasa and proposed a Multimodal Transport Oriented Development adapted to Kinshasa. But that’s already happening now. The city is situated alongside the Congo River. After gaining its independence on 30 June 1960, following riots in 1959, the Republic of the Congo elected its first prime minister, Patrice Lumumba. Kinshasa is the major river port of the Congo. 102. 11% had refrigerators and 5% had cars. Kinshasa is the largest officially Francophone city in the world[26][27][28] although Lingala is widely used as a spoken language. It describes many of the new neighborhoods as slums, built in unsafe conditions with inadequate infrastructure. to get the latest stories from Want an ad-free experience?Subscribe to Independent Premium. Kinshasa 2050 : Digital city ? The Boulevard du 30 Juin (Boulevard of 30 June) links the main areas of the central district of the city. Kinshasa, the capital of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, is the third largest city in Africa and home to over 10 million people. The city grew rapidly under Mobutu, drawing people from across the country who came in search of their fortunes or to escape ethnic strife elsewhere, thus adding to the many ethnicities and languages already found there. Gated communities and shopping malls, built with foreign capital and technical expertise, began to appear in 2006. What does Kinshasa need to do to address these problems? The Matadi–Kinshasa Railway connects Kinshasa with Matadi, Congo's Atlantic port. [3] It is also the world's largest Francophone urban area (surpassing Paris in population), with French being the language of government, schools, newspapers, public services, and high-end commerce in the city, while Lingala is used as a lingua franca in the street. He initiated a policy of "Authenticity" the names of people and places in the country. Benin City, Nigeria. Seven Congolese artists present their newest works, seven visions of Kinshasa in 2050. This prison houses more than double its nominal capacity of 1,000 inmates. The human population is growing at an alarming rate. Goethe Institut/Institute Francais, Kinshasa, Congo, Democratic Republic Of The 11 May 2017 - 10 Jun 2017. [14], Although political power in the DRC is fragmented, Kinshasa as the national capital represents the official center of sovereignty, and thus of access to international organizations and financing, and of political powers such as the right to issue passports. [22] Since then, all estimates are extrapolations. In 2016 the UN placed more peacekeepers on active duty in Kinshasa in response to the recent unrest against Kabila. Pluridisciplinaires, l’exposition présente Pour cette éd [61] Of the estimated 20,000 children living on Kinshasa's streets, almost a quarter are beggars, some are street vendors and about a third have some kind of employment. In response to it, there are many affordable housing projects proposed everywhere, but no general plan to integrate them in a suitable urban development strategy. Kinshasa, the capital of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, is the third largest city in Africa and home to over 10 million people. (Kalamu), Kin. The official language of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, of which Kinshasa is the capital, is French (See: Kinshasa French vocabulary). The Mission Française d'Urbanisme drew up some plans in the 1960s which envisioned a greater role for automobile transportation but did not predict the city's significant population growth. Most new jobs are classified as informal. Its lengthy rainy season spans from October through May, with a relatively short dry season, between June and September. [14] The quality of roads has improved somewhat, developed in part with loans from China, since 2000. Emizet Francois Kisangani, Scott F. Bobb, "China, People's Republic of, Relations with"; Bill Freund, "City and Nation in an African Context: National Identity in Kinshasa”; Andy Morgan, "The scratch orchestra of Kinshasa", J. Gordon Melton, Martin Baumann, ‘‘Religions of the World: A Comprehensive Encyclopedia of Beliefs and Practices’’, ABC-CLIO, USA, 2010, p. 777. Joseph Kabila, president of the Democratic Republic of the Congo from 2001-2019, was not overly popular in Kinshasa. Le développement numérique de la ville de Kinshasa à l’horizon 2050 est au centre d’une exposition à l’Institut français de Kinshasa. [9] By 1923, the city was elevated to capital of the Belgian Congo, replacing the town of Boma in the Congo estuary. Today, Tokyo is the most populous city in the world, with about 38m residents. [14], The People's Republic of China has been heavily involved in the Congo since the 1970s, when they financed the construction of the Palais du Peuple and backed the government against