Bukavu
Bukavu | |
|---|---|
Provincial capital andcity | |
| Ville de Bukavu | |
 Bukavu, September 2020 | |
  Bukavu Location in the Democratic Republic of the Congo | |
| Coordinates:2°30′S28°52′E/ 2.500°S 28.867°E | |
| Country |  DR Congo |
| Province | South Kivu |
| Founded | 1901 |
| City status | 1958 |
| Communes | Bagira,Ibanda,Kadutu |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Zénon Karumba[2] |
| Area | |
| • City | 45 km2(17 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 1,498 m (4,915 ft) |
| Population (2016) | |
| • City | 870,954[1] |
| • Density | 19,355/km2(50,130/sq mi) |
| •Urban | 1,133,000 |
| Time zone | UTC+2(Central Africa Time) |
| Climate | Aw |
Bukavuis acityin easternDemocratic Republic of the Congo(DRC), lying at the extreme south-western edge ofLake Kivu,west ofCyanguguinRwanda,and separated from it by the outlet of theRuzizi River.It is the capital of theSouth Kivu Provinceand as of 2012 it had an estimated population of 806,940.
In 2021 it has an estimated urban population of 1,133,000.[3]
History[edit]
Bukavu is part of the ancient territory ofBushi Kingdom,an ethnic group of South-Kivu. It was governed by a "Muluzi" Nyalukemba, when the first Arabs arrived. They were traders and often trafficked in enslaved Africans; they were influential in much of Africa.
Near the end of the 19th century, Europeans entered Bushi, and theCongo Free Stateattempted to colonize the large territory. 'Muluzi' or 'Baluzi' in the plural means 'the nobleman' or 'nobility' to Shi. Before the Europeans came in Bushi Kingdom, Bukavu was called "Rusozi". The name Bukavu comes from the transformation of word 'bu 'nkafu ' (farm of cows) in Mashi, the language of Bashi.[citation needed]
Bukavu was established in 1901 by the Congo Free State which became theBelgian Congoin 1908.[4]Originally named Bukavu, it was named "Costermansville"(in French) or"Costermansstad"(in Dutch) in 1927, after Vice Governor-GeneralPaul Costermans.In 1953, the name was changed back to Bukavu. It had a prominent European population under colonial rule.[5]They were attracted by the subtropical climate (Lake Kivu is 1,500 metres above sea level) and scenic location (Bukavu is built on five peninsulas and has been described as "a green hand, dipped in the lake" ). Many colonial villas have gardens sloping down to the lakeshore.
By contrast, the main residential district for ordinary people, Kadutu, climbs up the hillside inland. The surrounding hills reach a height of 2,000 metres. Formerly anadministrative centrefor the whole of theKivuregion, the town lost some of its status as a result of the growth ofGomaand the late 20th century wars that erupted in the Congo following the 1994Rwandan Genocide.
Following those massacres,Huturefugees and many members of the former Hutu-led government fled Rwanda, contributing to theGreat Lakes refugee crisis.The refugee camps around Goma and Bukavu became a center of Hutu insurgency from the camps against the newWatutsigovernment ofRwanda.
In November 1996, at the start of theFirst Congo War,Rwandan government forces attacked the Hutu camps and forces of theZairegovernment, which had allowed the insurgency. The Rwandan government supported rebels in Zaire led byLaurent Kabila,who overthrew the Kinshasa government with their help. Later, the Rwandan government fell out with the rebels, which lead to theSecond Congo War.Rwanda supported the rebelRally for Congolese Democracy(RCD) against Kabila. Bukavu and the rest of Sud-Kivu was the site of sporadic fighting between rebels and government forces and their proxies, including theMayi-Mayi,especially in 1998 and 2004.
On June 3, 2004, protestors in several Congolese cities took to the streets to demonstrate against theUnited Nationsfor failing to prevent Bukavu from falling to Rwandan-backed RCD forces led byGeneral Nkunda.[6]About 16,000 women were raped on a single weekend after General Nkunda told his troops "This city is yours for three days."[7]Nkunda was later persuaded to fall in line with the peace accords which ended the war and re-integrate his troops with the Congolese government forces. In September 2007 he rebelled again and started attacking government troops north of Goma.
