Avoid Democratic Republic of the Congo

Regarding the Democratic Republic of the Congo (Congo-Kinshasa, or DRC), the US Department of State strongly recommends avoiding all travel to the city of Goma and the province of North Kivu and all but essential travel to the province of South Kivu and the Ituri region in the province of Oriental. 

Armed groups, bandits and elements of the Congolese military remain security concerns in eastern and northeastern DRC. These armed groups — located primarily 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 and kill indiscriminately. The Lord’s Resistance Army is present near the border with Uganda, Central African Republic and the Republic of South Sudan. 

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 was 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. Although the rebels withdrew from Goma in December 2012, the situation in North Kivu remains tense.

In March 2013, there was fighting in North Kivu (although not in Goma proper) between 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 have been internally displaced.

Moreover, violence amongst foreign and Congolese rebel groups in the northern part of North Kivu and former Rwandan militants in the southern part of the province and throughout South Kivu poses serious risk. 

In the past year, several US citizens were illegally detained by government forces or were robbed while being searched. The US Embassy has received many reports of banditry in Goma after dark. In most cases, the robbers stopped cars and stole valuables. 

Kinshasa has a critical crime threat level. Avoid taking photos in public, especially of government buildings, the airport, police stations, the presidential palace, border crossings and along the river, since doing so may lead to arrest.