Laurent-Désiré Kabila
The region has a long history of independence from [[Kinshasa]]. It was the location of the "maquis" set up by [[Laurent-Désiré Kabila]] in 1967, as well as the place where Laurent-Désiré Kabila raised his son, the current President [[Joseph Kabila]], in 1973. Throughout much of the [[Second Congo War]], the town was contested by numerous armed groups.