South Kivu | |
---|---|
Country | Democratic Republic of the Congo |
Named for | Lake Kivu |
Capital and largest city | Bukavu |
Government | |
• Body | Provincial Assembly of South Kivu |
• Governor | Jean Jacques Purusi [1] |
Area | |
• Total | 65,070 km2 (25,120 sq mi) |
• Rank | 17th |
Population (2020) | |
• Total | 7,066,400 |
• Rank | 3rd |
• Density | 110/km2 (280/sq mi) |
License Plate Code | CGO / 22 |
Official language | French |
National language | Swahili |
HDI (2015) | 0.391 [2] low |
Website | www |
South Kivu (Swahili : Jimbo la Kivu Kusini; French : Sud-Kivu) is one of 26 provinces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). [3] Its capital is Bukavu.
Situated within the Great Rift Valley, South Kivu is bordered by Lake Kivu, Burundi, and Tanzania to the east; Maniema Province to the west; North Kivu Province to the north; and Tanganyika Province to the south. Covering an extensive area of approximately 65,070 square kilometers (25,120 square miles), it is administratively divided into eight territories and boasts a population of roughly 7,066,400 in 2020. [4] [5] [6] [7] [8]
The province's topography is an amalgamation of geographical features comprising mountains, forests, waterfalls, and plains. [5] The area boasts an array of wildlife species, including mountain gorillas, chimpanzees, African Forest Elephants, lions, giraffes, and vervet monkeys. It also hosts African buffalos, baboons, clawed frogs, dwarf crocodiles, savannah monitors, gray duikers, common agamas, and endangered eastern lowland gorillas. The province's national parks and nature reserves, such as Kahuzi-Biéga National Park and Itombwe Nature Reserve, are UNESCO World Heritage Sites. [9] [10] [11] [12]
South Kivu is a melting pot of various ethnic groups, including the Shi, Fuliiru, Bembe, Vira, Lega, Nyindu, Holoholo, Bwari, Hunde, Nyanga, Amba, Swaga, Shu, and Mbuti. The region is also home to a small fraction of Hutu and Tutsi agro-pastoralists who were transplanted by Belgian colonial authorities in the mid-20th century. [13] [14] [15] [16]
Since the First Congo War, the region has been plagued by armed conflicts and civil unrest. During the First and Second Congo Wars, it became a battleground for the Alliance of Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Congo-Zaire (AFDL), the Rwandan Patriotic Army (RPA), and the Congolese Rally for Democracy (RCD). [17] [18] The presence of multiple armed groups in the area has led to insecurity, instability, and humanitarian crises. The conflict has resulted in the displacement of civilians, human rights abuses, and atrocities against the local population. Additionally, the region's rich natural resources, such as minerals and timber, have been a driving factor for some of the conflicts. [19] [20]
South Kivu Province was created from Sud-Kivu District in 1989, when the existing Kivu Province was divided into three parts (South Kivu, North Kivu and Maniema). [21] [22] [23]
For three decades, the region has been plagued by armed conflicts and violence. Various armed groups and militias have operated in the area, leading to displacement, human rights abuses, and the disruption of essential services. [24] [25] [26]
At the outset of the First Congo War, South Kivu played a key role as a battleground for the Alliance of Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Congo (AFDL), led by Laurent-Désiré Kabila. Its plateaus and hills served as strategic strongholds for the advancing AFDL forces, who aimed to pursue Hutu refugees, particularly the ex-FAR/Interahamwe, while simultaneously seeking to overthrow Mobutu's government. This response was prompted by the mistreatment of Tutsi civilians under Mobutu's regime, which subjected them to arbitrary arrests and detentions conducted by Zairian police and soldiers. [27] [28] [29]
