Ituri is a province in the north-east of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, on the western shore of Lake Albert and along the borders with Uganda and South Sudan. Its capital is Bunia, it covers 65,658 km², and its population is projected at about 4,392,200. Ituri is one of the 26 provinces created by the 2015 repartitioning, carved out of the old Orientale Province.
| Capital | Bunia |
|---|---|
| Population | 4,392,200 (2020 projection) |
| Area | 65,658 km² |
| Territories | 5 |
| Cities | Bunia |
| Languages | French, Swahili, Alur, Kilendu, Kihema, Kibira, Lugbara |
| Neighbours | Haut-Uele, Tshopo, North Kivu, Uganda, South Sudan |
Towns, Cities and Territories
Ituri has five territories and one statutory city, Bunia, which sits inside Irumu Territory without belonging to it.
| Territory / City | Headquarters | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Bunia | City (ville) | Provincial capital, 1,277 m |
| Aru | Aru | 6,749 km², Uganda and South Sudan borders |
| Djugu | Djugu | Gold country, Lake Albert escarpment |
| Irumu | Irumu | 8,183 km², encloses Bunia |
| Mahagi | Mahagi | 5,216 km², Alur highlands |
| Mambasa | Mambasa | 36,785 km², largest, rainforest |
Other towns people search for: Ariwara and Ingbokolo in Aru, the commercial centres near the Ugandan town of Arua; Mongbwalu, Fataki, Drodro and Kobu in Djugu; Komanda, Marabo and Bogoro in Irumu; Nioka and the Lake Albert landing at Mahagi-Port in Mahagi; Nia-Nia, Epulu and Biakato in Mambasa.
Geography
Ituri spans two landscapes. The east is open plateau and grassland rising from the Lake Albert shore, reaching 2,000 m on the Blue Mountains behind Mahagi and Nioka. The west drops into the Ituri Rainforest, one of the largest tracts of intact Congo Basin forest, drained by the Ituri River toward the Aruwimi. The Semliki flows north into Lake Albert along the Ugandan border. The Okapi Wildlife Reserve in Mambasa is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the stronghold of the okapi, the national animal. Ituri borders Haut-Uele to the north-west, Tshopo to the west and North Kivu to the south.
Demographics
DR Congo has held no census since 1984, so every figure is a projection. About 4.39 million people over 65,658 km² averages 67 per km², but nearly all of them live in the eastern third: Mahagi and Aru are among the most crowded rural districts in the country, while forested Mambasa is thinly settled. The main peoples are the Alur in Mahagi and Aru, the Lendu and Hema in Djugu and Irumu, and the Bira, Ngiti and Ndo-Okebo further south; Mbuti communities live in the Mambasa forest. French is official, Swahili is the trade language, and Lugbara and Kakwa are spoken near the South Sudan border.
Economy and Local Life
Gold runs the cash economy. The Kilo-Moto field around Mongbwalu in Djugu has been worked since the colonial period and still draws artisanal miners in their thousands. Coffee and cocoa are the export crops, with cocoa expanding fast in Mambasa and Irumu. Hema herders keep cattle on the Djugu and Irumu plateaux, and fishing works the Lake Albert shore from Kasenyi and Mahagi-Port. Ariwara in Aru is the biggest market in the province, where Congolese, Ugandan and South Sudanese traders deal in cattle and manufactured goods. Oil reserves have been identified under the Lake Albert rift but are not in production.
Administrative Situation
Ituri has been under military-led provincial administration since 2021. Armed groups remain active: CODECO and the Zaire-FPAC militia in Djugu and Mahagi, the FRPI legacy in southern Irumu, and the Allied Democratic Forces along the Irumu and Mambasa roads toward North Kivu. Displacement is heavy in Djugu in particular. Ituri is not part of the AFC/M23 zone of control, which covers North and South Kivu. A large MONUSCO peacekeeping presence is based at Bunia. Check current advice before travelling.
History
Ituri was a district of Orientale Province until the 2015 repartitioning split that province into Ituri, Bas-Uele, Haut-Uele and Tshopo. Bunia, the district seat, became the provincial capital. The area is known internationally for the Ituri conflict of 1999–2003, fought between Hema and Lendu communities and their backers.
Getting There
Bunia Airport is the practical gateway; the roads are dirt and often poor, and there is no railway. Route Nationale 27 runs north from Bunia through Mahagi to Aru and the Uganda and South Sudan borders. Route Nationale 4 runs west through Komanda and Mambasa to Kisangani. The Goli crossing near Mahagi and the Aru and Ariwara posts serve Uganda, and lake boats work the Lake Albert shore from Kasenyi and Mahagi-Port. Bunia is about 30 km west of Lake Albert and 40 km from the Ugandan border, with no direct road across the rift.
FAQ
What is the capital of Ituri Province?
Bunia, at 1,277 m on the plateau about 30 km west of Lake Albert. It is the province’s only statutory city.
How many territories does Ituri have?
Five: Aru, Djugu, Irumu, Mahagi and Mambasa. Each is run from a headquarters town of the same name.
What is the population of Ituri?
About 4,392,200 on a 2020 projection. There has been no national census since 1984, so all figures are estimates.
What language is spoken in Ituri?
Swahili is the trade language and French is official. Alur, Kilendu, Kihema, Kibira and Lugbara are the main local languages.
Where is the Ituri Rainforest?
In the western half of the province, mostly in Mambasa Territory. It holds the Okapi Wildlife Reserve, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Which countries border Ituri?
Uganda to the east, across Lake Albert and the Semliki, and South Sudan to the north above Aru Territory.