Aru, Democratic Republic of Congo
Encyclopedia
Aru is a territory
in Ituri District, Orientale Province, Democratic Republic of the Congo
, and the name of the territory's administrative capital, Aru Town
. The territory is located at the northern edge of the province, on the border with Uganda
to the east and South Sudan
to the north.
During the 1998-2006 war in DRC, Aru was the base of the Ituri militia FAPC headed by Jerome Kakwavu. While the war had a severe impact on the region, Aru was spared the atrocities that ravaged the rest of Ituri district. This was, in part, due to the territory's diversity of tribes who had been accustomed to living peacefully together.
While Aru Town is the administrative capital of the territory, Ariwara is its economic hub where businesspeople from DRC, Southern Sudan and Uganda meet to trade cows, manufactured goods and other products.
Aru has a small airport but no public electricity grid, although UNHCR was up until recently supplying electricity to Aru Town using electric generators. The UN Mission in DR Congo, MONUC, maintained a base of operations in Aru in the later stages of the war to assist with the conduct of elections in the area. The operation was successful with over 85% of voters registering and voting; no serious incidents were registered in the territory.
Territories of the Democratic Republic of the Congo
The provinces and districts of the Democratic Republic of the Congo are divided into 192 territories and communes...
in Ituri District, Orientale Province, Democratic Republic of the Congo
Democratic Republic of the Congo
The Democratic Republic of the Congo is a state located in Central Africa. It is the second largest country in Africa by area and the eleventh largest in the world...
, and the name of the territory's administrative capital, Aru Town
Aru, Democratic Republic of the Congo
Aru is town and seat of Aru Territory in Ituri Province, Democratic Republic of the Congo. Aru has a small airport but no public electricity grid as of 2010.-References:...
. The territory is located at the northern edge of the province, on the border with Uganda
Uganda
Uganda , officially the Republic of Uganda, is a landlocked country in East Africa. Uganda is also known as the "Pearl of Africa". It is bordered on the east by Kenya, on the north by South Sudan, on the west by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, on the southwest by Rwanda, and on the south by...
to the east and South Sudan
South Sudan
South Sudan , officially the Republic of South Sudan, is a landlocked country located in the Sahel region of northeastern Africa. It is also part of the North Africa UN sub-region. Its current capital is Juba, which is also its largest city; the capital city is planned to be moved to the more...
to the north.
During the 1998-2006 war in DRC, Aru was the base of the Ituri militia FAPC headed by Jerome Kakwavu. While the war had a severe impact on the region, Aru was spared the atrocities that ravaged the rest of Ituri district. This was, in part, due to the territory's diversity of tribes who had been accustomed to living peacefully together.
While Aru Town is the administrative capital of the territory, Ariwara is its economic hub where businesspeople from DRC, Southern Sudan and Uganda meet to trade cows, manufactured goods and other products.
Aru has a small airport but no public electricity grid, although UNHCR was up until recently supplying electricity to Aru Town using electric generators. The UN Mission in DR Congo, MONUC, maintained a base of operations in Aru in the later stages of the war to assist with the conduct of elections in the area. The operation was successful with over 85% of voters registering and voting; no serious incidents were registered in the territory.