Kasai-Occidental

Kasai-Occidental is a former province of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It was created in 1966 by the division of the former Kasai Province into Kasai-Occidental and Kasai-Oriental. The province's capital was Kananga, formerly known as Luluabourg.

Geography

Kasai-Occidental was located in the south-central part of the country and was bordered by five other provinces. To the north was Bandundu Province, to the east was Kasai-Oriental, to the south was Katanga Province, and to the west were Bas-Congo and Kinshasa provinces.

History

The history of Kasai-Occidental is marked by the Congo Crisis of the 1960s, a period of political upheaval and conflict that followed the independence of the Democratic Republic of the Congo from Belgium. The province was the site of the Stanleyville mutinies, a series of rebellions by the Congolese army.

In 2015, as part of a reorganization of the country's administrative divisions, Kasai-Occidental was split into two new provinces: Kasai Province and Kwilu Province.

Economy

The economy of Kasai-Occidental was largely based on agriculture, with significant production of cassava, maize, sweet potatoes, and palm oil. The province was also known for its diamond mining industry.

Health

Healthcare in Kasai-Occidental, as in much of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, faced significant challenges. These included a lack of infrastructure, insufficient funding, and a high burden of diseases such as malaria, HIV/AIDS, and tuberculosis.

See also

• Provinces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo
• History of the Democratic Republic of the Congo
• Economy of the Democratic Republic of the Congo
• Healthcare in the Democratic Republic of the Congo