The AFDL's pursuit of Hutu refugees led to widespread violence and atrocities. [30] The AFDL forces, resorting to indiscriminate killings, mass executions, and acts of torture, initiated the First Congo War with a massacre in the Lemera groupement (grouping) of South Kivu, on October 6, 1996. The massacre claimed the lives of several dozen individuals. In a hospital massacre, 37 individuals, including two medical personnel, were killed. [28] [31] On October 20, 1996, the AFDL forces killed an unknown number of refugees and Zairian civilians in Rubenga, a village in South Kivu. [32] Another attack occurred on October 21, 1996, in Lubarika village, where an unknown number of Rwandan and Burundian refugees, along with Zairian civilians, were killed by the AFDL forces. Local people were coerced into burying the bodies in four large mass graves. [33] In Kamanyola, on October 20, 1996, the AFDL forces killed an unknown number of refugees and Zairian civilians, disposing of their bodies in pit latrines. [30] The AFDL persisted in launching attacks on South Kivu's refugee camps, rivers, airports, and densely populated villages. They carried out civilian executions and acts of terrorism against Zairian civilians in various locations, including Nyantende, Bukavu, Lwakabiri, Kashusha, Ulindi River, Kigulube, Ivela, Balika, Kavumu Airport, Lulingu, and Keisha. [34] [35] In May 1997, the AFDL gained control over significant parts of the country and captured the capital, Kinshasa. Mobutu fled the country and Laurent-Désiré Kabila assumed leadership, renaming the country the Democratic Republic of the Congo. [36] [37]
From late 1997 onwards, the relationship between President Laurent-Désiré Kabila, Rwanda and the Tutsi soldiers present in the AFDL deteriorated. Laurent-Désiré Kabila's government faced multiple accusations of marginalizing Tutsi political factions, excluding them from his administration, and displaying preferential treatment toward his Katanga clan. [38] In July 1998, driven by fears of a coup d'état, President Laurent-Désiré Kabila relieved Rwandan General James Kabarebe of his position as Chief of Staff of the AFDL, while also issuing an order for the Rwandan Patriotic Army (RPA) soldiers to withdraw from Congolese territory. [39] In response, on 2 August 1998, a faction of Tutsi soldiers mutinied and, with the assistance of the AFDL, the Banyamulenge militias, the Ugandan army (Ugandan People's Defence Force; UPDF), and the Burundi army (Forces Armées Burundaises; FAB), launched a rebellion aimed at overthrowing President Laurent-Désiré Kabila. [38] [40] Within a few weeks, this coalition formed the Rassemblement Congolais pour la Démocratie (RCD) and gained control over major urban centers in North and South Kivu, Orientale Province, North Katanga, and even managed to penetrate into the Équateur Province. The war resulted in wide-scale displacement, famine, and a staggering loss of lives. Numerous rebel groups and militias emerged, further intensifying the violence and leading to pervasive human rights violations, including large-scale massacres and incidents of sexual violence. [40] [41] [42] On August 6, 1998, factions of the ANC/RPA/FAB perpetrated a massacre, claiming the lives of numerous civilians in Uvira, in South Kivu. [43] As civilians sought shelter or attempted to flee the combat zone, they fell victim to the FAC in confrontations, resulting in hundreds of fatalities. Moreover, on the same day, members of the ANC, the armed wing of the RCD rebel, killed 13 people, including the chief of the Kiringye area, in the village of Lwiburule in South Kivu. [43] Another massacre unfolded as elements of the ANC/RPA claimed the lives of 15 individuals in the vicinity of Kivovo, Kigongo, and Kalungwe, all situated in South Kivu. The victims suffered from dagger wounds or were shot near the primary port in Kalundu and at the facilities of SEP Congo. [43] On August 24, 1998, RCD forces and Rwandan soldiers unleashed a massacre in Kasika and neighboring villages in South Kivu, resulting in the deaths of more than 1,000 people, as reported by the United Nations Mapping Report. [43] [44] The majority of the recovered bodies, predominantly women and children, were discovered on the 60-kilometer journey from Kilungutwe village to Kasika. [45] [46] Prior to their murders, the women were subjected to rape followed by brutal