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