The region has a moderate altitude, ranging between 800 and 1600 meters, and features a predominantly flat plateau with expansive, gently sloping valleys.

While the presence of mountains is limited and scattered throughout the area, the chiefdom boasts abundant underutilized forest cover, which encompasses two-thirds of its land.

[2][1] The chiefdom is watered by the presence of several streams and rivers, among which the prominent ones include Kikuzi, Lulimunyu, Kyoka, Lushiga, Kilimata, Mwana, Kasitenge, Bilahile, Kizumbe, Namusindiki, and Zalya.

Water sources are integral to the daily life of the chiefdom as they support a variety of activities such as agriculture, fishing, and domestic use.

[1][2][8] The Basile Chiefdom, along with the entire Mwenga Territory, is situated in a hot and humid tropical zone, characterized by copious rainfall ranging between 1600 and 2200 mm per year.

This natural soil is inherently rich in nutrients, but it has been depleted due to extensive leaching, which causes the mineral elements to be washed deeper into the ground.

The war impacted the eastern region of the DRC, leading to widespread violence and chaos that affected even the most remote areas of the chiefdom.

The dense forests and vast jungles that cover the Basile Chiefdom provided an ideal base of operations for these groups, with the thick foliage and rugged terrain acting as a natural shield, allowing the armed factions to hide, regroup, and launch attacks.

[11][15][16] In July 2010, approximately 60 people were reportedly taken hostage by alleged FDLR (Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda) fighters in Kagulu, a location situated between Isopo and Kamituga in the Bashimwenda groupement within the Basile Chiefdom.

Following the killings, the head of the Basile Chiefdom urged the government to expedite the deployment of soldiers trained in the regiments to their jurisdiction.