United Nations Peacekeeping Force has also been employed to counter foreign armed groups and local militias which are committing HRVs (Human Rights Violations)[4] while exploring minerals from the area.

[5] Covering a surface area of 1800 km2, it is a large region that encompasses a diverse range of natural features, such as mountains, lakes, rivers, forests, and fertile plains.

[6] Roughly half of its terrain is situated within the Ruzizi Plain, a vast lowland area known for its fertile soils and favorable agricultural conditions.

Although less extensively documented, these smaller rivers likely contribute to the local water supply and play a role in maintaining the ecological balance within their respective regions.

These grassy plains play a key role in natural processes such as nutrient cycling, soil formation, and water infiltration.

However, the low-lying marshy areas boast fertile soil attributed to sediment deposition from local organisms, enriched by rivers, and water erosion during the rainy season.

[11][12] The foothills and mountains of the territory exhibit an accumulation of mineral deposits, harboring subsoil resources such as gold, iron, tantalum, wolfram, and tin, which hold significant economic potential.

[15] Walungu Territory has a tumultuous history marked by conflict and insecurity, stemming from a combination of internal and external factors.

The AFDL, led by Laurent-Désiré Kabila, emerged as a rebel movement aiming to overthrow the regime of President Mobutu Sese Seko in Zaire.

The AFDL received significant support from RPA, led by Paul Kagame, due to concerns about the presence of Rwandan Hutu militias in eastern Zaire.

The AFDL/RPA units committed numerous human rights violations, deliberately attacking civilian populations, resulting in massacres, summary executions, and mass displacements.

[20][19] As a major faction opposing Laurent-Désiré Kabila's government, the RCD engaged in acts of violence, committing grave atrocities against civilians.

The Rasta militia, an ultra-violent armed group composed of approximately fifteen Congolese dissidents, emerged in the region and has been responsible for several brutal massacres, most notably in the Nindja Chiefdom and Kaniola Groupement between 2004 and 2007.

[24] Another source of ongoing conflict is the traditional power struggle and the presence of vigilance committees; armed groups formed to protect local communities.

The head of the Ngweshe Chiefdom in Walungu Territory's decision to depose the leader of the Kaniola Groupement without providing a justifiable reason fueled tensions.

This expulsion, coupled with the existence of armed vigilance committees and the popularity of Foka Mike, a local figure, further aggravated the power struggle and accusations of militancy.

[24] Civil society in Kaniola and other parts of the region has voiced grievances against the chieftaincy chief, accusing him of lacking transparency and disregarding the demands and expectations of local populations.

Each chiefdom is headed by a chieftaincy commonly known as "Mwami" or "Bami", responsible for upholding customs and overseeing succession, which is traditionally passed down from father to son.