disembowelment using daggers. [44] [47] From December 30, 1998, to January 2, 1999, RCD forces committed another massacre, claiming the lives of over 800 civilians, primarily belonging to the Babembe community, in the small village of Makobola in South Kivu. Many victims endured machete attacks or were shot at close range, while others met their demise through burning or drowning in nearby rivers. Infants and young children were callously thrown into deep pit latrines, left to perish, while adults who dared to disobey orders and attempted to escape were met with bullets. [48] [49] On May 14, 2000, members of the ANC conducted a massacre resulting in 300 deaths in the village of Katogota in South Kivu. [50] [51] [52]
The war officially ended in 2003 with the signing of the Sun City Agreement, which aimed to establish a transitional government and promote peace and stability in the DRC. However, sporadic violence and conflicts in the region persisted even after the official end of the war. [39]
The Banyamulenge, who actively aligned themselves with the AFDL and RCD factions throughout the duration of the Second Congo War, have been subject to widespread disdain among many Congolese due to their alleged involvement in a range of nefarious activities. These accusations include launching assaults on refugee camps and densely populated villages, engaging in civilian executions, and orchestrating acts of terrorism targeting Zairian civilians across various regions of South and North Kivu. Consequently, a considerable number of Congolese view the Banyamulenge as unwelcome intruders encroaching upon their native territories, thereby intensifying the deep-rooted animosity directed towards them. [53] [54]
The UN estimates that in 2005, approximately 45,000 women were raped in South Kivu. [55] It forms various armed groups, including the Rwandan-backed armed groups, Banyamulenge armed groups, Raia Mutomboki, Mai-Mai militias, ADF (Allied Democratic Forces) and FDLR. There have been numerous accounts and allegations of sexual violence perpetrated by members of the Congolese army (Forces Armées de la République Démocratique du Congo; FARDC) in eastern Congo. The 10th Military Region of the newly established Congolese military, led by General Pacifique Masunzu, whose undisciplined former factional soldiers are responsible for human rights violations due to a continuing culture of impunity for military personnel, compounded by challenging living conditions, inadequate remuneration, and insufficient training. [24] [26] [56] Masunzu is Munyamulenge (South Kivu Banyamulenge Tutsi) who broke with the Rwandan-backed Rally for Congolese Democracy (RCD) back in 2003. He was formerly commander of the 122nd Brigade in the Minembwe area, who in 2005 rebelled against the authorities in defence of the Congolese Banyamulenge, against harassment and physical abuse. Also previously former second in command of 4th Military Region in Kasai-Occidental. Africa Confidential said in 2011 that he 'clearly remains implacably opposed to the Rwandan government.' [57] [58] His deputy Colonel Baudouin Nakabaka is a former Mai-Mai fighter with close links to the FDLR. In July 2007, United Nations human rights expert Yakin Erturk called the situation in South Kivu the worst she has ever seen in four years as the global body's special investigator for violence against women. Sexual violence throughout Congo is "rampant," she said, blaming rebel groups, the armed forces and national police. Her statement included that "Frequently women are shot or stabbed in their genital organs, after they are raped. Women, who survived months of enslavement, told me that their tormentors had forced them to eat excrement or the human flesh of murdered relatives." [59]
In June 2014, around 35 people were killed in an attack in the South Kivu village of Mutarule. The attack was apparently part of dispute over cattle. [60]
On 7 August 2015 the 2015 South Kivu earthquake, a magnitude 5.8 earthquake, struck 35 km (22 mi) north-northeast of Kabare at a depth of 12.0 km (7.5 mi). [61] One policeman was killed.
