Masisi Territory is a territory located in the North Kivu province of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Its political headquarters are located in the town of Masisi. Covering an area of 4,734 square kilometers and with a population estimate of 843,396 as of 2020, it is bordered to the north by the Walikale Territory, to the south by Lake Kivu and the South Kivu, to the east by Nyiragongo Territory and Rutshuru Territory, as well as the communes of Goma and Karisimbi, to the west by Kalehe Territory and Walikale Territory. Masisi Territory is administratively divided into two chiefdoms: Bashali and Bahunde, as well as two sectors, Katoyi and Osso-Banyungu, and the commune of Masako.
The territory was established on 15 March 1935 at Bution, within the Waloa-Yangu groupement. Until 1954, Walikale Territory formed part of Masisi Territory. Later administrative reforms led to the formal establishment in December 1977 of Bashali Chiefdom, Bahunde Chiefdom, the Osso-Banyungu sector, and the Katoyi sector. The territory is inhabited by several ethnic groups, including the Bahunde, Batembo, Bakumu, Bahutu, Batutsi, and Batwa. Population movements and demographic shifts, combined with disputes related to land tenure, political representation, and ethnic identity, have played an important role in shaping the territory's history and politics. Masisi Territory has also been a major center of armed conflict in eastern Congo, particularly during and after the Congo Wars (1996–2003). Numerous armed factions, ethnic militias, and foreign-backed groups have operated in the territory, one of the most contested areas of North Kivu. The economy is predominantly based on agriculture, livestock farming, fishing, tourism, and mineral exploitation.
Geography
Relief, soil, and subsoil
Masisi Territory is known for its rugged terrain, composed of steppes and oasis-like landscapes, characterized by mountains, hills, plateaus, and plains. The fertile volcanic soil, which is rich in humus, supports agriculture. Clay soils dominate the territory and cover roughly three-quarters of the land, especially in the central and southern regions. Sandy soils, which account for about one-quarter of the area, are mainly located in the northeastern zone, including Kilolirwe, Kitshanga, and parts of Sake. The subsoil contains valuable minerals such as tourmaline, columbite-tantalite, and cassiterite.
Hydrography The area's hydrography includes numerous lakes and rivers. Notable small lakes in Bashali Chiefdom include Mokoto, Ndalaa, Lukulu, Mbita, and Mbalukira. Lake Kivu lies in Bahunde Chiefdom in the southwestern part of the territory. Rivers of interest include the Chungiri River, which forms a boundary with Kalehe Territory, and the Nganjo River, which separates the Bashali Chiefdom and Bahunde Chiefdom. Other rivers include the Kamurontsa River, as well as the Mweso and Luholu rivers in the north; the Osso, Luhola, Mbiti, Mweso, and Luashi rivers in the east; and the Luhashi, Osso, and Mbiti rivers in the south. Additional waterways include the Mutiri, Reng, and Kyambiringa rivers. Many of these rivers derive their names from the villages or localities through which they pass.
Climate Masisi Territory has a tropical climate that is largely influenced by its mountainous relief and variations in altitude. The territory experiences a prolonged rainy season from about 15 August to 15 June, followed by a relatively brief dry season from 15 June to 15 August. Average temperatures decrease with altitude, reaching 23°C at 100 m above sea level, about 20°C at 1,400 m, 17°C at 1,800 m, and around 15°C at 2,000 m. Climatically, the territory is commonly divided into three zones: the high-altitude zone (1000–2700 m) including areas like Kibabi, Matanda, Mihanga, and Ngungu; the low-altitude zone (1700–3000 m) including Karisimbi, Nyange, and Mweso; and the region along Lake Kivu, which has a unique microclimate.
Administration and governance Masisi Territory was created on 15 March 1935 at Bution, within the Waloa-Yangu groupement, which at that time belonged to the same administrative entity. Prior to 1954, the Walikale Territory was part of the Masisi Territory. Administrative adjustments over the years eventually led to December 1977, when Bashali Chiefdom, Bahunde Chiefdom, Osso-Banyungu sector, and Katoyi sector were officially established.
Administratively, Masisi Territory is divided into two chiefdoms, Bashali and Bahunde, and two sectors, Katoyi and Osso-Banyungu. The territory also has one rural commune Masako, with fewer than 80,000 voters. Chiefdoms and sectors are further subdivided into groupements (groupings) and localités (villages) in accordance with Ordinance Law No. 82-006 of 25 February 1982, which governs the territory's political and administrative structure. Each chiefdom and sector is led by a traditional chief, known as a mwami, who oversees customary authority, manages succession, and preserves local traditions. While these chiefs cooperate with the Territorial Administrator, they retain a certain degree of autonomy in their internal governance.
