Before the 2015 repartitioning all but three provinces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo were divided into 26 districts. Those in turn were divided into territories or communes.
2008 Districts and territories The provinces of Maniema, Nord-Kivu and Sud-Kivu were not divided into districts. Those three provinces and all other districts were divided into territories. All provinces had one or more cities, which were administratively independent of the districts; in turn those were divided into communes. Except for two, the districts were led by district commissioners.
Districts and cities, other than the capital city of Kinshasa, and their territories or communes consisted of the following before the repartition:
Name Type Former Province Province Territories and communes Maniema Maniema Kabambare, Kailo, Kasongo, Kibombo, Lubutu, Pangi, Punia North Kivu North Kivu Beni, Lubero, Masisi, Nyiragongo, Rutshuru, Walikale South Kivu South Kivu Fizi, Idjwi, Kabare, Kalehe, Mwenga, Shabunda, Uvira, WalunguBandundu City Bandundu Mai-Ndombe Disasi, Basoko, Mayoyo Bas-Fleuve District District Bas-Congo Kongo Central Lukula, Seke-Banza, Tshela Bas-Uele District District Orientale Bas-Uele Aketi, Ango, Bambesa, Bondo, Buta, Gwane, PokoBeni City North Kivu North Kivu Beni, Bungulu, Ruwenzori, MuhekeraBoma City/District Bas-Congo Kongo Central Kabondo, Kalamu, Nzadi, Moanda TerritoryBukavu City South Kivu South Kivu Bagira, Ibanda, Kadutu, KashaButembo City North Kivu North Kivu Bulengera, Kimemi, Mususa, Vutamba Cataractes District District Bas-Congo Kongo Central Luozi, Mbanza-Ngungu, Songololo Équateur District District Équateur Équateur Basankusu, Bikoro, Bolomba, Bomongo, Ingende, Lukolela, MakanzaGbadolite City Équateur Nord-Ubangi Gbadolite, Molegbe, NganzaGoma City North Kivu North Kivu Goma, Karisimbi Haut-Katanga District District Katanga Haut-Katanga Kambove, Kasenga, Kipushi, Mitwaba, Pweto, Sakania Haut-Lomami District District Katanga Haut-Lomami Bukama, Kabongo, Kamina, Kanyama, Malemba-Nkulu Haut-Uele District District Orientale Haut-Uele Dungu, Faradje, Niangara, Rungu, Wamba, Watsa Ituri District District Orientale Ituri Aru, Djugu, Irumu, Mahagi, Mambasa Kabinda District District Kasai-Oriental Lomami Gandajika, Kabinda, Kamiji, Lubao, LuiluKananga City Kasai-Occidental Kasai-Central Kananga, Katoka, Lukonga, Ndesha, Nganza Kasaï District District Kasai-Occidental Kasai Dekese, Ilebo, Kamonia (Tshikapa), Luebo, MwekaKikwit City Bandundu Kwilu Kazamba, Lukemi, Lukolela, NzidaKindu City Maniema Maniema Alungili, Kasuku, MikelengeKisangani City Orientale Tshopo Kabondo, Kisangani, Lubunga, Makiso, Mangobo, TshopoKolwezi District City/District Katanga Lualaba Dilala, Manika communes; Lubudi, Mutshatsha territories Kwango District District Bandundu Kwango Feshi, Kahemba, Kasongo-Lunda, Kenge, Kisandji, Popokabaka Kwilu District District Bandundu Kwilu Bagata, Bulungu, Eolo, Gungu, Idiofa, Kalo, Kikwit, Kilembe, Mangai, Masi-Manimba, Musenge-Munene, Nkara, Sedzo, ZabaLikasi City Katanga Haut-Katanga Panda, Kikula, Likasi, Tshituru Lualaba District District Katanga Lualaba Dilolo, Kapanga, SandoaLubumbashi City Katanga Haut-Katanga Annexe, Kamalondo, Kampemba, Katuba, Kenya, Lubumbashi, Rwashi Lukaya District District Bas-Congo Kongo Central Kasangulu, Kimvula, Madimba Lulua District District Kasai-Occidental Kasai-Central Demba, Dibaya, Dimbelenge, Kazumba, Luiza Mai-Ndombe District District Bandundu Mai-Ndombe Bokoro, Inongo, Kiri, Kutu, Nioki, OshweMatadi City Bas-Congo Kongo Central Matadi, Nzanza, Mvuzi Mbandaka City Équateur Équateur Mbandaka, WangataMbuji-Mayi City Kasai-Oriental Kasai-Oriental Bipemba, Dibindi, Diulu, Kanshi, Muya Mongala District District Équateur Mongala Bumba, Bongandanga, LisalaMwene-Ditu City Kasai-Oriental Lomami Bondoyi, Musadi, Mwene-Ditu Nord-Ubangi District District Équateur Nord-Ubangi Businga, Bosobolo, Mobayi-Mbongo, Yakoma Plateaux District District Bandundu Mai-Ndombe Bolobo, Kwamouth, Mushie, Yumbi Sankuru District District Kasai-Oriental Sankuru Katako-Kombe, Kole, Lodja, Lomela, Lubefu, Lusambo Sud-Ubangi District District Équateur Sud-Ubangi Budjala, Gemena, Kungu, Libenge Tanganyika District District Katanga Tanganyika Kabalo, Kalemie, Kongolo, Manono, Moba, NyunzuTshikapa City Kasai-Occidental Kasai Dibumba I, Dibumba II, Kanzala, Mabondo, Mbumba Tshilenge District District Kasai-Oriental Kasai-Oriental Kabeya-Kamwanga, Katanda, Luhatahata, Miabi, Tshilenge Tshopo District District Orientale Tshopo Bafwasende, Banalia, Basoko, Isangi, Opala, Ubundu, Yahuma Tshuapa District District Équateur Tshuapa Befale, Boende, Bokungu, Djolu, Ikela, MonkotoZongo City Équateur Sud-Ubangi Nzulu, Wango
Note: Boma and Kolwezi District were a city/district hybrid in the sense that they had both commune and territory divisions and were led by a mayor instead of a district commissioner.
Districts of Kinshasa
The city of Kinshasa is said to be divided into 4 so-called districts and 24 communes: District CommunesFuna DistrictBandalungwa, Bumbu, Kalamu, Kasa-Vubu, Makala, Ngiri-Ngiri, SelembaoLukunga DistrictBarumbu, Gombe, Kinshasa, Kintambo, Lingwala, Mont Ngafula, NgaliemaMont Amba District Kisenso, Lemba, Limete, Matete, NgabaTshangu District Kimbanseke, Maluku, Masina, Ndjili, Nsele
These "districts" are not general-government subdivisions under a single administration and a single leader, but are districts used to administer government services such as police, water, schools and so on. They aren't subdivisions of the country. The administrative divisions of Kinshasa are the communes.
Reorganization The 2006 constitution planned to convert many of the districts into provinces under a decentralization program. However, progress was slow. In October 2007 the Minister for Decentralization, Denis Kalume Numbi, presented a bill for Decentralization in the National Assembly. The subsequent debate turned up a variety of issues that first had to be addressed with changes to related laws. In an October 2010 conclave of the ruling AMP coalition, it was proposed to revise Article 226, which calls for the creation of 26 provinces out of the current 11, in order to allow more time for the transition. In September 2011 the position of "Minister of Decentralization" was abolished. In July 2015 the implementation of the new organization was completed.
See also Districts of the Belgian Congo Provinces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo Territories of the Democratic Republic of the Congo
References