During the2015 South Kivu earthquake,at least one policeman was killed.
The city was damaged by the2022 Bukavu floods.[8]
Geography[edit]
Although not threatened by volcanoes asGomais, Bukavu is equally in danger from a potentiallimnic eruptionfrom Lake Kivu, in which vast quantities of dissolved carbon dioxide and methane could explode from the lake and threaten the lives of the 2 million people who live near the lake.[9]
Climate[edit]
Köppen-Geiger climate classification systemclassifies Bukavu's climate astropical savanna(Aw), although it is milder than most climates of its type due to high altitude. Bukavu sees very warm days and pleasant nights year round.
| Climate data for Bukavu (1952–1959) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 29.0 (84.2) |
30.1 (86.2) |
29.1 (84.4) |
28.5 (83.3) |
27.7 (81.9) |
28.6 (83.5) |
29.2 (84.6) |
31.4 (88.5) |
31.8 (89.2) |
30.2 (86.4) |
28.7 (83.7) |
28.4 (83.1) |
31.8 (89.2) |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 25.4 (77.7) |
25.3 (77.5) |
25.3 (77.5) |
24.9 (76.8) |
24.9 (76.8) |
25.4 (77.7) |
26.1 (79.0) |
27.1 (80.8) |
26.5 (79.7) |
25.4 (77.7) |
24.8 (76.6) |
24.7 (76.5) |
25.5 (77.9) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | 20.4 (68.7) |
20.4 (68.7) |
20.4 (68.7) |
20.2 (68.4) |
20.3 (68.5) |
20.1 (68.2) |
20.0 (68.0) |
20.9 (69.6) |
21.0 (69.8) |
20.5 (68.9) |
20.1 (68.2) |
20.4 (68.7) |
20.4 (68.7) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 15.4 (59.7) |
15.4 (59.7) |
15.4 (59.7) |
15.6 (60.1) |
15.7 (60.3) |
14.8 (58.6) |
13.8 (56.8) |
14.7 (58.5) |
15.4 (59.7) |
15.6 (60.1) |
15.4 (59.7) |
15.4 (59.7) |
15.2 (59.4) |
| Record low °C (°F) | 12.4 (54.3) |
13.2 (55.8) |
12.7 (54.9) |
12.7 (54.9) |
13.2 (55.8) |
13.2 (55.8) |
12.4 (54.3) |
10.7 (51.3) |
12.2 (54.0) |
13.3 (55.9) |
13.2 (55.8) |
13.1 (55.6) |
10.7 (51.3) |
| Averageprecipitationmm (inches) | 118 (4.6) |
132 (5.2) |
183 (7.2) |
148 (5.8) |
74 (2.9) |
20 (0.8) |
13 (0.5) |
56 (2.2) |
103 (4.1) |
144 (5.7) |
179 (7.0) |
147 (5.8) |
1,317 (51.8) |
| Average precipitation days(≥ 0.1 mm) | 20 | 19 | 24 | 24 | 14 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 14 | 19 | 24 | 23 | 193 |
| Averagerelative humidity(%) | 83 | 84 | 85 | 86 | 86 | 81 | 75 | 68 | 74 | 80 | 83 | 84 | 81 |
| Mean monthlysunshine hours | 151.9 | 135.6 | 148.8 | 147.0 | 161.2 | 216.0 | 241.8 | 223.2 | 180.0 | 155.0 | 135.0 | 130.2 | 2,025.7 |
| Percentpossible sunshine | 40 | 40 | 40 | 41 | 44 | 61 | 66 | 60 | 50 | 41 | 37 | 35 | 46 |
| Source: DWD[10] | |||||||||||||
Architecture[edit]
The city has over 100art decobuildings which were constructed during Belgian colonial rule and proposals have been made to preserve these so that the city can be a tourist attraction for architecture enthusiasts.[11]
Transport[edit]
Bukavu is an important transport hub and gateway to eastern DR Congo, but as a result of the wars the road network has deteriorated and highways to Goma, Kisangani and other towns have not been fully restored. As with Goma, close proximity to the paved road network ofEast Africaand the functioning eastern section of theTrans-African Highway to Mombasamay allow a faster recovery than other Congolese towns. Bukavu's proximity to theLake Tanganyikaports ofBujumburaandKalundu-Uviragive it an additional advantage, with access on the lake to therailheadsofKigoma(linked toDar es Salaam) andKalemie(rail link toKatanga,in need of rehabilitation). Isolation, largely due to bad road infrastructure, has been found to be an important determinant of wealth and/or development in South Kivu.[12]
Bukavu has numerous lakesidewharvesand boat transport is used extensively in the Congolese waters of the lake in the absence of well maintained roads.
