Kolwezi

Kolwezi, city in the southeastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC, formerly Zaire), in Katanga Region. The city is on the Benguela Railway, which connects mineral-rich south central Africa with the Angolan port of Benguela. Kolwezi is at the center of a major copper- and cobalt-mining area. Uranium, radium, oxide ores, and lime deposits are also mined nearby. Factories in the city process copper and cobalt ores, which are then shipped by rail east to Likasi for further processing. Kolwezi is also the trade center for the surrounding agricultural area.

In 1978 Kolwezi was captured by rebels seeking the secession of Katanga from Zaire. Following the massacre of a number of Europeans, Belgian paratroopers evacuated most of the city’s 2,000 European residents. The area has since experienced serious economic difficulties. Population (1994 estimate) 417,810.