Which capital city is directly across the Congo River from Kinshasa?

Brazzaville is the capital city directly across the Congo River from Kinshasa.

Brazzaville stands on the northern bank of the Congo River, while Kinshasa occupies the southern bank in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The two cities face one another near Pool Malebo and form the unusual Kinshasa–Brazzaville transborder urban area. They are widely described as the closest pair of national capitals in the world.

The cities belong to two different countries that share similar names: Brazzaville is the capital of the Republic of the Congo, often called Congo-Brazzaville, while Kinshasa is the capital of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, often called Congo-Kinshasa. This naming convention helps prevent a frequent quiz and map-reading mistake.

Despite their proximity, the capitals are not connected by a road bridge. Ferries and boats cross the river, and flights between them can take only a few minutes. Brazzaville was named for Pierre Savorgnan de Brazza, the Italian-born French explorer whose expeditions helped establish French influence in the region.