On July 16, 2020, the Ngumino and Twiganeho militias of the Banyamulenge community perpetrated the Kipupu massacre, which claimed the lives of 220 people in South Kivu village of Kipupu, as reported by provincial lawmakers. [62] [63]
South Kivu borders the provinces of North Kivu to the north, Maniema to the west, and Tanganyika to the south. To the east, it shares borders with Rwanda, Burundi and Tanzania, forming part of the African Great Lakes region. [7] The province is predominantly mountainous, with the western side of the Albertine Rift Valley running through its territory. [64] [65] This creates a series of peaks and valleys, including the Mitumba Mountains and the Kahuzi-Biéga National Park, which is home to endangered mountain gorillas and lush bamboo forests. [66] [67] South Kivu also boasts several notable lakes, including Lake Kivu and Lake Tanganyika. [68] [69] In addition to its mountains and lakes, the province also features a network of rivers and dense tropical rainforests. The major rivers in the province include the Ruzizi, which forms part of the border with Burundi, and the Ulindi River, which flows into Lake Tanganyika. [70] [71] The rainforests of South Kivu are part of the Congo Basin, one of the world's largest tropical rainforest systems. These forests are teeming with biodiversity, housing a wide variety of plant and animal species. They provide habitat for endangered wildlife, including chimpanzees, forest elephants, and various species of primates. [72] The region is also rich in natural resources, including minerals like gold, coltan, tin, and tungsten. [73]
South Kivu Province is characterized by numerous rivers, lakes, and waterways that crisscross through its landscapes. The region lies in the center of the African Great Lakes, encompassed by Lake Kivu towards the west and sharing its border with the Virunga National Park on the east. The Ruzizi River, one of the longest rivers in the world, flows along the province's eastern edge. Meanwhile, its tributaries—the Sange, Kavinvira, Kavimvira, Luvimvi, Luvungi, Luvubu, Luberizi, Runingu, Mulongwe, Kiliba, Kalimabenge, and Lugulu Rivers—run through the verdant terrains, nurturing the surrounding ecosystems and supporting farming activities. [74] [75] [76]
The province is home to several lakes, including Lake Tanganyika which serve as critical sources of freshwater and habitats for diverse aquatic species. [77]
While the province is rich in natural resources, it is also fraught with challenges and dangers. The area is susceptible to periodic floods, particularly during the rainy season, which cause disruptions to both the community and infrastructure. Over the last few years, parts of the province have been ravaged by flooding. In March 2020–23, torrential rains and the overflow of nearby tributaries inundated homes, including the Sange and Uvira, located in Uvira Territory. These regions experienced severe flooding, resulting in a sudden surge of water that overwhelmed the local infrastructure and communities. The force of the floodwaters led to the collapse of many houses, leaving families homeless and vulnerable. The aftermath of the flooding also led to the displacement of people who sought refuge in temporary shelters or with relatives in safer areas. [78] [79] [80] [81]
Similarly, other areas in South Kivu Province also faced the wrath of floods, including Nyambasha, Bushushu, Rambira, and Nyamukubi in Kalehe Territory. These communities, situated in low-lying areas near rivers and water bodies, are particularly susceptible to the destructive impact of flooding. Heavy rains and rising water levels overwhelm local infrastructure and defenses, causing homes to collapse and forcing residents to flee for safety. [82] [83] [84]
The province houses many volcanoes, including Mount Kahuzi, Mount Muhi and Mount Kabobo. [85] [86] These volcanoes are part of the larger Virunga Mountains, which stretches from Uganda through Rwanda and into the DRC. The province also includes parts of the Albertine Rift, a branch of the larger East African Rift System. This rift valley is characterized by tectonic forces that led to the stretching and thinning of the Earth's crust, resulting in the formation of deep valleys and steep escarpments. The rift valley is associated with the presence of lakes, including Lake Kivu and Lake Tanganyika, which are major features of the landscape in South Kivu Province. [87] In addition to volcanic and rift valley formations, the province also contains sedimentary basins. These basins, such as the Lake Kivu Basin, are areas where layers of sediment have accumulated over time. They are important for their mineral resources, including deposits of diamonds, gold, copper, cobalt, tin, tantalum and lithium. [88] [89]
The province's eastern mountainous region experiences a mild mountain climate with a 3 to 4-month dry season from June to September. [90] Cities like Bukavu and Uvira maintain an average annual temperature of 19 °C, while higher plateaus and mountains, such as Minembwe and Kahuzi-Biéga National Park, are even cooler, fostering layered and grassy mountain vegetation. [90]
