Ikela
Encyclopedia
Ikela is a market town
in Tshuapa District
in the Democratic Republic of Congo, lying on the Tshuapa River
east of Boende
. Founded by Belgium
in the early twentieth century as a trading post
, it became an important local centre.
It is the headquarters of the Ikela Territory
.
The town was largely destroyed in the Second Congo War
, being for many years under siege
from Congolese Rally for Democracy forces. Its population of 15,000 almost all fled, but around half have since returned to reconstruct it.
Market town
Market town or market right is a legal term, originating in the medieval period, for a European settlement that has the right to host markets, distinguishing it from a village and city...
in Tshuapa District
Tshuapa District
Tshuapa District is a district located in the Équateur province, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo....
in the Democratic Republic of Congo, lying on the Tshuapa River
Tshuapa River
The Tshuapa River is a river in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, about 1000 km long. The middle Tshuapa is navigable and about 150 m across...
east of Boende
Boende
Boende is a town in the Democratic Republic of Congo, lying on the Tshuapa River, east of Mbandaka. It is the capital of Tshuapa District. It is a river port with ferries sailing to Kinshasa via Mbandanka and is also home to an airport. As of 2009 it had an estimated population of 36,158. The...
. Founded by Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
in the early twentieth century as a trading post
Trading post
A trading post was a place or establishment in historic Northern America where the trading of goods took place. The preferred travel route to a trading post or between trading posts, was known as a trade route....
, it became an important local centre.
It is the headquarters of the Ikela Territory
Ikela Territory
Ikela Territory an administrative division of the Tshuapa District in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The headquarters of the Territory is the town of Ikela....
.
The town was largely destroyed in the Second Congo War
Second Congo War
The Second Congo War, also known as Coltan War and the Great War of Africa, began in August 1998 in the Democratic Republic of the Congo , and officially ended in July 2003 when the Transitional Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo took power; however, hostilities continue to this...
, being for many years under siege
Siege
A siege is a military blockade of a city or fortress with the intent of conquering by attrition or assault. The term derives from sedere, Latin for "to sit". Generally speaking, siege warfare is a form of constant, low intensity conflict characterized by one party holding a strong, static...
from Congolese Rally for Democracy forces. Its population of 15,000 almost all fled, but around half have since returned to reconstruct it.