rebels in the Shaba war. Kinshasa lies south of the equator, so its dry season begins around its winter solstice, which is in June. Independent Premium Comments can be posted by members of our membership scheme, Independent Premium. How will it need to adapt? Kinshasa is home to several media outlets, including radio and television stations, including state-run Radio-Télévision nationale congolaise (RTNC) and privately run Digital Congo and Raga TV. Some scholars predict that, by 2050, the city’s population could skyrocket to 30 million. Adrien Mombele, a.k.a. The post flourished as the first navigable port on the Congo River above Livingstone Falls, a series of rapids over 300 kilometres (190 miles) below Leopoldville. It began work in Kimbanseke, a hill commune with population verging on one million.[37]. Nadine Siegert was there as the curator of the exhibition Kinshasa 2050.. Achille Mbembe says that to see the future, the world must look to Africa. We’ve successfully received It is located along the south bank of the Congo River, downstream on the Pool Malebo[14] and directly opposite the city of Brazzaville, capital of the Republic of the Congo. By 2050, there will be almost 10 billion people on the planet. Goethe Institut/Institute Francais, Kinshasa, Congo, Democratic Republic Of The 11 May 2017 - 10 Jun 2017. All Rights Reserved. The city is also home to three large universities and an arts school: In 2005, 93% of children over six attended school and 70% of people over 15 were literate in French. In the 2010s, street children or "Shegués", often orphaned, are subject to abuse by the police and military. An interdisciplinary festival in the Congo capital invited artists to explore the digital future of Kinshasa. Our journalists will try to respond by joining the threads when they can to create a true meeting of independent Premium. An interdisciplinary festival in the Congo capital invited artists to explore the digital future of Kinshasa. The city was colonized as a trading post by Henry Morton Stanley in 1881. [9] The town, nicknamed "Léo" or "Leopold", became a commercial centre and grew rapidly during the colonial period. Alright, now it’s 2050. [11], While the military and National Police operate their own jails in Kinshasa, the main detention facility under the jurisdiction of the local courts is the Kinshasa Penitentiary and Re-education center in Malaka. the US ambassador to the UN,[33] have accused the peacekeeping mission of supporting a corrupt government. Congo) entre 1995 et 2005 par télédétection satellitaire à haute résolution, "DemographiaWorld Urban Areas – 13th Annual Edition", "Sub-national HDI - Area Database - Global Data Lab", "Kinshasa – national capital, Democratic Republic of the Congo", "Patrice Lumumba: the most important assassination of the 20th century", DR Congo election: 17 dead in anti-Kabila protests, Congo A 'Powder Keg' As Security Forces Crack Down On Whistling Demonstrators, Kinshasa 2005. [9] Kinshasa suffered greatly from Mobutu's excesses, mass corruption, nepotism and the civil war that led to his downfall. I think that real-time information on smartphones is a potential revolution in the African urban context. © 2018. There are no rail links from Kinshasa further inland, and road connections to much of the rest of the country are few and in poor condition. In the meantime, Citilinks proposes to build self-sufficient communities oriented to the circular economy, which can assimilate to Cradle-to-Cradle design. delivered straight to your inbox. According to the Commercial Corporation of Transport and Ports (SCTP), the Matadi-Kinshasa Railway (CFMK) has the highest transport of goods in import, 8 746 tonnes in January, 11,318 tonnes in February 10,032 tonnes in March, 7,244 tonnes in April, 5,024 tonnes in March and 7,745 tonnes in June. Is it a utopian future in which the digital revolution helps people to communicate better and more easily? • May tackles new Brexit Rebellion• Philip Hammond and Mark Carney are in China to secure £1 billion of trade deals• Facebook admits that social media can be bad for you. There are many other industries, such as Trust Merchant Bank, located in the heart of the city. Africa's third largest city is preparing for a population bomb to go off. Some scholars predict that, by 2050, the city’s population could skyrocket to 30 million, more than Cairo but less than teaming Lagos, which has the marked advantage of not being in the middle of a jungle. The Congo River is the second longest river in Africa after the Nile, and has the continent's greatest discharge. (Lingwala), Ng.