Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09STATE91188
2009-09-01 19:08:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Secretary of State
Cable title:
TRAVEL WARNING: DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO
how-toVZCZCXRO6334 OO RUEHAG RUEHAO RUEHAP RUEHAST RUEHAT RUEHBC RUEHBI RUEHBL RUEHBZ RUEHCD RUEHCHI RUEHCI RUEHCN RUEHDA RUEHDBU RUEHDE RUEHDF RUEHDH RUEHDT RUEHDU RUEHED RUEHEL RUEHFK RUEHFL RUEHGA RUEHGD RUEHGH RUEHGI RUEHGR RUEHHA RUEHHM RUEHHO RUEHHT RUEHIHL RUEHIK RUEHJO RUEHJS RUEHKN RUEHKR RUEHKSO RUEHKUK RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHLH RUEHLN RUEHLZ RUEHMA RUEHMC RUEHMJ RUEHMR RUEHMRE RUEHMT RUEHNAG RUEHNEH RUEHNG RUEHNH RUEHNL RUEHNP RUEHNZ RUEHPA RUEHPB RUEHPD RUEHPOD RUEHPT RUEHPW RUEHQU RUEHRD RUEHRG RUEHRN RUEHROV RUEHRS RUEHSK RUEHSL RUEHTM RUEHTRO RUEHVC RUEHVK RUEHYG DE RUEHC #1188/01 2441926 ZNR UUUUU ZZH O 011908Z SEP 09 FM SECSTATE WASHDC TO ALL DIPLOMATIC AND CONSULAR POSTS COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE RUEHFSI/DIR FSINFATC IMMEDIATE RHEHAAA/NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE RUEHPH/CDC ATLANTA IMMEDIATE 7823 RUCPDOC/ALL USDOC DISTDIR COLLECTIVE WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE RHMCSUU/CDRAMC FT BELVOIR VA//AMCMI-SS// IMMEDIATE RUEAHQA/HQ USAF WASHINGTON DC//XOXXI// IMMEDIATE RHMCSUU/HQ AFOSI DOQ ANDREWS AFB MD//IVOA// IMMEDIATE RHMCSUU/FAA NATIONAL HQ WASHINGTON DC//ACI-400// IMMEDIATE RHMCSUU/COMNAVAIRSYSCOM PATUXENT RIVER MD//AIR1031B// RHMFIUU/NRC WASHINGTON DC//INFOSEC// IMMEDIATE RHMFISS/CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL//CCJ2-JIT// IMMEDIATE RUCPCIM/CIM NTDB WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE RHMCSUU/COGARD INTELCOORDCEN WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE RHMFIUU/CDR USPACOM HONOLULU HI IMMEDIATE RHMFISS/CDR USSOUTHCOM MIAMI FL IMMEDIATE RUEHTRO/AMEMBASSY TRIPOLI IMMEDIATE 9423 INFO RUESBKC/ATO ASIA IMMEDIATE 1934
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 STATE 091188
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: CASC PTER ASEC CG
SUBJECT: TRAVEL WARNING: DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 STATE 091188
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: CASC PTER ASEC CG
SUBJECT: TRAVEL WARNING: DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO
1. The Department of State warns U.S. citizens of the
risks of traveling to the Democratic Republic of the
Congo (Congo-Kinshasa). This notice replaces the
Travel Warning dated February 5, 2009, to reflect
continued instability in North Kivu province and the
surrounding area, as well as a critical crime threat
in Kinshasa.
2. The Rwandan government forces that entered the
Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) in January at
the invitation of the DRC government have withdrawn,
and all U.S. Government personnel working in the
region have returned. Still, government soldiers, as
well as rebel fighters, remain a security concern.
These armed groups, located especially in North Kivu,
South Kivu, Orientale, northern Katanga, and Bas-
Congo, are known to pillage, steal vehicles, kidnap,
rape, kill, and carry out military or paramilitary
operations in which civilians are indiscriminately
targeted. Travelers are frequently detained and
questioned by poorly disciplined security forces at
numerous roadblocks and border crossings throughout
the country. Requests for bribes in such instances
are extremely common, and security forces have
occasionally injured or killed people refusing to pay.
In the last six months, the Embassy has recorded a
number of serious instances where U.S. citizens were
detained illegally by government forces. The
isolation of the area makes the provision of consular
services difficult.
3. Kinshasa remains a critical crime threat area, and
U.S. citizens continue to be the victims of serious
crime, including armed robbery by groups posing as law
enforcement.
4. Public health concerns 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. In January, in the province of Western
Kasai, an Ebola fever outbreak occurred in which 11
people died and more than 120 were exposed to the
virus. Information on personal protection for
international travelers, including children, can be
found at http://wwwn.cdc.gov/travel/.
5. Enforcement of aviation safety standards in the DRC
is uneven, with frequent incidents and accidents. 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 prohibition.
6. U.S. 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 and provides 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.
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 00091188 002 OF 002
State Department's travel registration website at
https://travelregistration.state.gov. By registering,
U.S. 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 church. The Embassy's telephone number,
including for after-hours emergencies, is 243-81-225-
5872; callers within the 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 from
other countries, from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern
Time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal
holidays).
9. Minimize considered.
CLINTON
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: CASC PTER ASEC CG
SUBJECT: TRAVEL WARNING: DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO
1. The Department of State warns U.S. citizens of the
risks of traveling to the Democratic Republic of the
Congo (Congo-Kinshasa). This notice replaces the
Travel Warning dated February 5, 2009, to reflect
continued instability in North Kivu province and the
surrounding area, as well as a critical crime threat
in Kinshasa.
2. The Rwandan government forces that entered the
Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) in January at
the invitation of the DRC government have withdrawn,
and all U.S. Government personnel working in the
region have returned. Still, government soldiers, as
well as rebel fighters, remain a security concern.
These armed groups, located especially in North Kivu,
South Kivu, Orientale, northern Katanga, and Bas-
Congo, are known to pillage, steal vehicles, kidnap,
rape, kill, and carry out military or paramilitary
operations in which civilians are indiscriminately
targeted. Travelers are frequently detained and
questioned by poorly disciplined security forces at
numerous roadblocks and border crossings throughout
the country. Requests for bribes in such instances
are extremely common, and security forces have
occasionally injured or killed people refusing to pay.
In the last six months, the Embassy has recorded a
number of serious instances where U.S. citizens were
detained illegally by government forces. The
isolation of the area makes the provision of consular
services difficult.
3. Kinshasa remains a critical crime threat area, and
U.S. citizens continue to be the victims of serious
crime, including armed robbery by groups posing as law
enforcement.
4. Public health concerns 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. In January, in the province of Western
Kasai, an Ebola fever outbreak occurred in which 11
people died and more than 120 were exposed to the
virus. Information on personal protection for
international travelers, including children, can be
found at http://wwwn.cdc.gov/travel/.
5. Enforcement of aviation safety standards in the DRC
is uneven, with frequent incidents and accidents. 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 prohibition.
6. U.S. 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 and provides 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.
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 00091188 002 OF 002
State Department's travel registration website at
https://travelregistration.state.gov. By registering,
U.S. 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 church. The Embassy's telephone number,
including for after-hours emergencies, is 243-81-225-
5872; callers within the 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 from
other countries, from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern
Time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal
holidays).
9. Minimize considered.
CLINTON