Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08STATE116029
2008-10-30 20:45:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Secretary of State
Cable title:
TRAVEL WARNING - CONGO, DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF
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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 STATE 116029
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: CASC PTER ASEC CG
SUBJECT: TRAVEL WARNING - CONGO, DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF
THE
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 STATE 116029
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: CASC PTER ASEC CG
SUBJECT: TRAVEL WARNING - CONGO, DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF
THE
1. The Department of State warns U.S. citizens of the
risks of traveling to the Democratic Republic of the
Congo (Congo-Kinshasa),and recommends against all travel
to North Kivu province. This replaces the Travel Warning
dated July 23, 2008 to note the deterioration in the
security situation in North Kivu.
2. Conditions within certain regions of the Democratic
Republic of the Congo (DRC),particularly in the east,
remain dangerous. Official personnel from the U.S.
Embassy in Kinshasa are restricted from travel to North
Kivu unless the travel is for official business and has
been specifically authorized by the Embassy. On October
29, 2008, all U.S. Government personnel who had been
present in the city of Goma relocated temporarily to the
Rwandan town of Gisenyi, directly across the border.
American citizens should avoid travel to Goma and
surrounding areas, and those who are there are urged to
depart. Fighting between armed rebels, Congolese
military forces, and U.N. peacekeeping troops has
increased in the province of North Kivu and continues in
the provinces of South Kivu, Orientale, northern Katanga,
and sporadically in Bas Congo. Armed groups as well as
active duty and demobilized Congolese troops in parts of
the country are known to pillage, carjack, and steal
vehicles, kill extra-judicially, rape, kidnap, and carry
out military or paramilitary operations. Government
soldiers, as well as rebel fighters expected to be
demobilized as a result of ongoing peace processes,
remain a security concern. Travelers are frequently
detained and questioned by poorly disciplined security
forces at numerous roadblocks and border crossings
throughout the country.
3. Travelers to the DRC frequently experience
difficulties at the airport and other ports of entry,
such as temporary detention, passport confiscation, and
demands by immigration and security personnel for
unofficial "special fees." Visas are not available at
ports of entry. All resident foreigners, including
Americans, are required to register at the office of the
Direction General de Migration (DGM) in the commune of
their place of residence. Border closures of 24-48 hour
durations can occur without much advance notice.
4. Enforcement of aviation safety standards in the DRC
is uneven, with frequent incidents and crashes. The U.S.
Embassy has prohibited official travel by U.S. government
employees and contractors on all DRC-owned and operated
commercial airlines due to safety and maintenance
concerns. International flights on foreign-owned and -
operated carriers are not affected by this notice.
5. American citizens should avoid all public
demonstrations and areas where crowds have gathered,
exercise caution, and closely monitor local and
international news from reliable sources. Radio Okapi
broadcasts in French on 103.5 FM at 0700, 0800, 1200, and
1800 as well as "flash" updates throughout the day.
English-language news can be found on BBC at 92.7 FM. In
times of emergency, the Belgian Embassy operates a
French-language radio broadcast system at FM 98.8.
Changes in security conditions may occasionally restrict
the travel of U.S. Mission personnel.
6. Public Health concerns also pose a hazard to U.S.
citizen travelers due to outbreaks of deadly viruses and
other diseases, which can occur without warning and often
are not rapidly reported by local health
authorities. Information on personal protection for
STATE 00116029 002 OF 002
international travelers, including children, can be found
at http://wwwn.cdc.gov/travel.
7. U.S. citizens who travel to or remain in the DRC
despite this Travel Warning are strongly urged to
register with the Embassy in Kinshasa or through the
State Department's travel registration website at
https://travelregistration.state.gov. By registering,
American citizens make it easier for the Embassy to
contact them in case of emergency. The U.S. Embassy is
located at 310 Avenue des Aviateurs; the Consular Section
entrance is located on Avenue Dumi, opposite Saint Anne's
Residence. The Embassy's 24-hour phone number is 243-81-
225-5872; callers within DRC should dial 081-225-5872.
All Embassy telephone numbers are cellular phones as
landlines are unreliable. The Embassy website is
http://kinshasa.usembassy.gov.
8. U.S. citizens should also consult the Department of
State's Country Specific Information for the Democratic
Republic of the Congo and the Worldwide Caution, both
located on the Department's Internet website at
http://travel.state.gov. Up-to-date information on
safety and security is available toll-free at 1-888-407-
4747 from within the United States and Canada, or at
regular toll rates at 1-202-501-4444 for callers outside
the United States and Canada, from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Eastern Time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal
holidays).
