Brycinus epuluensis, new species, is described from the Epulu River, an affluent of the Ituri River (Aruwimi basin, Middle Congo basin, DR Congo). It most closely resembles the widespread species B. imberi from the nurse group, although it has a broad black mid-lateral band on the body, which is absent in B. imberi. This black band is, however, also present in specimens from the neighbouring population in the Ituri River itself. Brycinus epuluensis differs from the types of B. imberi and its five junior synonyms, as well as from the neighbouring Ituri population, mainly in having only 6 instead of 8 premaxillary teeth, arranged in a single row. This low number of premaxillary teeth is characteristic for species of the longipinnis group. However, B. epuluensis differs from all members of the longipinnis group by the absence of a fronto-parietal fontanelle in adults and the following combination of characteristics: 18-22 lateral line scales and 12-15 branched anal-fin rays. The Ituri population could not be separated from B. imberi and most of its synonyms on morphometrics, but does differ by the presence of the black mid-lateral band.