Kwango River
Encyclopedia
The Cuango or Kwango is a transboundary river of Angola
and Democratic Republic of Congo. It is the largest left bank tributary of the Kasai River
in the Congo River basin. It flows through Malanje
town in Angola. The Kwango River basin has large resources of diamonds in the Chitamba-Lulo Kimberlite Cluster in Lunda Norte Province, discovered in the main river channel and on flats and terraces in its flood plains.
.
The Portuguese colonized the Kwango River valley and replaced the Kingdom of Kasanje. The Kwango River was subject to a Portuguese treaty signing in Lisbon
on May 25, 1891 and the Declaration of March 24, 1894.
Cuango town, situated in Lunda Norte Province within the Cuango River valley, is considered to be “in the diamond heartland of northeastern Angola”, the richest diamond area in Angola. This town played an important role during the civil war as both Uniao Nacional para a Independencia Total de Angola (UNITA) and government forces attempted to seize and hold the city. UNITA surrendered the town to the government on 30 September 1997 as part of the Lusaka Protocol
.
in the Angolan province
of Lunda Sul
, and flows south-north-west, crossing the border with the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and joining the Kasai River
near the town of Bandundo. Thereafter, it empties into the Congo River
. Rising in the Lunda plateau, the river forms a deep valley.
It is 1100 kilometres (683.5 mi) long from its source to its confluence with Congo River, of which 855 kilometres (531.3 mi) lies in Angola. The river drains a total catchment area of 263500 square kilometres (101,737.9 sq mi). Its right bank tributaries are the Wamba and Kwilu rivers. Its right bank tributaries are the Wamba and Kwilu rivers.
Navigation
The Cuango and has a number of falls and rapids. Navigability is mostly achieved in the lower reaches of the river, spanning a length of 307 kilometres (190.8 mi) from its mouth to the Kingushi rapids. Partial navigation is also possible in the middle stretches of the river between Kingushi and the Franz Josef waterfalls over a distance of about 300 kilometres (186.4 mi).
Water resources
The lean season flow in the river occurs during August. The average annual discharge in the lower reaches of the river is 2700 cubic metres (95,349.6 cu ft)/s
, the Suku, the Mbala
, and the Pende tribal groups. Their crafting skills are seen in the form of mask carvings in geometric patterns of figurines, and other carved objects.
and rubber
production.
The main economic activity and revenue to the Angolan State
is derived by extraction of diamonds from the valley. The river basin has a rich source of diamonds in the Chitamba-Lulo Kimberlite Cluster in Lunda Norte Province, which was discovered in the main river channel and on flats and terraces in its flood plains. The provinces of Lunda Norte and Lund Sul in the river valley account for largest number of diamond mines in the valley and in Angola.
Prospecting permits have been awarded to BRC, extending to an area of 2150 kilometres (1,336 mi) between Tembo and Kasonga Lunda over the Kwango River stretch of about 185 kilometres (115 mi). Under the mining license held by Soiadale de Desenvolvimento Mineiro (SDM), the areas of production is on the Tazua and Ginge River diversions on the Cuango.
Angola
Angola, officially the Republic of Angola , is a country in south-central Africa bordered by Namibia on the south, the Democratic Republic of the Congo on the north, and Zambia on the east; its west coast is on the Atlantic Ocean with Luanda as its capital city...
and Democratic Republic of Congo. It is the largest left bank tributary of the Kasai River
Kasai River
The Kasai River is a tributary of the Congo River, located in central Africa. The river begins in Angola and serves as the border between Angola and the Democratic Republic of the Congo , then flows into the DRC, where it joins the Congo northeast of Kinshasa. The Kasai's tributaries include the...
in the Congo River basin. It flows through Malanje
Malanje
Malanje is the capital city of Malanje Province in Angola with a population of approximately 222,000. Nearby is the spectacular Calandula waterfalls, 85 km from the city. These falls are 105 metres high and their great width makes them the main tourist attraction in the region. It is a...
town in Angola. The Kwango River basin has large resources of diamonds in the Chitamba-Lulo Kimberlite Cluster in Lunda Norte Province, discovered in the main river channel and on flats and terraces in its flood plains.
History
The Rund Kingdom, which expanded to become the Lund Empire, encompassed territory stretching from Kwango River to the Laupala. Its rulers pursued slavery trade. Lunda expansion in the valley promoted a common political and cultural heritage while also promoting slave trading, accounting for the low population densities between Kwango and KwiluKwilu
Kwilu, also known as the House of Kwilu , was a kanda or royal lineage of the Kingdom of Kongo.-Origins:Prior to the rise fo the Kwilu kanda, the Kilukeni kanda or House of Lukeni had ruled Kongo since its inception around the end of the 14th century. After the death of King Henrique I, power...
.
The Portuguese colonized the Kwango River valley and replaced the Kingdom of Kasanje. The Kwango River was subject to a Portuguese treaty signing in Lisbon
Lisbon
Lisbon is the capital city and largest city of Portugal with a population of 545,245 within its administrative limits on a land area of . The urban area of Lisbon extends beyond the administrative city limits with a population of 3 million on an area of , making it the 9th most populous urban...
on May 25, 1891 and the Declaration of March 24, 1894.