9. Minimize considered.
RICE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: CASC PTER ASEC CG
SUBJECT: TRAVEL WARNING - CONGO, DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF
THE
1. The Department of State warns U.S. citizens of the
risks of traveling to the Democratic Republic of the
Congo (Congo-Kinshasa),and recommends against all travel
to North Kivu province. This replaces the Travel Warning
dated July 23, 2008 to note the deterioration in the
security situation in North Kivu.
2. Conditions within certain regions of the Democratic
Republic of the Congo (DRC),particularly in the east,
remain dangerous. Official personnel from the U.S.
Embassy in Kinshasa are restricted from travel to North
Kivu unless the travel is for official business and has
been specifically authorized by the Embassy. On October
29, 2008, all U.S. Government personnel who had been
present in the city of Goma relocated temporarily to the
Rwandan town of Gisenyi, directly across the border.
American citizens should avoid travel to Goma and
surrounding areas, and those who are there are urged to
depart. Fighting between armed rebels, Congolese
military forces, and U.N. peacekeeping troops has
increased in the province of North Kivu and continues in
the provinces of South Kivu, Orientale, northern Katanga,
and sporadically in Bas Congo. Armed groups as well as
active duty and demobilized Congolese troops in parts of
the country are known to pillage, carjack, and steal
vehicles, kill extra-judicially, rape, kidnap, and carry
out military or paramilitary operations. Government
soldiers, as well as rebel fighters expected to be
demobilized as a result of ongoing peace processes,
remain a security concern. Travelers are frequently
detained and questioned by poorly disciplined security
forces at numerous roadblocks and border crossings
throughout the country.
3. Travelers to the DRC frequently experience
difficulties at the airport and other ports of entry,
such as temporary detention, passport confiscation, and
demands by immigration and security personnel for
unofficial "special fees." Visas are not available at
ports of entry. All resident foreigners, including
Americans, are required to register at the office of the
Direction General de Migration (DGM) in the commune of
their place of residence. Border closures of 24-48 hour
durations can occur without much advance notice.
4. Enforcement of aviation safety standards in the DRC
is uneven, with frequent incidents and crashes. The U.S.
Embassy has prohibited official travel by U.S. government
employees and contractors on all DRC-owned and operated
commercial airlines due to safety and maintenance
concerns. International flights on foreign-owned and -
operated carriers are not affected by this notice.
5. American citizens should avoid all public
demonstrations and areas where crowds have gathered,
exercise caution, and closely monitor local and
international news from reliable sources. Radio Okapi
broadcasts in French on 103.5 FM at 0700, 0800, 1200, and
1800 as well as "flash" updates throughout the day.
English-language news can be found on BBC at 92.7 FM. In
times of emergency, the Belgian Embassy operates a
French-language radio broadcast system at FM 98.8.
Changes in security conditions may occasionally restrict
the travel of U.S. Mission personnel.
6. Public Health concerns also pose a hazard to U.S.
citizen travelers due to outbreaks of deadly viruses and
other diseases, which can occur without warning and often
are not rapidly reported by local health
authorities. Information on personal protection for
STATE 00116029 002 OF 002
international travelers, including children, can be found
at http://wwwn.cdc.gov/travel.
7. U.S. citizens who travel to or remain in the DRC
despite this Travel Warning are strongly urged to
register with the Embassy in Kinshasa or through the
State Department's travel registration website at
https://travelregistration.state.gov. By registering,
American citizens make it easier for the Embassy to
contact them in case of emergency. The U.S. Embassy is
located at 310 Avenue des Aviateurs; the Consular Section
entrance is located on Avenue Dumi, opposite Saint Anne's
Residence. The Embassy's 24-hour phone number is 243-81-
225-5872; callers within DRC should dial 081-225-5872.
All Embassy telephone numbers are cellular phones as
landlines are unreliable. The Embassy website is
http://kinshasa.usembassy.gov.
8. U.S. citizens should also consult the Department of
State's Country Specific Information for the Democratic
Republic of the Congo and the Worldwide Caution, both
located on the Department's Internet website at
http://travel.state.gov. Up-to-date information on
safety and security is available toll-free at 1-888-407-
4747 from within the United States and Canada, or at
regular toll rates at 1-202-501-4444 for callers outside
the United States and Canada, from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Eastern Time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal
holidays).
9. Minimize considered.
RICE