25 04 13 U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Bureau of Consular Affairs, Travel Warning

Armed groups, bandits, and elements of the Congolese military remain
security concerns in eastern and northeastern DRC. These armed groups,
primarily located in the North Kivu, South Kivu, and Orientale provinces, as
well as the northern part of Katanga province, and the eastern part of Maniema
province, are known to pillage, steal vehicles, kidnap, rape, kill, and carry
out military or paramilitary operations in which civilians are indiscriminately
targeted. The Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) is present near the border with Uganda, Central
African Republic, and the Republic of South Sudan.
The UN Organization Stabilization Mission in the DRC (MONUSCO) continues to
assist the Congolese government with the protection of civilians and efforts to
combat armed groups.

 

North and South Kivu have been the
scene of violent clashes that have resulted in significant displacements of
civilians since September 2010.
In April 2012, members of a rebel group that previously
had been integrated into the Congolese military mutinied and heavy fighting has
been reported in Massisi and Ruthshuru territories as well as in Virunga
National Park. In November 2012, members of this group captured several towns
north of Goma and Goma itself, the provincial capital of North
Kivu province. Although the rebels withdrew from Goma in December
2012, the security and political situation in Goma and North
Kivu remains tense and fragile. In March 2013, there was fighting
in North Kivu (although not in the city of Goma proper) between various factions of the
rebel group that had previously captured Goma. As a result, hundreds of people
have been killed or injured, and tens of thousands more have been internally
displaced. Moreover, violence amongst foreign and Congolese rebel groups
present in the northern part of North Kivu and former Rwandan militants in the
southern part of the province and throughout South Kivu
pose a serious and significant risk to travelers in the region. This fighting
underscores the persistent insecurity arising from activities of rebel and
other armed groups operating in the Kivus, which contribute to the overall high
risks and dangers associated with travel to eastern Congo. The U.S. Embassy in Kinshasa currently does not allow travel by official
personnel to North Kivu. Travel to South Kivu and the Ituri region of Oriental province by
Embassy personnel is permitted only under exceptional circumstances.

 

Travelers are frequently detained and questioned by poorly disciplined
security forces at numerous official and unofficial roadblocks and border
crossings throughout the country. Requests for bribes in such instances are
extremely common, and security forces have occasionally injured or killed
people who refused to pay. In the past year, several U.S. citizens were illegally
detained by government forces, or were robbed of their valuables while being
searched. Very poor infrastructure (road and air) makes the provision of
consular services difficult outside of Kinshasa.

 

The Embassy has received many reports of robberies and banditry in Goma
after dark. In most such cases, the robbers have stopped cars and stolen money
and other valuables. The poor condition of the roads, along with widespread new
road construction around the city, contribute to the banditry problem, as
traffic is either bottlenecked on the main road, or forced to travel on
secondary roads with even worse conditions. The Department strongly urges
travelers who must go to Goma not to travel after dark.

 

Kinshasa has a critical crime threat level,
and U.S.
citizens continue to be the victims of serious crimes, including armed robbery
by groups posing as law enforcement officials in both urban and rural areas,
especially after nightfall. Avoid walking alone and displaying cash and other
personal property of value. Avoid taking photos in public, especially of
government buildings and the airport (which are viewed as places of national
security), police stations, the presidential palace, border crossings, and
along the river, since doing so may lead to arrest.

 

Lock vehicle doors and keep windows closed when driving. You should not
stop at the scene of an accident or at intersections where people have
gathered, as mobs can develop quickly. In areas where the roads are in poor
condition and the speed limit is minimal, be wary of gangs of street children
who may approach your car, open your door, and steal your belongings.
Roadblocks are often found throughout the country, especially near government
buildings and installations in Kinshasa,
and should be avoided when possible. If stopped at a roadblock, keep doors
locked and crack the window in order to communicate.

 

Official Congolese motorcades pose hazards to motorists and pedestrians.
Drivers should pull over to the far side of the road when sirens or security
forces announce their presence. You should not take photographs of motorcades.
Proceed only when security forces permit you to do so.

 

There is no reliable public transportation system in the DRC.
Overcrowded vans and taxis, which often do not meet western safety standards,
serve as public transportation in Kinshasa.
Few independent taxis are available, operating largely out of the big hotels,
and most do not meet safety standards. You should avoid all travel by public
transportation, and hire private transport from a reliable source.

