Équateur
Province de l'Équateur (
French) | |
---|---|
Country | DR Congo |
Established | 2015 |
Named for | The Equator |
Capital | Mbandaka |
Government | |
• Governor | Bobo Boloko Bolumbu [1] |
Area | |
• Total | 103,902 km2 (40,117 sq mi) |
• Rank | 11th |
Population (2020 est.) | |
• Total | 1,856,000 |
• Rank | 22nd |
• Density | 18/km2 (46/sq mi) |
Demonym | Equatorian |
Time zone | UTC+1 ( WAT) |
License Plate Code | CGO / 03 |
Official language | French |
National language | Lingala |
Équateur is one of the 21 new provinces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo created in the 2015 repartitioning. Équateur, Mongala, Nord-Ubangi, Sud-Ubangi, and Tshuapa provinces are the result of the dismemberment of the former Équateur province. [2] The new province was formed from the Équateur district and the independently administered city of Mbandaka which retained its status as a provincial capital.
The 2020 population was estimated to be 1,856,000. [3]
The province of Équateur created in 1917 was much larger than today. Over time it went through a number of border and name changes. Under Article 2 of the 2006 Constitution it was to assume its current boundaries, [4] but administratively they were not finalized until 2015.
The province consists of eight administrative subdivisions, one of which is the provincial capital, Mbandaka; and seven of which are territories: [5] [6]