Bandalungwa

Bandalungwa (often abbreviated "Bandal") is a commune in the Funa District of Kinshasa in the western region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Covering an area of 6.82 square kilometers, Bandalungwa is centrally situated within the city. It is bordered by the Gombe commune and Kokolo Military Camp to the north, Selembao to the south, the communes of Ngiri-Ngiri, Kasa-Vubu, and Lingwala to the east, and the Makelele River, Ngaliema, and Kintambo to the west. The commune had an estimated population of 934,821 in 2015, although official census data from 2016 reported a significantly lower figure of 259,760 residents.

Established in 1955, Bandalungwa was initially developed as a planned residential area for civil servants and teachers during the final years of Belgian colonial rule, which set it apart from the comparatively newer and less structured communes of Kinshasa. Following Congolese independence in 1960, the commune experienced rapid urbanization driven by significant rural-to-urban migration, leading to the expansion and replacement of colonial-era residential buildings and placing increased demand on electricity supplies while exerting substantial pressure on existing urban infrastructure. Despite challenges associated with unregulated urban growth, Bandalungwa evolved into a working-class commune and home to several landmarks, including the family residence of Mobutu Sese Seko and a mix of residential blocks and approximately forty flat hotels.