At the mid-level, each groupement is managed by a chef de groupement, usually chosen from the royal lineage. Their official appointment is confirmed by the Minister of the Interior and Security, Decentralization, and Customary Affairs, and the installation ceremony is conducted by the Territorial Administrator or Mayor with the presence of the mwami of the chiefdom or sector. At the local level, village chiefs (chefs de village) are responsible for administrative tasks including conducting population censuses, monitoring public health, and managing civil registration such as birth, death, and marriage records. They are officially recognized by the Territorial Administrator and installed by the chef de groupement with the mwami present. In incorporated groupements, however, this recognition is granted by the Mayor. Village chiefs report administratively to their respective chef de groupement. Masisi Territory Bahunde Chiefdom Kamuronza Mupfuni-Karuba Mupfuni-Kibabi Mupfuni-Matanda Mupfuni-Shanga Ufamando I Bashali Chiefdom Bashali-Mokoto Bashali-Kaembe Katoyi Sector Kambule Kibabi II Lwindi Nyalipe Nyamaboko II Ufamando II Osso-Banyungu Sector Bapfuna Banyungu Biiri Buabo Nyamaboko I
Source: Independent National Electoral Commission.
Each chiefdom or sector operates through two main governing structures: the Council and the Executive College. The Council serves as the deliberative body, with councillors elected through direct, secret, and universal suffrage in accordance with national electoral legislation. Councillors receive adequate remuneration to maintain their independence and dignity. The Council is led by an elected Bureau that consists of a President, vice-president, and Rapporteur, and internal regulations ensure leadership elections and gender representation where applicable.
The Executive College manages the chiefdom's or sector's affairs and enforces Council decisions. It includes the mwami and three Aldermen, selected based on competence, credibility, and community representation, whose appointments must be approved by the Council. Although the mwami does not answer directly to the Council, all decisions require the co-signature of an Alderman, who assumes full accountability before the Council. If the mwami dies, resigns, becomes incapacitated, or is legally disqualified, the Aldermen collectively administer the territory until a new mwami is appointed, with the presiding Alderman serving as interim leader during temporary absences.
Demographics
Population
Masisi Territory is inhabited by six principal ethnic groups: Bahutu (50%), Bahunde (20%), Batembo (10%), Batutsi (10%), Bakumu (5%), and Batwa (5%). The Hunde are the territory's indigenous people who descended from Bantu migrations, and their livelihoods include agriculture, fishing, hunting, small-scale livestock farming, and trade. They live throughout the territory but are more concentrated in the south. The Batembo live in the south of the territory and also rely on farming, hunting, fishing, and small-scale livestock farming. The Batwa, a Pygmy population scattered across the territory, generally adopt the language of the communities around them and maintain a traditional lifestyle based on hunting and gathering. The majority presence of Hutu and Tutsi communities results from Belgian-organized migrations between 1937 and 1954, and from movements under Rwanda's Juvénal Habyarimana regime. The Hutu live in the northern and central parts of the territory and are mainly involved in agriculture, livestock farming, and trade, whereas the Tutsi live mostly in the eastern and southern parts of the territory and primarily focus on raising livestock. In terms of language, French serves as the Democratic Republic of the Congo's administrative language. Swahili is spoken by the majority (56%), while Kihunde is used by 20% of the population and Kinyarwanda by 15%. Small numbers speak Kitembo (2%), who migrated from Lubero and Beni Territories, and Kinande (2%), particularly in the southern Ufamando groupements.
According to a population census carried out in 2006, Masisi Territory had a total population of 607,547 people. The census data, compiled by the territory's civil registry services, indicate that Bahunde Chiefdom was the most populous administrative unit, with 254,227 residents. This demographic predominance is largely attributed to the presence of multiple indigenous groups as well as considerable numbers of migrants, including populations of Rwandan origin who had settled in the area over time. Bashali Chiefdom ranked as the second most populated area, followed by the Osso–Banyungu sector, both of which had large rural populations mainly engaged in agriculture and pastoralism. The Masisi town, the territorial administrative center, recorded the smallest population, with 5,742 residents. This relatively low figure reflects the impact of insecurity and population displacement during periods of conflict, which forced many families to move to nearby rural areas or relocate to the provincial capital, Goma. The Katoyi sector remained less densely populated. Historically inhabited mainly by the Tembo, its demographic growth was limited until migration movements that followed the eruption of Mount Nyiragongo, which encouraged new settlement in parts of the territory.
By 2020, the population of Masisi Territory had increased significantly, reaching an estimated 843,396 people.
Health The territory is served by three referral hospitals located in Masisi, Kirotshe, and Mweso, as well as four health zones (zones de santé): Masisi, Kirotshe, Mweso, and Katoyi. Of these, three health zones (Masisi, Kirotshe, and Mweso) are currently operational and include a network of 79 health centers. Several of these facilities receive support from international partners, notably Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) Belgium at Masisi Referral Hospital (Hôpital de référence de Masisi), MSF Holland at Mweso Referral Hospital (Hôpital référence de Mweso), and the Université libre de Bruxelles at Kirotshe Referral Hospital (Hôpital de référence de Kirotshe).
Education All groupements in the territory are served by educational institutions, with each having roughly 30 primary schools and 18 secondary schools. Primary and secondary schools located in urban areas generally offer better-quality education. Masisi Territory also has six universities and 13 higher institutes (Instituts supérieurs). However, most of these higher institutes and some universities lack their own buildings, although they typically own plots of land of about two hectares.
History
Early history and East African slave trade