Le Premier, Kinshasa

Le Premier is a shopping mall in Gombe, Kinshasa on Avenue de la Justice.^[1] Opened on 19 July 2016, it became Kinshasa's first shopping mall.^[1][2] It spans over 10,000 square meters,^[3] featuring a supermarket, numerous clothing boutiques, a food court, a bowling alley, banking services, a cinema, and leisure areas such as relaxation zones, care centers, and an international hotel school.^[2][4][1]

The mall was developed under the initiative of Hassan Yahfoufi, an American businessman residing in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.^[1][5] Its opening was celebrated as a milestone in Kinshasa's urban development, offering modern retail amenities and employment opportunities for local residents.^[5]

The concept for Le Premier was launched as a private initiative to create an all-inclusive retail and entertainment center in Kinshasa.^[5] This vision was realized through a public-private collaboration spearheaded by AMT Congo Sarl, under the leadership of its president, Hassan Yahfoufi, an American entrepreneur based in DRC.^[2] Hassan Yahfoufi's family, who has lived in the DRC for over 40 years, spearheaded the venture to reduce the need for Congolese consumers to travel abroad for shopping.^[5] Initially slated for completion in early 2015, the mall officially opened on 19 July 2016.^[1][2]

The mall's opening ceremony was a significant event that drew many notable personalities, including David Brown, the chargé d'affaires at the U.S. Embassy, and Kinshasa Governor André Kimbuta.^[5] Governor Kimbuta praised the mall as a valuable asset for the city and renamed TSF Street, where the mall is situated, "Mall Street".^[5] As part of the proceedings, Yahfoufi was awarded the title of honorary citizen by the governor as recognition of his role in the city's growth.^[5] On its first day, Le Premier generated over 400 direct and indirect employment opportunities.^[5][1]