Ilebo

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Ilebo
Ilebo Location in Democratic Republic of the Congo
Coordinates: 4°19′S 20°36′E / -4.317, 20.6
Country	Democratic Republic of the Congo
Province	Kasai-Occidental

Ilebo, formerly known as Port-Francqui, is a town in the Democratic Republic of Congo, lying at the highest navigable point of the Kasaï River. As such, it is an important transport hub for ferries to Kinshasa and trains to Lubumbashi.

[edit] Railways

In September 2007 an agreement was signed for China to fund the construction of a railway from Ilebo to Kinshasa.^[1] about 700km.

[edit] Lumumba capture

It was in Ilebo (then Port-Francqui) that Mobutu's soldiers captured Patrice Lumumba on 1 December 1960.

[edit] References

1. ^ Chinese to plug Ilebo – Kinshasa gap in DR Congo Railway Gazette International October 2007