-Ng. What is urgently needed now is a strategic and comprehensive plan for the city that integrate the planning of mixed-used neighborhoods and communities with a multimodal transport system adapted to local populations needs. Exposition/films/débats/slam idées 11-13 mai 2017. Notable features of the city include the Gecamines Commercial Building (formerly SOZACOM) and Hotel Memling skyscrapers; L'ONATRA, the impressive building of the Ministry of Transport; the central market; the Tour de l'Echangeur. had to fend off rioting soldiers, who were protesting the government's failure to pay them. According to a projection (2016) the population of metropolitan Kinshasa will increase significantly, to 35 million by 2050, 58 million by 2075 and 83 million by 2100,[25]making it one of the largest metropolitan areas in the world. [16], Urban planning in post-independence Kinshasa has not been extensive. The east-west road network linking the more distant neighborhoods is weak and thus transit through much of the city is difficult. Of these, 3,600–4,600 escaped in a jailbreak in May 2017.[59][60]. Gentiny Ngobila has been governor since 2019. [47], The state-controlled Agence Congolaise de Presse news agency is based in Kinshasa, as well as several daily and weekly newspapers and news websites, including L'Avenir (daily), La Conscience, LeCongolais (online),L'Observateur (daily), Le Phare, Le Potentiel, and Le Soft.[48]. [2][11] Older parts of the city were laid out on a geometric pattern, with de facto racial segregation becoming de jure in 1929 as the European and African neighborhoods grew closer together. Seven Congolese artists present their newest works, seven visions of Kinshasa in 2050. Kinshasa, the capital of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, is the third largest city in Africa and home to over 10 million people. [11] La Sape, a linked cultural trend also described as dandyism, involves wearing flamboyant clothing. Stervos Niarcos, and musician Papa Wemba, were early exemplars of the mikiliste style. [11], The public bus company for Kinshasa, created in 2003, is Transco (Transport au Congo).[51]. Performance and sustainability of decentralized water services in the outskirts of Kinshasa", Kinshasa, megalopolis of 12 million souls, expanding furiously on super-charged growth, "Population predictions for the world's largest cities in the 21st century", "Populations of 150 Largest Cities in the World", "Kinshasa : la lutte contre l'insécurité et l'insalubrité, priorités de Gentiny Ngobila", UN beefs up peacekeeping force in DR Congo capital, US Ambassador: UN Aiding 'Corrupt' Government in Congo, Lutte Foncière dans la Ville: Gouvernance de la terre agricole urbaine à Kinshasa, Les Défis de l’Intervention: Programme d'aide internationale et dynamiques de gouvernance locale dans le Kinshasa périurbain, Is the Democratic Republic of Congo being Globalized by China? on Facebook. [38], Although home to only 13% of the DRC's population, Kinshasa accounts for 85% of the Congolese economy as measured by gross domestic product. Sept artistes congolais présenteront au travers de sept œuvres inédites, sept visions de Kinshasa en 2050, sept projections de ce que sera l’homme, la ville, la création et la vie dans cette citée. [18] Maluku, the rural commune to the east of the urban area, accounts for 79% of the 9.965 km2 total land area of the city-province,[5] with a population of 200,000–300,000. [citation needed], There are twenty hospitals in Kinshasa, plus various medical centres and polyclinics.[43]. Among the places of worship, which are predominantly Christian churches and temples: Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Kinshasa (Catholic Church), Kimbanguist Church, Baptist Community of Congo (Baptist World Alliance), Baptist Community of the Congo River (Baptist World Alliance), Assemblies of God, Province of the Anglican Church of the Congo (Anglican Communion), Presbyterian Community in Congo (World Communion of Reformed Churches). Organisés par le Goethe-Institut et l'Institut français à Kinshasa. Seven Congolese artists present their newest works, seven visions of Kinshasa in 2050. Please be respectful when making a comment and adhere to our Community Guidelines. Among the poor, more than half of this spending goes to food, especially bread and cereal.