The North-Western zone of Lake Kivu in general and more particularly the site of the French of Nyabibwe, in the territory of Kalehe has always been the object of natural phenomena such as land movements (landslides, erosion, mudflows, landslides). These phenomena are often linked to natural causes such as: tectonics (the presence of active faults and earthquakes linked to the Rift), gravity (the important relief), the alteration of rocks in a tropical climate due to tropical rains and anthropic causes such as: embankments, excavations, mining quarries, deforestation, bad cultivation practices on the slopes.

At the Nyabibwe site, landslides have been observed for decades, accompanied by subsidence, particularly at the site known as "chez les Français", where these phenomena cause the cutting of the N2 national road. Their causes are essentially tectonic because it is located on the intersection of two faults, one of which is oriented North-South and the other West-North West. In addition to this, there is the slope of more than 20°, the orographic rains, the lithology (alteration of schistose rocks); the deforestation and the cultures on strong slopes.

The dynamism of these ground movements was studied from the analysis of data obtained by measuring the distances (spacing) between the various points located around and in the selected disaster area that surround this site. Data of distances are obtained using a tacheometer or laser beam distance meter brand Leica TCRM 1102 Plus.