Conversely, the central and western parts, including territories like Shabunda and Mwenga, feature an equatorial climate dominated by dense equatorial forests, with abundant rainfall throughout the year. [90] The Ruzizi Plain, however, presents a unique micro-climate—a tropical climate with a dry tendency and lower rainfall (± 1,000 mm/year). The region's vegetation is characterized by a grassy savannah with thorns and Myrtillocactus geometrizans , most notably in the Kahuzi-Biéga National Park. [90]
Belgian Congo | Republic of the Congo | Zaire | Democratic Republic of the Congo | ||||||
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1908 | 1919 | 1932 | 1947 | 1963 | 1966 | 1971 | 1988 | 1997 | 2015 |
22 districts | 4 provinces | 6 provinces | 6 provinces | 21 provinces + capital | 8 provinces + capital | 8 provinces + capital | 11 provinces | 11 provinces | 26 provinces |
Bas-Uele | Orientale | Stanleyville | Orientale | Uele | Orientale | Haut-Zaïre | Orientale | Bas-Uele | |
Haut-Uele | Haut-Uele | ||||||||
Ituri | Kibali-Ituri | Ituri | |||||||
Stanleyville | Haut-Congo | Tshopo | |||||||
Aruwimi | |||||||||
Maniema | Costermansville | Kivu | Maniema | Kivu | Maniema | ||||
Lowa | |||||||||
Kivu | Nord-Kivu | Nord-Kivu | |||||||
Kivu-Central | Sud-Kivu |
South Kivu Province, like all other provinces, is administratively divided into territories and cities. Further subdivisions of territories are: chiefdoms or sectors, groupements (groupings), and villages.
Territories serve as the extensive arms of state administration, functioning as representatives of the central government. Each territory within the province is led by a Territorial Administrator and two Assistant Territorial Administrators. [90] Recognizing the vastness of the territories, administrative management positions are established, headed by resident assistant territorial administrators or administrative management position leaders, aiming to bridge the gap between governance and the governed. [90] Appointed by the Ministry of the Interior and Security, territorial officials are included in the state's budgetary provisions. While they directly report to the Ministry of the Interior, they are also accountable to the governor, who acts as the representative of both the President in the province and the Ministry of the Interior. The primary role of territorial administrators is to represent the state at the local level and oversee chiefdoms (collectivités). [91]
South Kivu Province is divided into eight territories:
The city is a decentralized administrative unit with legal status. [92] Cities are led by mayors appointed by presidential decree, as advised by the Ministry of the Interior and Security. The mayor has a deputy mayor, appointed in the same way. [92] The mayor is under the hierarchical authority of the provincial governor. [92] South Kivu has three main cities of significance: Baraka, Bukavu (the provincial capital), and Uvira. [93] [94] [95] The northern town of Minova expanded rapidly from 1994 to 2012 with a steady inflow of refugees following the Rwandan genocide as well as both First and Second Congo Wars, along with ongoing regional conflicts. [96] [97]
The city of Bukavu has experienced an exponential urban growth since colonial times. Sadiki et al. (2010) report about 620,000 inhabitants for 2008. The population growth rate increased incredibly in 2002 due to the entry of massive population from Goma after the Nyiragongo eruption of 17 January 2002. [98]
Traditional authority is vested in chieftaincies, also known as collectivities (collectivités) and sectors. The selection of the powerholder within a chiefdom or sector is determined by ethnic traditions and later recognized or formalized by the state, following traditional norms. The leader of a chiefdom carries the honored title of "mwami" (king). The chiefdom is further subdivided into groupements (groupings), which extend the reach of traditional authority to regrouped villages (localités). Village heads and chiefs manage administrative and governance duties in their respective areas. [91]
Some of the notable chiefdoms and sectors in South Kivu:
South Kivu is divided into 34 health zones (zones de santé). These are grouped into five health districts (districts de santé). These districts do not match the geography of the territories.
Banyamulenge is a community that lives mainly in South Kivu province. The Banyamulenge are culturally and socially distinct from the Tutsi of South Kivu, with most speaking Kinyamulenge, a mix of Kinyarwanda, Kirundi, Ha language, and Swahili. Banyamulenge their role in Mobutu's war against and victory over the Simba Rebellion, which was supported by the majority of other tribes in South Kivu, their role during the First Congo War and subsequent regional conflicts (Rally for Congolese Democracy–Goma, Movement for the Liberation of the Congo, National Congress for the Defence of the People, and more importantly for the fact that two of the most influential presidents of their country declared them as enemy of the State both in 1996 and 1998.
