Lusambo

Lusambo
Lusambo
Coordinates: 4°58′22″S 23°26′12″E / 4.972912°S 23.436756°E / -4.972912; 23.436756Coordinates: 4°58′22″S 23°26′12″E / 4.972912°S 23.436756°E / -4.972912; 23.436756
Country Democratic Republic of the Congo
Province Kasai-Oriental
District Sankuru

Lusambo is a town and territory in the Sankuru district of the Kasai-Oriental province, Democratic Republic of the Congo. The town lies north of the confluence of the Sankuru River and the Lubi River.[1][2][3] Lusambo is served by Lusambo Airport.

In 1890 Lusambo was chosen by Paul Le Marinel as the main Belgian base in the Kasai region to defend against the threat of Arab or Swahili traders in slaves and ivory who were encroaching from the east. The station would soon become one of the most important military posts of the Congo Free State with a permanent staff of seventeen whites, six hundred native soldiers and four artillery pieces.[4]

In 1999 there were claims that U.S. mercenaries were operating rebel artillery and communications equipment in Lusambo during the Second Congo War. [5]

References

  1. ↑ National Geographic Atlas of the World: Revised Sixth Edition, National Geographic Society, 1992
  2. ↑ www.maplandia.com
  3. ↑ www.geonames.org
  4. ↑ De Coster, Pieter (1997). "Biografie van Paul Le Marinel". De eerste Europese ontdekkingsreizen in Katanga 1797-1897 (in Dutch).
  5. ↑ www.independent.co.uk


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