Territories constitute the second and lowest administrative level in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, with 208 territories distributed across the country's provinces. These subdivisions serve as the primary local government structure in rural areas, handling essential administrative functions including civil registration, tax collection, maintenance of public order, and implementation of national policies at the local level. Territories are headed by administrators appointed by the central government and typically encompass multiple villages or groupings of settlements. They function as the main interface between rural populations and the provincial administration, delivering basic government services, coordinating development projects, and managing local disputes. Unlike urban areas which are organized into cities and communes, territories represent the administrative framework for the DRC's vast rural regions.