The province of owes its name to its geographical position in relation to the River.

Located in the extreme northwest of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), north of the equator, it stretches over 51,648 km2 and is home to approximately 4 million inhabitants according to provincial statistics.

It is bordered to the northwest by the Central African Republic, to the west by the Congo, to the north and east by the province of Nord-Ubangi, to the southeast by the province of Mongala and to the south by the Equator.

Bathed by rivers and partly covered by forests, is a crossroads. The river route is a determining factor in trade.