The U.S. Embassy informs U.S. citizens of ongoing civil unrest in various sections of Kinshasa and other major cities throughout the country. All official U.S. government travel to the DRC has been halted. The Embassy strongly advises U.S. citizens not to travel to the DRC. The current state of protests in Kinshasa has made it unsafe to travel to/from the international airport at this time.
We continue to receive reports of violence at demonstrations that have resulted in the loss of life and the destruction of property. Embassy Kinshasa strongly recommends that U.S. citizens avoid movement around Kinshasa, especially between Gombe and the international airport.
The U.S. Embassy in Kinshasa is open with limited operations. Routine consular services have been cancelled, but emergency consular services for U.S. citizens continue to be available. Please consult the Embassy website for updated information on the Embassy’s operational status.
Even demonstrations intended to be peaceful can turn confrontational and escalate into violence. Avoid areas where demonstrations are taking place and exercise caution when in the vicinity of any large gatherings, protests, or demonstrations. Review your personal security plans, remain aware of your surroundings, including local events, and monitor local news stations for updates. Be vigilant and take appropriate steps to enhance your personal security. U.S. citizens should review the Travel Warning for the DRC and remain alert for potentially dangerous situations.
For further information:
See the State Department’s travel website for the Worldwide Caution, Travel Warnings, Travel Alerts, and Country Specific Information for the DRC.
Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive security messages and make it easier to locate you in an emergency.
Contact the U.S. Embassy in Kinshasa, located at 310 Avenue des Aviateurs, at +243-081-225-5872 (Do not dial the zero when calling from abroad); the Consular Section at tel. +243-081-884-6859 or +243-081-884-4609 from Monday-Thursday, 7:30 a.m. to 5:15 p.m. and Fridays from 7:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. After-hours emergency number for U.S. citizens is 081-556-0151.
Call 1-888-407-4747 toll-free in the United States and Canada or 1-202-501-4444 from other countries from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays).
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