DRC PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENT

UNCLAS KINSHASA 008519

SIPDIS


DEPT FOR CA/OCS/ACS/AF, DSS/OSAC, DS/OP/AF, DS/ITA AND
AF/C



E. O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: CASC OTRA PTER ASEC CG
SUBJECT: DRC PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENT


1. EMBASSY'S EMERGENCY ACTION COMMITTEE MET ON
DECEMBER 22 AND RECOMMENDED THAT THE FOLLOWING
INFORMATION BE DISSEMINATED TO U.S. CITIZENS VIA POST'S
WARDEN SYSTEM AND DEPARTMENT'S PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENT OR
TRAVEL ADVISORY NETWORK:



2. BEGIN TEXT:


THE U.S. EMBASSY IN KINSHASA, CONGO (DRC),ISSUED THE
FOLLOWING WARDEN MESSAGE TO U.S. CITIZENS IN THE
DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO ON DECEMBER 22, 2000:


IN VIEW OF INCREASED FIGHTING IN EQUATEUR AND KATANGA
PROVINCES, THE EMBASSY REMINDS ALL U.S. CITIZENS THAT
THEY MUST HAVE EXPRESS WRITTEN PERMISSION FROM THE DRC
MINISTER OF INTERIOR IN ORDER TO TRAVEL ANYWHERE IN THE
DRC OTHER THAN KINSHASA. U.S. CITIZENS RESIDING IN THE
DRC ARE URGED TO EXERCISE CAUTION, REVIEW THEIR
SECURITY PRACTICES AND MAINTAIN A HEIGHTENED LEVEL OF
SECURITY AWARENESS, ESPECIALLY DURING EVENINGS.
WARDENS SHOULD MONITOR THE EMBASSY RADIO NET FOR
FURTHER INFORMATION. U.S. CITIZENS CONTEMPLATING
TRAVEL TO, FROM OR WITHIN DRC SHOULD CONTACT THE
EMBASSY USING THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION BEFORE
FINALIZING THEIR TRAVEL PLANS:


U.S. EMBASSY KINSHASA
POUCH: C/O U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
WASHINGTON, D.C., 20521-2220
APO: UNIT 31550
APO, AE 09828-1550
LOCAL: 310 AVENUE DES AVIATEURS
KINSHASA, C/GOMBE, DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE
CONGO
SWITCHBOARD: 243-88-43608, EXTS. 2286, 2376, 2164
OFFICE: 243-88-46859, 243-88-44609, 243-88-03724
FAX: 243-88-00228


THE EMBASSY WILL ENDEAVOR TO KEEP THE U.S. CITIZEN
COMMUNITY INFORMED OF RELEVANT SECURITY INFORMATION
THROUGH THE WARDEN SYSTEM AND THE DEPARTMENT'S PUBLIC
ANNOUNCEMENT NETWORK.


END TEXT.



3. EMBASSY'S EAC WISHES TO BRING THIS INFORMATION TO
THE ATTENTION OF THE U.S. CITIZEN COMMUNITY VIA POST'S
WARDEN SYSTEM AND THE DEPARTMENT'S PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENT
NETWORK AS THE INCREASE IN FIGHTING IN EQUATEUR AND
KATANGA PROVINCES INCREASES THE SECURITY RISK FOR U.S.
CITIZENS RESIDING IN AND TRAVELING TO, FROM OR WITHIN
DROC.


SWING