 

The DRC has few viable roads or railways, but does have several major
waterways. Boat transport is widely used; however, the vessels are often
overloaded and/or badly maintained, and accidents are commonplace and often
fatal.

 

Public health concerns pose a hazard to U.S. citizen travelers due to
outbreaks of deadly viruses and other diseases, which can occur without warning
and often without swift reporting by local health authorities. Information on
personal protection for international travelers, including children, can be
found on the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) website. Travelers are required
to carry evidence of yellow fever vaccination in order to enter the DRC. Health
officials at entry points, such as the airport in Kinshasa, will check for proof of
vaccination. If you do not have evidence of a yellow fever vaccination, you may
be denied entry or required to pay a fine. Malaria is common throughout the DRC
and prophylaxis is recommended. Please consult with your healthcare provider
for more information and advice on prophylaxis.

 

Due to the recent outbreak of Wild Polio Virus and measles in the DRC, you
should update your polio and measles vaccinations, if necessary, and refer to
the CDC for additional guidance. Due to the high levels of air borne irritants
(i.e., dust, burning trash, debris, etc.) individuals with respiratory
illnesses should carry all their necessary medications and equipment with
adapters.

 

There is a high risk of traveler's diarrhea and cholera throughout the
country. This can be greatly reduced by using good judgment when choosing what
food to eat and water to drink. When in restaurants, you should ask for bottled
water and avoid ice.

 

Due to the immense size of the country, the density of the Congo River rainforest, the terrible state of the roads,
and the poor security situation, the only way to get around the country quickly
is by plane. Domestic air travel on Congolese or other local airlines in the
DRC is not recommended. The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration has assessed
the government of the DRC as not being compliant with international standards
for aviation safety oversight. There have been several recent incidents causing
deaths and injuries, including one on August 25, 2010, that killed all but one
passenger. In April 2011, a
United Nations operated flight crashed while landing in Kinshasa, killing 32 passengers and crew. In
July 2011, a
Boeing 737 crashed in Kisangani,
killing more than 70 passengers. In March 2013, a domestic airline
flight crashed in Goma, killing five crewmembers and passengers. Crashes of
private aircraft are even more common. The U.S. Embassy has prohibited official
travel by U.S.
government employees and certain contractors on most airlines flying domestic
routes in the DRC due to safety and maintenance concerns. International flights
on foreign-owned-and-operated carriers are not affected by this prohibition.

 

You should avoid all public demonstrations and areas where crowds have
gathered because even peaceful events can become violent, and even deadly. You
should exercise caution at all times, and closely monitor local and
international news from reliable sources. Radio Okapi broadcasts in French on
103.5 FM at 0700, 0800, 1200, and 1800 hours, and provides updates throughout
the day. English-language news can be found on BBC at 92.6 FM. In emergencies,
the Belgian Embassy operates a French-language radio broadcast system at FM
98.8. Changes in security conditions may occasionally restrict the travel of
U.S. Mission personnel.

 

The U.S. Embassy in Kinshasa strongly
encourages U.S.
citizens who travel to or remain in the DRC despite this Travel Warning to
enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) so you can receive the
most up-to-date security information. You should remember to keep all of your
information in STEP current. It is important to include your current phone
number and email address where you can be reached in case of an emergency.

 

The U.S. Embassy is located at 310 Avenue des Aviateurs; the Consular
Section entrance is located on Avenue Dumi, opposite Saint Anne's Church. The
Embassy's telephone number, including for after-hours emergencies, is
243-81-556-0151; callers within the DRC should dial 081-556-0151. All telephone
lines in the DRC, cellular as well as landlines, are unreliable. Click here to
visit the Embassy website.

 

For further information, consult the Department of State's Country
Specific Information for Democratic
Republic of the Congo and the current
Worldwide Caution, available on the Bureau of Consular Affairs Internet
website. Current information on safety and security can also be obtained by
calling 1-888-407-4747 toll-free in the United
States and Canada or, a regular toll line
at-1-202-501-4444 for callers from other countries. These numbers are available
from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal
holidays). Stay up to date by bookmarking our Bureau of Consular Affairs
website, which contains the current Travel Warnings and Travel Alerts as well
as the Worldwide Caution. Follow us on Twitter and the Bureau of Consular
Affairs page on Facebook as well. You can also download our free Smart Traveler
App, available through iTunes and the Google Play store to have travel
information at your fingertips.