In the heart of the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s sprawling capital, one of the city’s oldest living landmarks now stands at the centre of a fierce battle over development, heritage and environmental preservation. A century-old baobab tree, reportedly the last of its kind in Kinshasa’s historic centre, has survived the city’s breakneck urban expansion — only to face renewed threat as construction pushes ever closer to its roots.
Once a tree-lined metropolis where thick-trunked baobabs shaded main avenues and stood proudly in front of government offices, Kinshasa has seen much of its greenery vanish under waves of modern construction. Locals who remember those earlier days say fruit and shade-bearing trees, especially baobabs, were more than just part of the landscape — they served as gathering points, sources of nourishment and symbols of continuity across generations.
The lone remaining baobab is located in Gombe, a central district of the city near the main ferry port. The site belongs to Onatra, the state-owned transport company, although activists and municipal officials claim it has been sold to a private developer — a claim the company has not publicly addressed. Construction equipment was reported on site as early as last August, prompting local environmental campaigners to intervene and briefly halt work to protect the tree.
For Jean Mangalibi, a 60-year-old gardener and founder of the grassroots group Autour du Baobab (“Around the Baobab”), the tree represents more than vegetation. He describes it as “the soul of Kinshasa”, a living link to the city’s past amid a landscape rapidly losing its natural memory. Mangalibi’s advocacy has drawn both support and risk; his plant nursery has been ransacked multiple times, evidence of the tensions surrounding his campaign.
Local traders, many of whom once conducted business under the sprawling branches of the tree, echo this sentiment. Sifa Kitenge, a 70-year-old fabric seller, said that construction crews appeared ready to cut down the baobab before activists intervened. Her recollections capture the wider community’s attachment to the tree as a familiar social anchor in a city where such constants are rapidly disappearing.
The broader context in Kinshasa reflects rapid population growth and chronic under-planning. The megacity’s population, estimated at nearly 18 million — half of them under age 22 — has expanded without sufficient urban green space or environmental safeguards. Flooding, pollution and uncontrolled sprawl regularly make headlines, exposing the weaknesses in infrastructure and long-term planning.
Environmental experts point to multiple factors accelerating the loss of trees: cutting for building, clearing land for housing and reliance on charcoal in areas without reliable electricity. A 2010 initiative to replant trees along the city’s main boulevard fell through, leaving the wide, eight-lane road bare to this day — a stark symbol of unfulfilled pledges for urban greenery.
Some government officials, including the head of the National Tourism Office, Malicka Mukubu, have voiced support for preserving the baobab, underscoring its cultural importance. Yet activists remain cautious, noting that many public officials appear indifferent to protecting urban trees unless pressured by public opinion or civic action.
As the debate intensifies, the fate of Kinshasa’s last historic baobab stands as a powerful metaphor for the broader tension between heritage and development in cities across Africa. For residents and environmentalists, saving the tree would not only protect a unique natural specimen but also symbolize a commitment to preserving cultural identity amid relentless modernization.
