List of renamed places in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

This is a list of place names of towns and cities in the Democratic Republic of the Congo which were subsequently changed after the end of Belgian colonial rule. Place names of the colonial era tended to have two versions, one in French and one in Dutch, reflecting the two main languages of Belgium. Many of these place names were chosen after local geography or eponymous colonial figures.

Map of the Belgian Congo, 1914

Many of the place name changes occurred under the authenticité programme in the 1960s and 1970s during the dictatorship of Mobutu Sese Seko. In some cases, the names had genuine pre-colonial usage or had already been used unofficially during the colonial period. Mobutu also changed the country's name from Congo to Zaire. Today, European speakers of both French and Dutch use the modern Congolese place names.

Towns and cities

Kinshasa, formerly known as Léopoldville or Leopoldstad

Lubumbashi, formerly known as Élisabethville or Elisabethstad

Kisangani, formerly known as Stanleyville or Stanleystad

Mbandaka, formerly Coquilhatville or Cocquilhatstad

Current Name Former name in French Former name in Dutch Former Namesake Aketi Aketi Port-Chaltin Aketi-Chaltinhaven Named in honour of Louis-Napoléon Chaltin, a colonial military officer of the Congo Free State. Bandundu Banningville Banningstad Named in honour of Émile Banning, influential Belgian civil servant and confidant of Leopold II Boteka Flandria Flanders, a region in Belgium Bukavu Costermansville Costermansstad Named in honour of Paul Costermans, colonial administrator in the Free State, in 1927 Djokupunda Charlesville Charlesstad Gombe (Kinshasa) Kalina Named in honour of E. Kalina, an Austrian soldier who died in 1883. Ilebo Port-Francqui Francquihaven Named in honour of Émile Francqui, businessman and philanthropist Isiro Paulis Named in honour of Albert Paulis Kalemie Albertville Albertstad Named in honour of King Albert I Kananga Luluabourg Luluaburg Named after the nearby Lulua river Kasa-Vubu (Kinshasa) Dendale Kikwit Poto-Poto Kindu Kindu Port-Émpain Kindu Empain-Haven Named in honour of Edouard Empain, Belgian industrialist Kinshasa Léopoldville Leopoldstad Named in honour of King Leopold II, King-Sovereign of the Congo Free State Kirungu Baudouinville Boudewijnstad Named in honour of Prince Baudouin, nephew (and intended successor) of Leopold II Kisangani Stanleyville Stanleystad Named in honour of Henry Morton Stanley, explorer Kwilu Ngongo Moerbeke Named after the Belgian hometown of Maurice Lippens, a major investor in the local sugar industry Likasi Jadotville Jadotstad Named in honour of Jean Jadot, businessman and industrialist Lingwala (Kinshasa) Saint-Jean Named after St John the Apostle Lubao Sentery Lubumbashi Élisabethville Elisabethstad Named in honour of Queen Elisabeth Lufu-Toto Cattier Named in honour of Félicien Cattier, businessman Luila Wolter Lokandu Riba-Riba Lokutu Elisabetha Named in honour of Queen Elisabeth Lusanga Leverville Leverstad Named after William Lever, British businessman and co-founder of Lever Brothers which owned a local subsidiary, Huileries du Congo Belge (HCB), which produced palm kernels. Makanza Nouvelle-Anvers Nieuw Antwerpen Named after the Belgian port city of Antwerp Makiso Stanley Named in honour of Henry Morton Stanley, explorer and namesake of Stanleyville Mapangu Brabanta Named after Brabant in Belgium Matonge (Kinshasa) Renkin Named in honour of Jules Renkin, Belgian politician, Colonial Minister (1908–18) and later Prime Minister (1931–32) Mbandaka Coquilhatville Cocquilhatstad Named in honour of Camille Coquilhat, colonial administrator and town's founder. Mbanza-Ngungu Thysville Thysstad Named in honour of Albert Thys, Belgian colonist and businessman Mobayi-Mbongo Banzyville Banzystad Mbuji-Mayi Bakwanga Ngaliema (Kinshasa) Stanley Named in honour of Henry Morton Stanley, explorer Nsiamfumu Vista Nzoro Vankerckhovenville Vankerckhovenstad Named in honour of Belgian explorer Willem Frans Van Kerckhoven Tshilundu Mérode Named after the House of Mérode Ubundu Ponthierville Ponthierstad Named in honour of the Pierre Ponthier, colonial soldier

Landmarks and geographic terms

Pool Malebo, formerly Stanley Pool

Current Name Former name in French Former name in Dutch Former Namesake Boyoma Falls Stanley Falls Stanleywatervallen Named in honour of Henry Morton Stanley, explorer Lake Mai-Ndombe Lac Léopold II Leopold II Meer Named in honour of King Leopold II, King-Sovereign of the Congo Free State Pool Malebo Stanley Pool Named in honour of Henry Morton Stanley, explorer Mayombe Crystal Virunga National Park Parc Albert Albert Park Named in honour of King Albert I

See also

• Authenticité (Zaire)
• Belgian colonial empire
• Mount Stanley