Tanganyika province was the scene of a rebellion by the Luba-Katanga people against the independent state of Katanga.

In 1961, it was reconquered by the Katanga state, only to be taken back by the Kinshasa government later that year.

It was finally merged into the restored Katanga Province by the Mobutu government, where it was administered as the Tanganyika district.

In July 2006, during the Second Congo War, Katanga province was divided by fighting between the Rally for Congolese Democracy – Goma (RCD-G) faction, supported by Rwanda, and the ex-government faction, supported by local Mai Mai troops.

According to UN forces (MONUC) in Kalemie, an estimated 5,000–6,000 Mai Mai militia were still active in the Tanganyika region and have strongholds around Nyunzu-Kabalo-Kongolo and the so-called "death triangle" of Manono-Mitwaba-Pweto.