The Cité de l'Union Africaine (City of the African Union) or Cité de l'OUA (City of OAU) is a governmental complex situated in the Ngaliema commune of Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). It is strategically located near Mont Ngaliema and serves as a venue for diplomatic and governmental functions.[1][2][3][4]
| Cité de l'Union Africaine | |
|---|---|
 Nicolas Kazadi, Luc-Gérard Nyafé, and Félix Tshisekedi inside Cité de l'OUA in 2019 | |
 | |
| General information | |
| Town or city | Ngaliema, Kinshasa |
| Country | Democratic Republic of the Congo |
| Current tenants | Félix Tshisekedi, President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo |
| Construction started | 1967 |
| Completed | September 1967 |
The complex was commissioned by President Mobutu Sese Seko in 1967 when Kinshasa hosted the heads of state summit of the Organization of African Unity (OAU).[5][6][4][7] Since then, it has served as the sanctum sanctorum for guests of the Congolese Head of State, as well as for the government's meetings and international summits held in Kinshasa.[5][3][4]
History
editThe establishment of the complex can be traced back to December of 1966 when President Mobutu extended an invitation to the Heads of State and governments across Africa, inviting them to the 1967 Assembly in Kinshasa, a convocation designed to showcase their support for the Congo and fortify his position domestically and internationally.[6][5][8] On 9 February, Boubacar Diallo Telli, the Guinean Secretary-General of the OAU, officially announced that Kinshasa had been chosen as the venue for the year's Assembly after thirty of the OAU member states had accepted the Congolese invitation, well over the two-thirds majority of the total membership of thirty-eight required as a quorum.[6][5] The OAU City complex was constructed to accommodate participating Heads of State.[8][6] Lumumba Boulevard, the city's arterial thoroughfare, was electrified to N'Djili International Airport.[8] On September 14, 1967, despite Ivorian President Félix Houphouët-Boigny's boycott, 36 countries and 15 heads of state attended.[8][6] The summit occurred amidst the eastern Congo political crisis and the Nigerian Civil War, sparking rumors about relocating the OAU permanent establishment to Kinshasa, which Boubacar Diallo Telli later scotched.[6]
In 2009, the OAU City complex was rehabilitated by the China Railway Engineering Corporation (CREC) under President Joseph Kabila's administration, in anticipation of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) summit, which was held in Kinshasa the following September.[9] The summit was attended by several African leaders, including Seretse Khama Ian Khama, Pakalitha Mosisili, Armando Emílio Guebuza, Hifikepunye Pohamba, Jacob Zuma, Mswati III, Rupiah B. Banda, Robert Mugabe, Antonio Paulo Kassoma, Eta Banda, Bernard Membe, Arvin Boolell, Patrick Pillay, Ketumile Masire, and Joaquim Alberto Chissano.[10][11]
In 2010, the OAU City complex experienced another phase of rehabilitation during the celebrations commemorating the fiftieth anniversary of Congolese Independence Day.[12] This period saw the erection of over forty villas, a hospital clinic, and several administrative edifices, all of which are stringently secured by the Republican Guard.[12]
Félix Tshisekedi was inaugurated as President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo on January 25, 2019, and he has taken up residence at the Cité de l'Union Africaine.[4][2]
References
edit- ^ Etinga, Stéphane (November 16, 2005). "Congo-Kinshasa: La cité de l'Union africaine menacée par les érosions". Allafrica.com (in French). Retrieved 2023-09-05.
- ^ a b Rédaction, La (2019-01-28). "Félix Tshisekedi s'installe dans "une modeste" villa à la cité de l'UA". Politico.cd (in French). Retrieved 2023-08-30.
- ^ a b Mukaya, Mookie (2019-01-28). "RDC: la Cité de l'UA, résidence provisoire du nouveau Chef de l'Etat F. Tshisekedi". congoprofond.net (in French). Retrieved 2023-09-05.
- ^ a b c d "Le Président Félix Tshisekedi installé à la cité de l'UA". www.mediacongo.net (in French). January 28, 2019. Retrieved 2023-09-05.
- ^ a b c d Decraene, Philippe (1967-10-01). "A Kinshasa les dirigeants de l'O.U.A. ont réaffirmé leur solidarité". Le Monde diplomatique (in French). Retrieved 2023-09-05.
- ^ a b c d e f Nagel, R.; Rathbone, R. (1967). "The OAU at Kinshasa". The World Today. 23 (11): 473–483. ISSN 0043-9134.
- ^ Morice, Florence (2019-01-27). "RDC: où loger le nouveau président de la République congolaise F. Tshisekedi ?". RFI (in French). Retrieved 2023-09-05.
- ^ a b c d Mobateli, Angelo (2021-02-08). "Sommet de l'OUA à Kinshasa en 1967 : les Chefs d'État réaffirment leur solidarité". Congo Réformes (in French). Retrieved 2023-09-05.
- ^ Malu, Mask (July 24, 2009). "Le Président Joseph Kabila visite les travaux de réhabilitation de grandes artères de la ville de Kinshasa" [President Joseph Kabila visits the rehabilitation works of major arteries in the city of Kinshasa]. cd.china-embassy.gov.cn (in French). Retrieved 2023-09-07.
- ^ "Communique of the 29th Summit of SADC Head of State and Government - Madagascar | ReliefWeb". reliefweb.int. 2009-09-10. Retrieved 2023-09-07.
- ^ "SADC summit on Zimbabwe still an option - S.Africa". Reuters. 2009-09-09. Retrieved 2023-09-07.
- ^ a b "XIVe sommet de la Francophonie: la préparation des lieux d'hébergement et de travail se poursuit" [XIVth Francophonie Summit: preparation of accommodation and work locations continues]. Radio Okapi (in French). Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo. March 21, 2012. Retrieved 2024-05-27.