The University of Lubumbashi (also known by the acronym UNILU) is one of the largest universities in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It is located in Lubumbashi, the capital city of Katanga province. The campus is located in the north part of the city west of the airport. The university was founded in 1981 but has origins from 1955. Prior to operating independently, it functioned as the Université Nationale du Zaïre, Campus de Lubumbashi (National University of Zaire, Lubumbashi Campus translated from French). In May 1990 the Zaires government violenty suppressed student protests on the campus, killing several students and destroying parts of the campus.