The region that is now Tshuapa was formerly under the control of the government of Zaire, and the source of their power. The region was highly unstable politically speaking, as the population was divided in the south by the Tshiluba-speaking diamond miners of Kasai, and the Lingala-speaking farmers of the northern provinces. The Lingala people had more pull in the government for they formed the majority, and were easily the most powerful ethnic group in the nation with more members of their people running things from the top. This caused contention amongst the people, and led to a number of armed conflicts between the ethnic groups in Zaire over a voice in the government.