Kavumu Airport(ICAO code: FZMA, IATA code: BKY) located about 30 kilometres north is the domestic airport for Bukavu. This airport has not been renovated for many years.
Education[edit]
There are many schools and universities present in Bukavu. The city also is known to be one that gives good education in D. R. Congo.[citation needed]
Université Catholique de Bukavu,Université Évangélique en Afrique.TheOfficial University of Bukavuwas founded in 1993.[citation needed]
Parks[edit]
Kahuzi-Biéga National Park,aWorld Heritage Siteand one of two homes of theeastern lowland gorilla,is close to the city and can be reached from the road to Kavumu. The park headquarters at Tshivanga is located 31 km from Bukavu.
Places of worship[edit]
Among theplaces of worship,they are predominantlyChristianchurches and temples:Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Bukavu(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).[13]The city also counts a few mosques.
Medical care[edit]
The city is home to thePanzi Hospital.Founded by the Swedish Pentecostal Mission in 1921, its directorDenis Mukwegeoperates on women who survive sexual violence, and is one of two doctors in the eastern Congo qualified to perform a reconstructive surgery.[14]
Panzi Hospital is a teaching hospital of the Evangelical University in Africa. Bukavu is also home to the Catholic University of Bukavu's School of Medicine and General Reference teaching hospital. The pharmaceutical factory Pharmakina owned by a German immigrant and a French immigrant produces the antimalarial drugquinineand the genericAIDSmedicamentAfri-vir.Pharmakina also runs an AIDS diagnostic and treatment center.[15]With 740 employees and about 1000 free-lance workers. After Great Lake Plantations SARL, which is Congo's only modern tea manufacturing company, Pharmakina is the largest employer in town.[16]
Social issues[edit]
Women continue to face major problems of violence in the wake of war in the eastern DRC.Fondation Chireziin August 2007 launched a project based in Bukavu for women's trauma healing and care.
Another NGO launched a program to help women affected by Violence in Panzi next to Fondation Panzi called V-Day.[17]
After the repeated wars in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo, the number of people wounded by the war and living with disabilities has increased considerably. A national non-profit association calledCongo Handicapwas created in 2004 in Bukavu to support people living with disabilities. It provides comprehensive care for this segment of the population, including people living with disabilities who were raped during the war.[18]
Notable residents[edit]
- Caddy Adzuba
- Cor Akim
- Alexis Brimeyer
- Jean-Marie Bulambo Kilosho
- Marcellin Cishambo
- Amini Cishugi
- Vital Kamerhe
- Jeannette Kavira Mapera
- Solange Lusiku Nsimire
- Solange Lwashiga Furaha
- Yolande Mabika
- Saïd Makasi
- Léon Mamboleo[19]
- François-Xavier Maroy
- Popole Misenga
- Louis Muderhwa
- Denis Mukwege
- Francine Muyumba
- Douce Namwezi N'Ibamba
- Mwezé Ngangura
- Kakengwa Pikinini
- Raoul Shungu
- Stephanos of Tallinn
- Jean van de Velde (director)
References[edit]
- ^https:// caid.cd/index.php/donnees-par-villes/ville-de-bukavu/?domaine=fiche
- ^Bashige, Héritier (11 January 2023)."Bukavu: la page Bilubi tournée, le nouveau Maire prend ses fonctions".La Prunelle RDC(in French).Retrieved11 January2023.
