Nkayi is a small city in the Republic of Congo. Formerly known by its imperial name of Jacob, Nkayi, the local name came into use in 1975. Since that time the population of the city has more than doubled to the over 56,000 inhabitants today. It ranks as the fourth largest in the Republic of Congo. It is one of the major cities of the country including Brazzaville, Pointe-Noire, and Loubombo.

The economic situation in Nkayi is bouyed by its fertile position in the Niari Valley. Thanks to its fertile land, the area is one of the Republic of Congo's main sugar production areas. Other important crops are wheat, timber, and groundnut (peanut).



Getting to and from Nkayi is relatively simple. It is convieniently located on the national railway network which is served by the Congo-Ocean Railway. In addition, it also has the Nkayi Airport (NKY). The Nkayi airport is served by Trans Air Congo.

At the end of 1998, the ROC reverted back to civil war. The end of the 1990s were characterized mostly by guerilla and militia unrest and most of the main cities, including Nkayi suffered because of it. Looting, violence, and instability pleagued Nkayi as well as the other major metropolitan centers in ROC like Brazzaville and Loubombo.