Where do Bambuti, Twa, and Babinga communities traditionally live in the Democratic Republic of the Congo?

The Bambuti, Twa, and Babinga communities are considered among the earliest inhabitants of the Congo basin. Traditionally, these groups reside in specific regions across the Democratic Republic of the Congo, including:1

• Forest Regions: They inhabit the forests of Kibali and the Ituri Forest.12
• Lake Regions: They are found in the areas surrounding Lake Kivu and Lake Tanganyika.13
• River Basins: They also live in areas near the Lualaba, Tshuapa, Sankuru, and Ubangi rivers.1

While these groups share a history as early inhabitants of the equatorial rainforest, their specific geographic distribution varies. For instance, the Bambuti are primarily associated with the Ituri Forest, while the Twa are notably scattered across the high mountains and plains around Lake Kivu.243