Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06KINSHASA25
2006-01-06 10:30:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Kinshasa
Cable title:  

COUNTRY CLEARANCE FOR ARS D/DIRECTOR JOAN MCKNIFF

Tags:  OIIP KPAO ABUD CG 
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061030Z Jan 06
UNCLAS KINSHASA 000025 

SIPDIS


PARIS FOR ARS
DEPT FOR AF/PDPA AJohnson

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OIIP KPAO ABUD CG
SUBJECT: COUNTRY CLEARANCE FOR ARS D/DIRECTOR JOAN MCKNIFF

REF: PARIS 008611

UNCLAS KINSHASA 000025

SIPDIS


PARIS FOR ARS
DEPT FOR AF/PDPA AJohnson

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OIIP KPAO ABUD CG
SUBJECT: COUNTRY CLEARANCE FOR ARS D/DIRECTOR JOAN MCKNIFF

REF: PARIS 008611


1. Post grants country clearance and welcomes the arrival of
ARS Deputy Director Joan MCKNIFF to the Democratic Republic
of Congo (DROC) from February 09 to 14, 2006. It is
expected that Ms. McKniff will also visit Embassy
Brazzaville during this period, the subject of septel
country clearance.


2. Control Officer is APAO Katya THOMAS:

Office phone: 011-243-081-225-5872
Cell phone: 011-243-081-715-0061
IVG: 8-934-2188

PAO is Christopher DAVIS:

Office and IVG telephone numbers same as above.
Cell phone: 011-243-081-715-0062


3. VISA REQUIREMENTS:

A valid Congolese visa is required of all American passport
holders, whether diplomatic, official or tourist.


4. FISCAL DATA REQUIREMENTS

Fiscal data or credit card info must be provided in advance
to the control officer listed above for any assistance
required, including meet and assist at the airport, hotel
reservations, cell phone, airport expeditors,
translators/interpreters, etc. The Embassy is unable to
make hotel reservations or rental arrangements without
financial information.


5. ALL VISITS MUST COMMENCE IN KINSHASA

At the Ambassador's request, all visits to the Democratic
Republic of Congo that require country clearance are to
commence in Kinshasa, the country's capital. Travel to
other regions of the country including the Kivus, Orientale
and Maniema provinces, is to be undertaken from Kinshasa.
Embassy Kinshasa will provide assistance with these travel
arrangements. As travel in the Congo can be complicated,
visitors should consult with their Embassy control officer
early in the planning process.


6. AIRPORT ADVICE FOR ARRIVING PASSENGERS

Procedures at Ndjili Airport have changed such Embassy
expeditors are no longer allowed in the Arrivals Hall and
can provide assistance only after travelers pass through
Immigration control and have retrieved their luggage.
After deplaning and entering the Arrivals Hall, travelers
should proceed to the "Official VIP/Diplomat" line with
passports and health certificates ready for presentation to
the Immigration officials. After clearing Immigration,
travelers should go to the luggage claim area to retrieve
their luggage. When exiting the luggage claim area,

travelers will be met by the Embassy expeditor holding a
placard with the names of travelers.
The expeditor will then take travelers outside to the
Embassy vehicle. Once outside the terminal, local porters
will carry your bags to the Embassy vehicle. Please be
prepared to give the expeditor one USD per bag to pay the
porters.

While at the airport, travelers are warned not, repeat not,
to pay money or give their documents to anyone other than
the Embassy expeditor. This also applies to individuals in
uniform who may offer their services. Be polite, but do not
accept their assistance.


7. CUSTOMS AND ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT

If you will be carrying tools, heavy cases, or any
electronic equipment other than personal devices, contact
your control officer with specific information that can be
passed to the expeditor for assistance with customs
clearance.


8. ACCOMMODATION

One single room has been booked at the Grand Hotel, tel: 011-
243-89-46-660, FOR TWO NIGHTS: Thursday the 9th and Monday
the 13th of February 06. The room price is within per diem
and includes breakfast. Accommodation for THREE NIGHTS,
Friday 10th, Saturday 11th and Sunday 12th, will be in
Brazzaville, Republic of Congo. One single room has been
booked at Hotel Meridien Brazzaville, tel: 00-242-81-0302 or
00-242-53-90535, with room price within the per diem and
breakfast included.


