Selembao

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Selembao is one of the 24 communes that are the administrative divisions of Kinshasa, the capital city of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Covering over 23.2 square kilometers and with an estimated population of 1,038,819 as of 2015, it is bordered to the north by the communes of Bandalungwa and Bumbu, to the northeast by Bumbu, to the south by Mont Ngafula, to the east by Makala, and to the west by Ngaliema. Administratively divided into 18 quartiers, Selembao's urban development is largely unplanned, with most areas lacking basic infrastructure such as transportation networks, electricity, water systems, and adequate drainage. While some southern quartiers, like Cité Verte, benefit from structured roadways and functional sewer networks, the preponderance of the commune remains underdeveloped. The degradation of key infrastructure and the formation of erosional ravines have led to significant challenges, including the silting of rivers, damage to homes, and loss of lives, with approximately 150 fatalities reported between 1970 and 2010 due to these issues. Intensive urban agriculture, small-scale livestock husbandry, and micro-enterprises are Selembao's most significant revenue-generating and economic sectors. Selembao has undergone substantial demographic expansion, with an average annual growth rate of 5% between 1984 and 2004, exerting immense pressure on housing availability. Consequently, urbanization has encroached into steep valleys and other marginal lands, filling previously undeveloped spaces.