Mbandaka

Mbandaka, formerly (until 1966) Coquilhatville, city, northwestern Democratic Republic of the Congo. It lies on the equator about 435 miles (700 km) northeast of Kinshasa, the national capital. It was a colonial administrative centre from 1886. It is now a busy river port situated at the junction of the Congo and Ruki rivers midway on the Kinshasa-Kisangani shipping route. In addition to shipping, Mbandaka’s economic activities centre on agriculture and forestry (rubber, coffee, rice, lumber). The city also has a brewery and a printing plant and is the site of a national museum, a teacher-training college, and a botanical garden. It has an airport. Pop. (2004 est.) 262,814.