9. SECURITY

Kinshasa is a critical threat crime post. Although there is
no specific threat targeting Americans, all visitors should
remain vigilant and cautious during their stay in Kinshasa.
Because of political instability in parts of the country,
all travel outside of Kinshasa must be approved by the RSO.
Your control officer will make reservations for you at one
of the hotels the Regional Security Office has approved for
visitors. The RSO advises that you exercise caution in the
area around these hotels, and that you not travel after
nightfall unless accompanied by someone familiar with the
security situation in Kinshasa. TDY personnel should not
use any form of local transportation and should refrain from
displaying/using cameras in public.

A recent scam involves individuals in civilian clothes
claiming to be Congolese police/security officials who
approach unsuspecting expatriates on the street and demand
to see their passport or other identification documents.
They try and convince the would-be victim to get in their
unmarked vehicle and accompany them to the local police
precinct. If you are on the street and approached by
someone claiming to be a police or security official,
identify yourself as a diplomat working at the U.S. Embassy,
walk briskly away, and make sure to report the incident to
the RSO or Post One as soon as you have access to a phone.
Do not approach or get in their vehicle.


10. CURRENCY:

The use of dollars in the DRC is legal and acceptable for
most transactions. Travelers arriving in the DRC with more
than USD 10,000 must fill out a currency declaration.
Travelers departing the DRC are not allowed to take out more
than USD 10,000 in cash.

Please note that ATMs are not available in Congo. However,
USG personnel are authorized USD and Congolese Franc
accommodation exchange at the Embassy and/or USAID cashier;
personal or travelers' checks are acceptable. Most
personnel use Congolese Francs only for small purchases and
tips.

American Express, Visa, Master Card, and Diner's Club are
accepted in payment of bills at Kinshasa's two major hotels.
However, very few other businesses in the Congo accept
credit cards and their use outside of the major hotels is
discouraged. Cashing travelers checks outside the Embassy
is generally not advised because banks charge substantial
fees for cashing them; travelers' checks are rarely accepted
outside of Kinshasa.


11. MEDICAL

Access to the Embassy Health Unit is available for US
citizen, direct-hire USG employees and their eligible family
members. If you have been or will be posted more than 60
days overseas in a calendar year (not necessarily
consecutive),you must provide proof of a Department of
State medical clearance from M/MED to qualify for access to
the our Health Unit. Official visitors who are overseas
less than 60 days in a calendar year are not required to
have medical clearance and are authorized emergency, but not
routine, use of the Health Unit.

Other official visitors may receive Health Unit services if
they meet the following criteria: 1) an individual
employment relationship with the USG, 2) a MED Washington
clearance, and 3) a USG agency that guarantees payment for
medical expenses and/or personal overseas health and medevac
insurance. Visitors without Health Unit access will be
referred to a local medical clinic, which provides all
emergency and non-routine medical care for Embassy employees
and family members.

MALARIA: Congo is a malaria-affected area. All travelers
should consult with medical personnel and take malaria
prophylactics as appropriate, before arriving in Kinshasa.

YELLOW FEVER: You must have a valid yellow fever vaccination
and your yellow vaccination card when you arrive. You may
be charged a fine of $50-$100 without proof of vaccination.


12. ACCESS TO CONTROLLED ACCESS AREAS

Each visitor to Kinshasa requiring unescorted access to
controlled access areas (CAA) must arrange for their
sponsoring agency or sending post to forward their security
clearance to the RSO by telegram in advance of the visit.
In accordance with regulations, a diplomatic passport or

Department of State identification card is not sufficient to
allow unescorted access to CAA'S. Kinshasa does not have
the resources to escort visitors who arrive without proper
advance security clearance.


13. Government-owned thumb/flash drives with proper
classification label can be used at Post, but only on Open
Net computers outside of the Controlled Access Area (CAA).
These devices cannot be used on any classified computers at
Post. Thumb/flash drives must be hand carried and protected
the same as a laptop. The drive(s) could be pouched in
advance to the control officer or the IMO. Upon arrival at
Post, the Control Officer will provide a thumb/flash drive
request form that should be completed and taken to the IPC
or ISC along with the flash drive before use. Questions
should be directed to Information Management Officer (IMO)
MbennaVG@state.gov or Information Systems Security
Officer(ISSO) BakkenCA@state.gov.


14. You may visit the Embassy's Intranet website at
http://kinshasa.state.gov. While still under construction,
information is being added daily that you may find useful.


15. Have a good trip. Post looks forward to seeing you in
Kinshasa. MEECE


NNNN