Palais de la Nation (Kinshasa)

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]

Palais de la Nation
Southwards-facing view of the Palais de la nation and its gardens taken in 1986
General information
Architectural style	Beaux-Arts
Town or city	Gombe, Kinshasa
Country	Democratic Republic of the Congo
Current tenants	Félix Tshisekedi, President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo
Construction started	1924; 100 years ago (1924)
Completed	June 1960; 64 years ago (1960-06)
Design and construction
Architect(s)	Marcel Lambrichs

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]

History

On July 1, 1923, a Royal Decree firmly established Léopoldville (now Kinshasa) as the capital of the Belgian Congo, a decree reinforced in August when the burgeoning city was granted urban district status.^[13][5] This monumental shift had been contemplated for some time, culminating in a proclamation by former Belgian Prime Minister Henry Carton de Wiart during his visit to Léopoldville the previous October, wherein he pledged the imminent establishment of the government between Léopoldville and Kinshasa commune.^[14]

The residence was initially envisioned in 1924 in Beaux-Arts style by architect Maurice Vander Elst, synthesizing the forms of the Royal Museum for Central Africa and the Royal Palace of Brussels, both evocative of Leopold II of Belgium.^[5] Concerns regarding the Governor General's pre-existing metal residence, derisively referred to as the "sardine can," accentuated the urgency to craft a design befitting the aspirations of the colony.^[5]

Consequently, In 1928, a new competition was convened, with twelve architects submitting their visions. Raymond Moenaert's design was chosen to harmonize with the climate using Mediterranean elements.^[5] However, Governor Auguste Tilkens found aspects of the design incongruous and Moenaert was instructed to reenvision it. Nonetheless, the seat of the capital was moved to Léopoldville in October 1929 without the completion of the Governor's residence.^[5] During King Albert's visit to the Colony in July 1928, he inaugurated an equestrian statue of Leopold II looming over the front entrance.^[5][15] Plans for Governor's residence construction were postponed with the advent of the Great Depression.^[5]

Patrice Lumumba's government receives a vote of confidence from the Congolese Chamber of Representatives, ca. June 1960

Prime Minister Patrice Lumumba (left center, wearing bow tie) with his government outside the Palais de la Nation following its investiture

In the aftermath of World War II, minimal modifications were made to the government district, with minor augmentations to the radial street layout and bungalows for civil servants. Notably, the Colonial Ministry's Urbanization Service, headed by Georges Ricquier, devised plans for "Le Grand Léo".^[5] Minister Robert Godding rekindled pre-war plans in 1945, but Governor General Eugene Jungers sought a new design from architect Georges Strapaert. Ultimately, Marcel Lambrichs' classical modernist design, selected in the 1951 competition, saw fruition with construction commencing in 1956.^[5] Completion coincided with Congo Independence Day in June 1960, and the building transitioned into the inaugural Parliament.^[5] Prime Minister Patrice Lumumba moved into the "Tilkens" residence, which became the Prime Minister's official home.^[5][16][17] In 1967, as part of the Zairianisation policy established by President Mobutu Sese Seko, the equestrian statue of King Leopold II was removed from its prominent position.^[5]

Following the Second Congo War and the assassination of Laurent-Désiré Kabila, the Palais de la Nation transformed into an official residence and primary workspace during Joseph Kabila's administration. Between January 2001 and January 2002, a mausoleum was erected in front of the palace in honor of President Laurent-Désiré Kabila.^[18][19]

References

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. 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.
13. The New International Year Book. New York City, New York State, United States: Dodd, Mead and Company. 1926. p. 172.
14. Busschaert, Lisa (2013–2014). "Norbert Laude (1888-1974): Leven in teken van de kolonie" (PDF) (in Dutch). Leuven, Belgium: Faculty of Arts - KU Leuven. pp. 19–64. Retrieved 2023-08-31.
15. Podur, Justin (2020-05-30). America's Wars on Democracy in Rwanda and the DR Congo. Springer Nature. p. 41. ISBN 978-3-030-44699-4.
16. Mahoney, Richard D. (1983). JFK: Ordeal in Africa. Oxford, United Kingdom: Oxford University Press. p. 59. ISBN 978-0-19-503341-0.
17. Tödt, Daniel (2021-10-04). The Lumumba Generation: African Bourgeoisie and Colonial Distinction in the Belgian Congo. Berlin, Germany: Walter de Gruyter GmbH & Co KG. ISBN 978-3-11-070937-7.
18. Groof, Matthias De (2020-01-17). Lumumba in the Arts. Leuven, Belgium: Leuven University Press. p. 57. ISBN 978-94-6270-174-8.
19. Haer, Roos (2015-04-17). Armed Group Structure and Violence in Civil Wars: The Organizational Dynamics of Civilian Killing. Oxfordshire, England, United Kingdom: Routledge. ISBN 978-1-317-56917-6.

External links

• Official website of the Congolese President

4.3025°S 15.2801°E / -4.3025; 15.2801