Isiro

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official_name = Isiro
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pushpin_map_caption =Location in Democratic Republic of the Congo
subdivision_type = Country
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subdivision_type1 = Province
subdivision_name1 = Orientale Province
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longd=27|longm=40 |longs=|longEW=E
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Isiro, (IPA: IPA| [ˌi.'si.ro] ) is one of the largest cities in the north of Orientale Province, Democratic Republic of the Congo. It lies between the equatorial forest and the savannah and its main resource is coffee. Isiro's population is estimated at approximately 150,000 [ [http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/fullMaps_Af.nsf/0/870AEB3188D5D25485257046006B924F/$File/monuc_POP_cod090505.pdf?OpenElement] 2004 Urban Population map of the Democratic Republic of Congo] . Most people speak Lingala, but Swahili is not uncommon.

History

Isiro was called Paulis (named after Albert Paulis) when it was part of the Belgian Congo. The city was developed in 1934 and reached its peak in 1957. [ [http://www.uniuele.net/reperes_geo.htm] Université d'Uélé (in French). Accessed November 4 2006.]

Importance

In 1998, Isiro became the home of a newly created Dominican-operated university called "Université d'Uélé". It is the third city in Orientale province (after Kisangani and Bunia) to welcome a university.

It is the district seat of Haut-Uele, having replaced Bambili, and includes six territories: Dungu, Faradje, Niangara, Rungu, Wamba, and Watsa.

Isiro is served by Matari Airport, a national airport with flights to Kinshasa, the capital. The narrow-gauge railway to the river port of Bumba on the Congo River is not currently operational (see Transport in the DR Congo). The dirt roads to and from Isiro allow commercial trade with Uganda and Sudan, in principle, but may be impassable in the wet season.

References