[14]. Kinshasa is home to the country's national stadium, the Stade des Martyrs (Stadium of the Martyrs). But what does this future look like? Kinshasa (/ k ɪ n ˈ ʃ ɑː s ə /; French: ; Lingala: Kinsásá), formerly Léopoldville (Dutch: Leopoldstad), is the capital and the largest city of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.The city is situated alongside the Congo River.. Once a site of fishing and trading villages, Kinshasa is now a megacity with a population of about 16 million. Once these self-sufficient communities are connected to each other thanks to multimodal public transport, the urban economy can start to grow and innovate, connect itself as well to the industrial activities (basic products transformation, etc.). [40], Mean household spending in 2005 was the equivalent of US$2,150, amounting to $1 per day per person. [23], According to UN-Habitat, 390,000 people immigrate to Kinshasa annually, fleeing warfare and seeking economic opportunity. Goethe Institut/Institute Francais, Kinshasa, Congo, Democratic Republic Of The11 May 2017 - 10 Jun 2017. Food processing is a major industry, and construction and other service industries also play a significant role in the economy. [56] Another source cites a homicide rate of 12.3 per 100,000. Les ambivalences de l’expression politique des Shégués de Kinshasa”; Subdivisions of the DR Congo § Territorial organization, provinces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Province of the Anglican Church of the Congo, Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Learn how and when to remove this template message, "Projections demographiques 2019-25 (in French)", Cartographie de la croissance urbaine de Kinshasa (R.D. Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo. Kinshasa (/kɪnˈʃɑːsə/; French: [kinʃasa]; Lingala: Kinsásá), formerly Léopoldville (Dutch: Leopoldstad), is the capital and the largest city of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. In 2025, 60 percent of the 17 million people will be under 18 years old. Thus much of the urban structure has developed without guidance from a master plan. Directed by Pr Léon Tshilolo, paediatrician and haematologist, Monkole Hospital opened a 150-bed building in 2012 with improved clinical services as laboratory, diagnostic radiology, intensive care, neonatal unit, family medicine, emergencies unit and a larger surgical area. Opening hours: Tuesday-Saturday, 9 am – 1 pm and 2 pm – 6 pm, Goethe Institut/Institute Francais, 33, Avenue de la Gombe, Kinshasa, Sign up to our newsletter now Residents of Kinshasa are known as Kinois (in French and sometimes in English) or Kinshasans (English). The size of Kinshasa will have become critical and urbanization in DRC should be more balanced in the country. [11][50] The high prices leave incoming refugees with few options for settlement besides illegal shantytowns such as Pakadjuma. Prins van Luikschool Kinshasa (primary education, This page was last edited on 25 September 2020, at 03:22. The most insightful comments on all subjects will be published daily in dedicated articles. Hilary Kuyangiko Balu ‚Cybernkisi ou Nganganaut’ Installation, Image courtesy of Goethe Institut Kinshasa. As part of the community of engineers and architects looking at how the DRC, a perpetual cautionary tale, can develop or adapt its infrastructure, Goethals makes it his business to see his adopted city for what it could be rather than what it is. Urban renewal projects have led in some cases to violent conflict and displacement. Seven Congolese artists present their newest works, seven visions of Kinshasa in 2050. Big manufacturing companies such as Marsavco S.A., All Pack Industries and Angel Cosmetics are located in the centre of town (Gombe) in Kinshasa. [14] The communes are grouped into four districts which are not in themselves administrative divisions. N'Dolo Airport, located close to the city centre, is used for domestic flights only with small turboprop aircraft. In the 1990s, a rebel uprising began, which, by 1997, had brought down the regime of Mobutu. Artists and designers were called upon to grapple with these questions. India, which is widely expected to be the most populous country in the world with more than 1.5 billion people by 2050, has seen its urban population double in 30 years, to nearly 600 million. The fast urbanizing area at the eastern part of the city concentrates a growing population of around 5 million people with no suitable access to jobs, road infrastructure and energy. Ferries cross the river to Brazzaville, a distance of about 4 km (2 mi). L exposé de M. Paluku portait sur : « Kinshasa 2050, la révolution industrielle : enjeux et défis ». Create a commenting name to join the debate, There are no Independent Premium comments yet - be the first to add your thoughts, There are no comments yet - be the first to add your thoughts. delivered straight to your inbox. (Kinshasa), K.-V. (Kasa-Vubu), Ling. Dojos are popular and their owners influential.[11]. Il y a certains préalables. None of the 10 most populous cities in the world are in Africa and only two (Sao Paulo and Mexico City) are in Latin America. The completion of the Matadi-Kinshasa portage railway, in 1898, provided an alternative route around the rapids and sparked the rapid development of Léopoldville. The median household spending was $1,555, 66 cents per person per day. [17] Nevertheless spontaneously developed areas have in many cases extended the grid street plan of the original city.