Gombe, Kinshasa
Gombe (formerly known as Kalina), also known as La Gombe, or Downtown Kinshasa, is one of the 24 communes of Kinshasa, in the western part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Encompassing a vast area of approximately 29.33 square kilometers (11.32 square miles), it is home to an approximate population of 49,024 residents (2014).
Gombe | |
|---|---|
| Commune de Gombe | |
Gombe skyline | |
Gombe on map of Kinshasa city-province | |
Kinshasa city-province on map of DR Congo | |
| Coordinates: 04°18′11″S 15°18′12″E | |
| Country | DR Congo |
| City-Province | Kinshasa |
| Area | |
| • Total | 29.33 km2 (11.32 sq mi) |
| Population (2014 est.) | |
| • Total | 49,024 |
| • Density | 1,700/km2 (4,300/sq mi) |
Functioning as both a residential area and a central business district, Gombe houses several key government institutions of the DRC, including the Palais de la Nation, the Central Bank of the Congo, various ministries, media organizations, and diplomatic representations. Gombe serves as the epicenter for the DRC's leading financial establishments, the hub of its business activities, and the headquarters of United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO).
Originally housing colonial administrative offices, cités indigènes, neighborhoods meant for non-colonists, formed around the area. Now it is the fastest-growing municipality (commune) in Kinshasa. According to a 2014 study by the U.S. research firm Mercer, Gombe is the most expensive place to live in Africa and globally.
Development has increased significantly following 2021 with many new buildings being constructed near Avenue de Colonel Tshatshi including the newly constructed Kinshasa Financial Center and the Galeries de la Fontaine Shopping Mall.