Aketi (town)
Aketi is a town in the Bas-Uele Province of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It is the seat of Aketi Territory. As of 2009 it had an estimated population of 38,588.[1]
Aketi | |
|---|---|
 | |
  Aketi Location in the Democratic Republic of the Congo | |
| Coordinates: 2°44′N 23°45′E | |
| Country |  Democratic Republic of the Congo |
| Province | Bas-Uele |
| Territory | Aketi |
| Population (2009) | |
| • Total | 38,588 |
| Time zone | UTC+2 (Central Africa Time) |
| Climate | Am |
| National language | Lingala |
History
The town was called Port-Chaltin during the colonial era after the Belgian officer Louis Napoléon Chaltin. It took its current name in 1971.[2] During the Congo Crisis, Aketi was the scene of some fighting with armed groups targeting white Westerners and Roman Catholic priests and nuns. At least one American missionary was killed and a number of priests were beaten and nuns were harassed.[3] The village fell to government forces in late November 1964, and ten Americans and more than 130 Belgian hostages were rescued.[4]
Transportation
Aketi is served by Aketi Airport and connected to the now defunct Vicicongo line, a portage railway.
References
- "Congo (Dem. Rep.): largest cities and towns and statistics of their population". World Gazetteer. Archived from the original on February 16, 2012. Retrieved January 21, 2009.
- Auzias, Dominique; Labourdette, Jean-Paul (2006). Congo: république démocratique. Petit Futé. p. 70. ISBN 2-7469-1412-3.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
- Garrison, Lloyd (October 24, 1964). "Priests Report U.S. Cleric Died After Beating by Congo Rebels". New York Times. Retrieved 4 April 2016.
- Associated Press. "Gendarmes Hunt for Hostages". nytimes.com. The New York Times. Retrieved 4 April 2016.