Masisi, Democratic Republic of the Congo

Masisi is a town in the North Kivu Province in the east of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). It is the administrative center of the Masisi Territory.

Location
Masisi lies approximately 69 km by road, northwest of the provincial capital of Goma.

Overview
The town lies at an altitude of 1600 m in the foothills of the Virunga Mountains. Masisi is the location of a number of cheese factories. Most of the cheese produced in the DRC comes from Masisi Territory.

During the last decade, Masisi and the surrounding countryside have witnessed strife and conflict as the many militias in this part of the country fought each other and against FARDC and MONUC, for territory and wealth. Many have either been killed or permanently disabled, with more carrying residual psychological trauma.

Population
, the population of Masisi is 6,502 people.