[3] Historically, this department was cut off from part of Lobaye, an area of the Central African Republic.

[citation needed] Between 1984 and 2002 the population of Likouala Department more than tripled, due in large part to inflows of refugees from the Central African Republic, Rwanda, and the DRC.

During this period, refugees made up more than half of the population, mostly concentrated in Impfondo and Betou.

The department counts many Rwandan, Central African refugees today and of Congo-Kinshasa.

[4] Six forest units of installation (UFA) are in the course of exploitation by several companies, of which Processing industry of the wood of Likouala (ITBL) and Likouala-Timber.

The districts of Liranga, Impfondo and Bétou comprised the villages located on right bank of the rivers Congo and Oubangui.

The district of Enyellé corresponds to the basin of Libenga and its confluence with Oubangui, to the border with the Central African Republic.

Other towns include Ancien Sandjala, Boyelle, Dongou, Ibenga, Kitadi, Mabelou, Makasa, Makengo,[5] Mongouala, and Motaba.

The forest of Likouala abounds in animal species such as elephants, gorillas and chimpanzees.