Country Clearance and In-Country Travel Policy

UNCLAS KINSHASA 000397 SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: AMGT CASC PTER ASEC SUBJECT: Country Clearance and In-Country Travel Policy ¶1. (U) On May 5 Embassy Kinshasa re-issued its current travel policy, reiterating the requirement that all travel to the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) must begin in Kinshasa. ¶2. Text of the policy follows: At the Ambassador's request, all visits to the Democratic Republic of Congo, which 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. Any deviation from this policy must be approved by Embassy Kinshasa. End travel policy ¶3. Embassy requests that Department, other USG agencies, neighboring posts, and posts where connections are made to travel to the DRC take note of the policy and circulate a copy of it to travelers.