title: Kivu Province
text: # Kivu Province
  
  Kivu Province was a province in the Belgian Congo, originally called Costermansville Province, that was formed in 1933 from part of the old Orientale Province. The Republic of the Congo (Léopoldville) became independent in 1960, and between 1962 and 1966 the province was temporarily broken into the provinces of Maniema, North Kivu and South Kivu. In 1988 it was again broken into these provinces.
  
  ## Location
  
  Kivu is the name of the entire region surrounding Lake Kivu, including the portions in Rwanda which contain the vast majority of the lake area's population
  
  ## History
  
  In 1933 the provinces of the Belgian Congo were reorganized, and the amount of autonomy of the former provinces was reduced. The new provinces took the name of their capital, with the Orientale Province being split into Stanleyville Province and Costermansville Province. Costermansville Province was renamed Kivu Province in 1947. It was broken into the provinces of Maniema, North Kivu and South Kivu from 10 May 1962 to 28 December 1966, then reunited. In 1988 it was again broken up into the provinces of Maniema, North Kivu and South Kivu.
  
  