Paul Costermans

Paul-Marie-Adolphe Costermans (2 April 1860 – 9 March 1905) was a Belgian soldier and colonial civil servant. After a brief career in the Belgian Army, Costermans enlisted for service in the military of the Congo Free State, the Force Publique, in 1890 and later served in the colony's administration. During several periods of service in the colony, Costermans rose through the ranks. Between 1904 and his death in 1905, he held the position of Vice Governor-General of the Congo.

Career A native of Brussels, Costermans attended the Royal Military Academy and was commissioned a sub-lieutenant of artillery in the Belgian Army on 13 December 1880. He joined the armed forces of the Congo, the Force Publique, as a lieutenant on 3 October 1890, and embarked for the Congo the same day at Vlissingen. He arrived in Boma on 2 November.

After a brief posting elsewhere, Costermans was appointed district commissioner of Stanley Pool (Léopoldville), where he arrived on 26 May 1891. On 26 September, King Leopold II promoted him district commissioner 2nd class. He undertook major construction projects for the burgeoning colonial town. On 24 February 1892, having fallen ill, he handed over his command and left Léopoldville for Boma, where he arrived on 10 March. He embarked for Europe on 16 April and arrived a month later on 16 May. His body was repatriated to Belgium.

Costermans was an honorary captain commanding the artillery of the Fortress of Antwerp, a knight of the Order of Leopold, an officer of the Royal Order of the Lion and a knight of the Order of the African Star and of the French Légion d'honneur. He also wore the Service Star with four bars and the Military Cross 2nd class. In 1927, the village of Bukavu on the shore of Lake Kivu was renamed Costermansville (Costermansstad in Dutch). It has since be restored to its original name.

Works Costermans published two short essays during his lifetime:

"Le district du Stanley-Pool". Bulletin de la Société d'Études coloniales, vol. 1 (1885), 24–76. "Notice sur la tribu des Ba-Nfumus". Missions belges de la Compagnie de Jésus (1899), p. 58.