Kinshasa (commune)

Kinshasa is a commune of the city-province of Kinshasa, located in the Lukunga District in the western part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Situated in the northern section of the capital, the commune covers an area of 2.9 square kilometers and had an estimated population of 453,632 as of 2015. It is bordered to the north by Kinshasa Zoological Garden, to the south by Kalamu via Funa Avenue, to the east by Lingwala via Oil Mill Avenue, and to the west by Barumbu via Luambo Makiadi Avenue. The major thoroughfare, Boulevard du 30 Juin, and the neighboring commune of Gombe lie just to its north.

Initially developed as part of the indigenous city (cités indigènes) in the early 20th century, the Kinshasa commune was officially established by decree-law on 26 March 1957. Its current boundaries were defined by ministerial decree No. 69-0042 of 23 January 1969, and its administrative structure is governed by Law No. 082-008 of 25 February 1982, which outlines the status of the city-province of Kinshasa. The municipal headquarters is located at the intersection of Kambambare and Kasa-Vubu avenues, near Stade Cardinal Malula and Salle Mongita. The commune is divided into seven quartiers: Madimba, Ngabka, Mongala, Aketi, Djalo, Pende, and Boyoma. It hosts several significant institutions of the city of Kinshasa.