Uvira is a city strategically located in the South Kivu Province of the eastern region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Covering approximately 16 square kilometers and with an estimated population of 726,000 as of 2024, it borders Bafuliru Chiefdom and Ruzizi Plain Chiefdom to the north, Bavira Chiefdom to the south, and Lake Tanganyika and the Ruzizi River to the east. These rivers form natural boundaries between the DRC and Burundi. Located in the Ruzizi Plain at a low altitude, the city lies between Burundi's Congo-Nile ridge and the Mitumba mountains.
Minembwe is a cluster of several villages located in the highlands of Lulenge, within the Fizi Territory of South Kivu Province in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). It is situated at an altitude of about 2,500 meters above sea level, in a hilly and mountainous region covered with forests, which provides fertile land for agriculture. It lies approximately 150 kilometers southward of Bukavu. The region is interspersed with myriad streams and rivers that flow towards Lake Tanganyika, the second-deepest lake in the world.
WalunguTerritory is a territory located within the South Kivu Province in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Situated approximately 40 km from Bukavu, the capital of South Kivu Province, it shares borders with Kabare Territory to the north, Mwenga Territory to the south, Uvira Territory and the Ruzizi River, as well as the Republics of Rwanda and Burundi to the east, and Shabunda Territory and part of Kabare Territory to the west. According to the 2018 national census, the region has a population of 716,671, with 672,436 residing in the Ngweshe Chiefdom and 44,235 in the Kaziba Chiefdom. Spanning an area of 1,800 km2, Walungu Territory has a population density of 398 inhabitants per square kilometer.
The Fuliru people are a Bantu ethnic group predominantly inhabiting the east-central highlands of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). They reside in the South Kivu Province, situated south of Lake Kivu and to the north and northwest of Uvira Territory, along the Ruzizi Plain near the border with Rwanda and Burundi, where a contingent of Fuliru also resides. According to the 2009 census, their population estimate exceeded 250,000, while a 1999 estimate of Kifuliru-language speakers placed the number at 300,000. The Fuliru are renowned for their skilled craftsmanship, particularly in the production of pottery and basketry. Their handcrafted baskets are highly coveted for their intricate designs and exceptional quality, and are frequently employed for storage, decoration, and even as musical instruments.
Bunyakiri is a town located in the high plateau of Kalehe Territory in the South Kivu Province in the eastern region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Bunyakiri is nearby the Bulehe and Mulamba villages. It is mainly inhabited by Tembo, Havu, Twa and Hunde ethnic groups.
Kalehe Territory is a territory in South Kivu, Democratic Republic of the Congo. Its administrative centre is the town of Kalehe on the western shore of Lake Kivu. Other important towns include Buguli, Bunyakiri, Kalangala, Kalungu, Minova, and Nyamasasa.
Uvira Territory is a territory in South Kivu, Democratic Republic of the Congo. It is bordered by Walungu Territory to the north, Mwenga Territory to the west, Fizi Territory to the south, and Burundi and Lake Tanganyika to the east. Its capital is Uvira.
Luvungi, also known as Itara-Luvungi, is one of the groupements (groupings) within the Bafuliiru Chiefdom in the Uvira Territory of the South Kivu Province in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Situated on the Ruzizi Plain, it lies at the borders of Uvira Territory and Walungu Territory, in close proximity to the frontiers of Rwanda and Burundi. Luvungi is home to a population of approximately 85,000 individuals, predominantly consisting of Fuliru agriculturalists who play a vital role in the local community. There's also has a small population of Vira, Bembe, Lega, Shi, Burundians and Banyamulenge. Its economy is founded mainly on subsistence agriculture and the artisanal mining of cassiterite, an ore of tin.
Lemera is one of the groupements (groupings) within the Bafuliiru Chiefdom, located in the Uvira Territory of the South Kivu Province in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). It is situated in the northwestern part of the Uvira Territory, approximately 60 kilometers north of Bukavu and 90 kilometers southwest of the border with Rwanda and Burundi. Lemera is in close proximity to several villages, including Kasheke, Nyambasha, Luzira, Lukayo, Kajuju, Lushasha, and Ihusi.