[14]. [46] There are also Muslim mosques. Their creative projections show what human beings, the city and life in the city could look like in the future. [49] The electrical network is in disrepair to the extent that prolonged and periodic blackouts are normal, and exposed lines sometimes electrify pools of rainwater. [11] The Orchestre Symphonique Kimbanguiste, formed in 1994, began using improved musical instruments and has since grown in means and reputation.[45]. In the long term, this BRT system will connect the eastern slums to new development along the Congo River in order in limit the pressure on the existing CBD. Other roads also converge on Gombe. The Global Cities Institute projects that Kinshasa, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, will be the most populous city in the world by 2075 and that by 2100, it … Background", Kinshasa: a travers le centre ville, May 2015, Provinces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha, An unrecognised or partially-recognised nation, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Kinshasa&oldid=980188280, Democratic Republic of the Congo–Republic of the Congo border crossings, Pages with non-numeric formatnum arguments, Short description is different from Wikidata, Pages using infobox settlement with possible nickname list, Articles containing Lingala-language text, All articles with vague or ambiguous time, Vague or ambiguous time from January 2018, Articles with unsourced statements from May 2020, Articles needing additional references from April 2020, All articles needing additional references, Wikipedia articles with MusicBrainz area identifiers, Wikipedia articles with WorldCat identifiers, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, Institut Supérieur d'Architecture et Urbanisme, Institut Supérieur de Publicité et Médias. 101. Once a site of fishing and trading villages, Kinshasa is now a megacity with a population of about 16 million. Urban agriculture should be integrated in the planning and not rejected by planning. Sept artistes congolais présenteront au travers de sept œuvres inédites, sept visions de Kinshasa en 2050, sept projections de ce que sera l’homme, la ville, la création et la vie dans cette citée. Beside its political functions and its informal economy, Kinshasa needs some smart and green urban industrialization using its unique location along the Congo River. What role will artists play in these processes of thinking and creating the future? your details. People of the same class, however, speak the Congolese languages (Kikongo, Lingala, Tshiluba or Swahili) among themselves. [5], Kinshasa is Africa's third-largest urban area after Cairo and Lagos. Street Children in the Democratic Republic of Congo: IV. In January some 284 tonnes of goods were exported from the ports of Boma and Matadi, via the railway, and 711 tonnes in February, then 1,058 tonnes in March, 684 tonnes in April, 818 tonnes in May and 853 tonnes in June. Can you briefly describe some of the urban infrastructure and design in place in Kinshasa right now? An interdisciplinary festival in the Congo capital invited artists to explore the digital future of Kinshasa. By 2050, there will be almost 10bn people on the planet. Hilary Kuyangiko Balu ‚Cybernkisi ou Nganganaut’ Installation, Image courtesy of Goethe Institut Kinshasa. [6] Kinshasa hosted the 14th Francophonie Summit in October 2012.[7]. Kinshasa (/ k ɪ n ˈ ʃ ɑː s ə /; French: ; Lingala: Kinsásá), formerly Léopoldville (Dutch: Leopoldstad), is the capital and the largest city of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.The city is situated alongside the Congo River.. Once a site of fishing and trading villages, Kinshasa is now a megacity with a population of about 16 million. The BBC is also available in Kinshasa on 92.6 FM. The exhibition "Kinshasa 2050" also showed digital works. Several international airlines serve Ndjili Airport including Kenya Airways, South African Airways, Ethiopian Airlines, Brussels Airlines, Air France and Turkish Airlines. [55], Some sources say that Kinshasa is extremely dangerous, with one source giving a homicide rate of 112 per 100,000 people per year. In 2007–2008 China and Congo signed an agreement for an $8.5 billion loan for infrastructure development. Trente ans après la publication de l’Atlas de Kinshasa, "Giant dam projects aim to transform African power supplies", Commission Électorale Nationale Indépendante, "La Cartographie Electorale des 26 Provinces—Kinshasa", "KINSHASA, DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO", "Building commons to cope with chaotic urbanization? Follow Business Insider UK on Twitter.