Palais de la Nation (Kinshasa)

Palais de la Nation
Southwards-facing view of the Palais de la nation and its gardens taken in 1986
Map
General information
Architectural styleBeaux-Arts
Town or cityGombe, Kinshasa
CountryDemocratic Republic of the Congo
Current tenantsFélix Tshisekedi, President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo
Construction started1924; 100 years ago (1924)
CompletedJune 1960; 64 years ago (1960-06)
Design and construction
Architect(s)Marcel Lambrichs

The Palais de la Nation (French; Palace of the Nation) is the official residence and principal workplace of the President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It is strategically situated in Gombe, north of Kinshasa, adjacent to the course of the Congo River, and has held its role since 2001, following the assassination of Laurent-Désiré Kabila.[1][2][3]

Constructed in 1956 based on Marcel Lambrichs [fr; nl]' design, the palais was initially conceived as the residence for the colonial Governor-General.[4][5] After the Congolese independence from Belgium in 1960, the Palais metamorphosed into a symbol of the new state. The official proceedings commemorating the nation's newfound autonomy, including King Baudouin's Proclamation, declaring the Congo's independence and Patrice Lumumba's speech denouncing colonialism, took place in the palais on June 30.[6][7][8] After the nation's independence, the residence briefly served as the seat of the Congolese parliamentary body, which now convenes in the Palais du Peuple.[9][8]

In the aftermath of the reconstruction and revival of the Congolese state following the fall of Mobutu Sese Seko, the mausoleum honoring Laurent-Désiré Kabila was erected near the palace's entrance.[10][11][12]

  1. ^ "Presidence/Palais de la nation". Embassy of the Democratic Republic of Congo. 2018-12-05. Retrieved 2023-08-31.
  2. ^ Tsala, Boni (January 20, 2023). "Pape François en RDC: une partie de la commune de la Gombe «Juridiction papale» du 31 janvier au 2 février 2023". www.digitalcongo.net (in French). Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo. Retrieved 2023-08-31.
  3. ^ "Kinshasa et Ankara signent sept accords de coopération". VOA (in French). 2022-02-21. Retrieved 2023-08-31.
  4. ^ Leick, Gwendolyn (15 November 2013). Tombs of the Great Leaders: A Contemporary Guide. Reaktion Books. p. 299. ISBN 978-1-78023-226-3.
  5. ^ Viaene, Vincent; Reybrouck, David Van; Ceuppens, Bambi (2009). Congo in België: koloniale cultuur in de metropool (in Dutch). Leuven, Belgium: Universitaire Pers Leuven. pp. 95–150. ISBN 978-90-5867-771-6.
  6. ^ Williams, Susan (2021-08-10). White Malice: The CIA and the Covert Recolonization of Africa. New York City, New York State, United States: PublicAffairs. ISBN 978-1-5417-6828-4.
  7. ^ Riegel, Ralph; O'Mahony, John (2010-08-23). Missing in Action: The 50 Year Search for Ireland's Lost Soldier. Cork, Ireland: Mercier Press Ltd. p. 62. ISBN 978-1-85635-737-1.
  8. ^ a b Corera, Gordon (2013-01-08). The Art of Betrayal: The Secret History of MI6: Life and Death in the British Secret Service. New York City, New York State, United States: Open Road Media. ISBN 978-1-4532-7159-9.
  9. ^ Orum, Anthony M. (2019-04-15). The Wiley-Blackwell Encyclopedia of Urban and Regional Studies. Hoboken, New Jersey, United States: John Wiley & Sons. p. 1040. ISBN 978-1-118-56845-3.
  10. ^ Wheeler, Tony (2013-09-01). Tony Wheeler's Dark Lands1. Fort Mill, South Carolina, United States: Lonely Planet. p. 15. ISBN 978-1-74360-104-4.
  11. ^ "Mausolée Laurent Désiré Kabila". congo-tourisme.org (in French). Retrieved 2023-08-31.
  12. ^ N’soki, Corneille Kinsala (January 17, 2020). "Digitalcongo.net | Révérend Robert Nkwim: "Je proclame comme Mzee Laurent-Desiré Kabila, que le plan divin pour le Congo se réalisera"". www.digitalcongo.net (in French). Kinshasa. Retrieved 2023-08-31.