Katogota is a village located in the Itara-Luvungi grouping within the Bafuliiru Chiefdom in Uvira Territory of the South Kivu Province in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Situated approximately 60 km south of Bukavu, Katogota is in close proximity to the Kamonyi and Rusagara villages, near the border regions of Rwanda and Burundi.
Kamanyola is one of the groupements (groupings) within the Ngweshe Chiefdom of the Walungu Territory. It is located in the Ruzizi Plain in the South Kivu Province of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), sharing a border with Rwanda and Burundi. Kamanyola stands at a height of 901 meters and is closely situated to the suburb of Mwaro and the village of Mubombo.
Bwegera is a village in the Bafuliiru Chiefdom in the Uvira Territory of South Kivu Province, Democratic Republic of the Congo. Bwegera has an elevation of 952 meters and is situated in the vicinity of the Kakamba and Nyaruhuhuma villages. The region It's crossed by Lake Tanganyika, providing a vital source of water and transportation for the local inhabitants. Bwegera is rich in building materials such as rubble, sand, and baked bricks, making it an ideal location for construction and development. The region also encompasses a vast rural area where agriculture, animal breeding, and fishing are the primary means of livelihood.
Lubarika is a village situated in the hills and high plateaus of Itara/Luvungi groupement in the Bafuliiru Chiefdom, Uvira Territory, in the South Kivu Province of the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo. It sits at an elevation of 969 meters above sea level and is near the villages of Murunga and Nyakagobe II. Lubarika is a predominantly agricultural region with large hectares used for subsistence agriculture. Agriculture is practiced by an extensive segment of the population. The products grown are mainly intended for domestic consumption and commercialization. Moreover, fishing is carried out artisanally in Lake Tanganyika by the local population.
The Ruzizi Plain is a valley situated between the Mitumba mountain chain and the Ruzizi River. It serves as a natural border, separating the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) from Burundi and Rwanda on the other side. The Ruzizi Plain is an integral part of the larger Western Rift Valley, which stretches across several African countries. It is traversed by the Ruzizi River, which flows from Lake Kivu through the plain and into Lake Tanganyika. It covers an area of 175,000 hectares divided between Burundi, Rwanda and the DRC. In Burundi, the plain extends to the northern sector of Imbo. It is bounded by parallels 2°36′ and 3°26′ south latitude and by meridians 29°00′ and 29°26 east longitude—an area of 1025 km2. The Congolese side is bounded to the north by the plain of Bugarama (Rwanda), to the east by the plain of Imbo (Burundi), to the West by the chain of Mitumba and to the South by Lake Tanganyika. The region covers thus about 80,000 hectares with 80 kilometers in length.
The Lemera Hospital, colloquially known as Hopital Genera de Lemera or Hôpital Général de Référence de Lemera, is a medical institution located in Lemera, situated approximately 85 kilometers northwest of Uvira within the Uvira Territory of the South Kivu Province in the eastern region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Kidote, also known as Kidoti, is a small village situated in the middle plateaux of Lemera, within the Bafuliiru Chiefdom of the Uvira Territory in the South Kivu Province in the eastern region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). It also serves as a camp for Congolese Internally Displaced People (IDPs) from various regions of Bwegera.
Kiringye is a village situated in the Lemera groupement within the Bafuliiru Chiefdom, which is part of Uvira Territory in the South Kivu Province in the eastern region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). The village is located at an elevation of 928 meters and is in close proximity to the localities of Luburule and Karenzu.
The Bafuliiru Chiefdom, also spelled as Chefferie de Bafulero, is a chiefdom located in Uvira Territory, South Kivu Province, in the eastern region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
The Ngweshe Chiefdom is a chiefdom located in Walungu Territory, within the South Kivu Province of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). It shares borders with Kabare Territory to the north, Rwanda and Burundi to the northeast, Mwenga Territory and Shabunda Territory to the south, and Kaziba Chiefdom to the east. According to the territory's 2018 annual report, the chiefdom has an estimated population of 672,436.
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