Likouala is a department of the Republic of the Congo in the northern part of the country. It borders the departments of Cuvette and Sangha, and internationally, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Central African Republic. The region has an area of 66,044 km² and an estimated population of almost 360,000.[2] The chief town is Impfondo. Principal cities and towns include Epena and Dongou.
Likouala | |
|---|---|
 Likouala, department of the Republic of the Congo | |
| Country | Republic of the Congo |
| Capital | Impfondo |
| Area | |
| • Total | 66,044 km2 (25,500 sq mi) |
| Population (2023 census) | |
| • Total | 355,570 |
| • Density | 5.4/km2 (14/sq mi) |
| HDI (2018) | 0.527[1] low · 7th of 12 |
History
editThe earliest inhabitants of the region were the Aka people, a Pygmy tribe. During the Bantu expansion, they were pushed into the forests by newcomers.[3]
Historically, this department was cut off from part of Lobaye, an area of the Central African Republic.[citation needed]
Between 1984 and 2002 the population of Likouala Department more than tripled, due in large part to inflows of refugees from the Central African Republic, Rwanda, and the DRC. During this period, refugees made up more than half of the population, mostly concentrated in Impfondo and Betou.
Administrative divisions
edit
Likouala Department is divided into seven districts:
Districts
editGeography
editLikouala is almost covered with dense and often flooded forests of lakes and very full of fish ponds. Its ground is argillaceous and sandy by places. The north of the department belongs to the mountainous Massif Oubanguien.[4] The shallow Lac Tele is 5 km across and circular in shape.
Climate
editLikouala has a tropical climate. The dry season is from March to July, the remainder of the year being dominated by the rainy season. The variations in temperatures are in general important (24° to 25°C).[4]
Demography
editThe populations of Likouala would have come from North, the South, the East and the West. The Pygmies are regarded as the first occupants of this ground. The department counts many Rwandan, Central African refugees today and of Congo-Kinshasa.[4]
Forestry
editSix forest units of installation (UFA) are in the course of exploitation by several companies, of which Processing industry of the wood of Likouala (ITBL) and Likouala-Timber. Likouala currently occupies the first place in the production of wood of Congo.[4]
Rivers and fisheries
editThe department has an important hydraulic network. The principal rivers are Oubangui, Likouala-aux-herbes, Libenga and Motaba. Fishing is practised in these rivers in an artisanal way. According to FAO, its halieutic potential is evaluated with 100.000 tons per annum.[4]
Agriculture
editAgriculture is of traditional type. The principal food crops are the manioc, the banana, the taros; as well as products of gathering. One also produces the coffee, the cocoa and the palm oil. The crop year of last year yielded 1500 tons of cocoa. This production is falling because of the irregularity of the marketing of the products and the closing of the principal company which ensured the marketing of the cocoa in the department, Congo Otto-Export.[4]
Transport
editGeographic insulation is a handicap. Transport is very limited; the river port and the airport are the only access routes.[4]
Districts
editThe department counts seven districts. The administrations are badly equipped and lack executives and personnel. Each of the seven districts corresponds to the basins of the region's principal rivers. The districts of Liranga, Impfondo and Bétou comprised the villages located on right bank of the rivers Congo and Oubangui. The district of Dongou gathers the villages of the basin of Motaba. The district of Enyellé corresponds to the basin of Libenga and its confluence with Oubangui, to the border with the Central African Republic. The basin of Likouala-aux-herbes is divided by the district of Epena to the north and that of Bouanela in the south.[4]
Towns and cities
editThe regional capital is Impfondo. Other towns include Ancien Sandjala, Boyelle, Dongou, Ibenga, Kitadi, Mabelou, Makasa, Makengo,[5] Mongouala, and Motaba.
Wildlife and conservation
editThe region is undergoing a campaign to minimise hunting and reduce the impact of logging due to the establishment of nature reserves in the region.
The forest of Likouala abounds in animal species such as elephants, gorillas and chimpanzees. Likouala is home to, among other animals, the dwarf crocodile Osteolaemus tetraspis osborni.[6] [7][8]
Mythological creatures
editReports of a surviving sauropod called the Mokele Mbembe or n'yamala emanate from here.
Bibliography
edit- O'Hanlon, R: No Mercy: a journey to the heart of the Congo
References
edit- ^ "Sub-national HDI - Area Database - Global Data Lab". hdi.globaldatalab.org. Retrieved 2018-09-13.
- ^ "Congo (Rep.): Departments, Major Cities & Urban Localities - Population Statistics, Maps, Charts, Weather and Web Information". www.citypopulation.de. Retrieved 2024-01-16.
- ^ NDINGA MBO, Abraham Constant (2010). "LES PRELUDES HISTORIQUES : GENESES, MIGRATIONS, INSTALLATION DES PEUPLES". In Obenga, Theophile (ed.). HISTOIRE GÉNÉRALE DU CONGO DES ORIGINES À NOS JOURS I. Méthodologie historique Genèse du Congo (in French). L'Harmattan. pp. 141–143.
- ^ a b c d e f g h "Google Translate". congo-site.com.
- ^ "Makengo, Congo, Republic of the - Geographical Names, map, geographic coordinates". Geographical Names. Retrieved 14 June 2018.
- ^ "African Dwarf Crocodiles in the Likouala Swamp Forests of the Congo Basin: Habitat, Density, and Nesting". apt.allenpress.com. Archived from the original on 25 June 2007. Retrieved 2 February 2022.
- ^ "WCS-Congo: Conservation Strategies: Wildlife Law Enforcement: Law Enforcement Patrol Strategies". Archived from the original on 2007-09-30. Retrieved 2006-12-31.
- ^ "NRIC: Project Record". Archived from the original on 2007-09-28. Retrieved 2006-12-31.