Historical Capitals of the World

Lubumbashi

Country: DR Congo

Region: Africa

Period: 1960-1963

Location: -11.664167°N, 27.482778°E

Description

Élisabethville, now known as Lubumbashi, was the capital of the State of Katanga, a secessionist region in the Congo during the early 1960s. Established by Belgian colonists, it became an important mining and administrative hub, especially due to its vast copper and mineral wealth in the resource-rich Katanga region.

Modern Remains

Today known as Lubumbashi, the city is the second-largest in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Colonial-era architecture remains in parts of the city, alongside modern developments. It continues to be a major center for mining and industry, with universities, cultural institutions, and remnants of its political past shaping its identity.

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