Cuango town, situated in Lunda Norte Province within the Cuango River valley, is considered to be “in the diamond heartland of northeastern Angola”, the richest diamond area in Angola. This town played an important role during the civil war as both Uniao Nacional para a Independencia Total de Angola (UNITA) and government forces attempted to seize and hold the city. UNITA surrendered the town to the government on 30 September 1997 as part of the Lusaka Protocol
Lusaka Protocol
The Lusaka Protocol, signed in Lusaka, Zambia on October 31, 1994, attempted to end the Angolan Civil War by integrating and disarming UNITA and national reconciliation. Both sides signed a ceasefire as part of the protocol on November 20.-Negotiation:...
.
Geography
The Cuango originates in the highlands of Alto ChicapaCacolo
Cacolo is a town and municipality in Lunda Sul Province in Angola....
in the Angolan province
Provinces of Angola
Angola is divided into eighteen provinces:-See also:* ISO 3166-2:AO, the ISO codes for Angola....
of Lunda Sul
Lunda Sul
Lunda Sul is a province of Angola. It has an area of 77,637 km² and a population of approximately 125,000. Saurimo is the capital of the province. Other municipalities include Cacolo, Dala and Muconda. This region is rich with diamonds....
, and flows south-north-west, crossing the border with the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and joining the Kasai River
Kasai River
The Kasai River is a tributary of the Congo River, located in central Africa. The river begins in Angola and serves as the border between Angola and the Democratic Republic of the Congo , then flows into the DRC, where it joins the Congo northeast of Kinshasa. The Kasai's tributaries include the...
near the town of Bandundo. Thereafter, it empties into the Congo River
Congo River
The Congo River is a river in Africa, and is the deepest river in the world, with measured depths in excess of . It is the second largest river in the world by volume of water discharged, though it has only one-fifth the volume of the world's largest river, the Amazon...
. Rising in the Lunda plateau, the river forms a deep valley.
It is 1100 kilometres (683.5 mi) long from its source to its confluence with Congo River, of which 855 kilometres (531.3 mi) lies in Angola. The river drains a total catchment area of 263500 square kilometres (101,737.9 sq mi). Its right bank tributaries are the Wamba and Kwilu rivers. Its right bank tributaries are the Wamba and Kwilu rivers.
Navigation
The Cuango and has a number of falls and rapids. Navigability is mostly achieved in the lower reaches of the river, spanning a length of 307 kilometres (190.8 mi) from its mouth to the Kingushi rapids. Partial navigation is also possible in the middle stretches of the river between Kingushi and the Franz Josef waterfalls over a distance of about 300 kilometres (186.4 mi).
Water resources
The lean season flow in the river occurs during August. The average annual discharge in the lower reaches of the river is 2700 cubic metres (95,349.6 cu ft)/s
Culture
The river valley is inhabited by the YakaYaka
The Yaka are an ethnic group of Southwestern Democratic Republic of the Congo and Angola. They number about 300,000. They live in the forest and savanna areas between the Kwango and Wamba rivers. They are very artistic. Many of their religious and cultural customs transcend ethnic boundaries, and...
, the Suku, the Mbala
Mbala
Mbala is Zambia’s most northerly large town and seat of Mbala District, occupying a strategic location close to the border with Tanzania and controlling the southern approaches to Lake Tanganyika, 40 km by road to the north-east, where the port of Mpulungu is located. It had a population of about...
, and the Pende tribal groups. Their crafting skills are seen in the form of mask carvings in geometric patterns of figurines, and other carved objects.
Economy
While the river is used for fishing, the valley is developed to the extent of providing subsistence agriculture only. Of note historically is palm oilPalm oil
Palm oil, coconut oil and palm kernel oil are edible plant oils derived from the fruits of palm trees. Palm oil is extracted from the pulp of the fruit of the oil palm Elaeis guineensis; palm kernel oil is derived from the kernel of the oil palm and coconut oil is derived from the kernel of the...
and rubber
Rubber
Natural rubber, also called India rubber or caoutchouc, is an elastomer that was originally derived from latex, a milky colloid produced by some plants. The plants would be ‘tapped’, that is, an incision made into the bark of the tree and the sticky, milk colored latex sap collected and refined...
production.
The main economic activity and revenue to the Angolan State
Angola
Angola, officially the Republic of Angola , is a country in south-central Africa bordered by Namibia on the south, the Democratic Republic of the Congo on the north, and Zambia on the east; its west coast is on the Atlantic Ocean with Luanda as its capital city...
is derived by extraction of diamonds from the valley. The river basin has a rich source of diamonds in the Chitamba-Lulo Kimberlite Cluster in Lunda Norte Province, which was discovered in the main river channel and on flats and terraces in its flood plains. The provinces of Lunda Norte and Lund Sul in the river valley account for largest number of diamond mines in the valley and in Angola.
Prospecting permits have been awarded to BRC, extending to an area of 2150 kilometres (1,336 mi) between Tembo and Kasonga Lunda over the Kwango River stretch of about 185 kilometres (115 mi). Under the mining license held by Soiadale de Desenvolvimento Mineiro (SDM), the areas of production is on the Tazua and Ginge River diversions on the Cuango.