- ^abPopulationStat
- ^John Everett-Heath,The Concise Dictionary of World Place Names,Oxford University Press, USA, 2017
- ^Britannica,Bukavu,britannica, USA, accessed on July 7, 2019
- ^"Global WitnessUnder-Mining Peace – The Explosive Trade in Cassiterite in Eastern DRC"(PDF).Archived fromthe original(PDF)on 2008-02-27.Retrieved2007-12-24.
- ^Schwabe, Alexander (2006-05-16)."Kongo: Berserker von Bukavu torpediert die Wahlen".Spiegel Online.Retrieved2017-09-17.
- ^Powerful flood waters swept away cars and dumped them into Lake Kivu Bukavu Congo,retrieved2022-04-12
- ^"Killer Lakes." BBC Two Thursday 4 April 2002, summarised at bbc.co.uk.
- ^"Klimatafel von Bukavu, Region Kivu / Dem. Rep. Kongo (ehemalig: Zaire)"(PDF).Deutscher Wetterdienst.RetrievedJanuary 29,2023.
- ^"Bukavu, Africa's forgotten art deco jewel".The Independent.2013-03-20.Retrieved2022-11-09.
- ^Ulimwengu, J., Funes, J., Headey, D. and You, L. 2009. Paving the way for development? The impact of transport infrastructure on agricultural production and poverty reduction in the Democratic Republic of Congo, IFPRI Discussion Paper 00944, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), Washington DC, USA. 48 pp.[1]
- ^J. Gordon Melton, Martin Baumann,Religions of the World: A Comprehensive Encyclopedia of Beliefs and Practices,ABC-CLIO, USA, 2010, p. 777
- ^Stephanie Nolen (Spring 2005).""Not Women Anymore…": The Congo's rape survivors face pain, shame and AIDS ".Ms.Archived fromthe originalon 2016-10-31.Retrieved2011-12-04.
It took Thérèse Mwandeko a year to save the money... She walked with balled-up fabric clenched between her thighs, to soak up blood that had been oozing from her vagina for two years, since she had been gang-raped by Rwandan militia soldiers who plundered her village in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Finally, she arrived at Panzi Hospital... Dr. Denis Mukwege, Panzi's sole gynecologist and one of two doctors in the eastern Congo who can perform such reconstructive surgeries, can repair only five women a week.
- ^"Das Parlament – Publication of the German Bundestag".Archived fromthe originalon June 29, 2007.
- ^Grill, Bartholomäus (July 14, 2005)."afrika: Kongos kleines Wirtschaftswunder"– via Die Zeit.
- ^"Why Congo? - City of Joy".City of Joy.Retrieved2017-09-16.
- ^"CONGO HANDICAP — Handiplanet".handiplanet-echanges.info.
- ^Cp, Rédaction (April 22, 2019)."RDC/Portrait: Qui est Léon Mamboleo, président provisoire du sénat congolais?".
Sources[edit]
- Diallo, Siradiou (1975).Le Zaire aujourd'hui.Editions Jeune Afrique.ISBN2-85258-021-7.
- UN Department for Humanitarian Affairs, Inter-Regional Information Network briefingsIRIN
Bibliography[edit]
External links[edit]
- "Detailed Map of Bukavu"(PDF).Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo: GIS Unit MONUC (United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo). 25 August 2003. Archived fromthe original(PDF)on 13 October 2007.
- Map"Bukavu, Sud-Kivu, Congo-Kinshasa"(PDF).Reférential Geographique Commun, République Démocratique du Congo. 21 December 2012.[permanent dead link]
- (in French)Worldwide Bukavu Community Website
- (in German)Spiegel-Online article
- (in French)Panzi Hospital of Bukavu
- 3tamis - website of Bukavu and its area
- Pictures of Bukavu, previously Costermansville
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