Henri Michel Eugène Avaert (4 October 1851 – 2 January 1923) was a Belgian soldier and colonial administrator in the Congo Free State.

[2] The group reached Vivi on 27 September 1882, where Alexander von Danckelman assigned Parfonry to Isangila, Avaert to Manyanga and Coquilhat to Léopoldville and beyond.

[3] On 11 October Avaert, Lieven Van de Velde [nl], Martin, Louis-Gustave Amelot and Coquilhat took the steamer Royal up to Manyanga.

He fell ill, but was treated with a combination of morphine and quinine by the Reverend William Holman Bentley of the Baptist Missionary Society, and was able to return to Isangila on the Royal.

Avaert engaged local workers from the nearby villages to build a house for Europeans on the plateau in front of a long avenue planted with banana trees.

Avaert was made deputy to Léon Roget to help organize the first contingent of the Force Publique from 75 Bangalas sent down to the lower Congo by Van Kerckhoven.

He was also made an officer of the Court of Appeal, was given charge of the mission to Massabi in the Portuguese territory of Cabinda, and was assigned to direct the development of the caravan trail from Vivi to Manyanga.

[8] In December 1886, as assistant to Avaert, Camille Van den Plas took part in the expedition to Manyanga and was responsible for the evacuation of Vivi.