Reissued to reflect changes to the “Do Not Travel” provinces.
Reconsider travel to the Democratic Republic of the Congo due to crime and civil unrest. Some areas have increased risk. Read the entire Travel Advisory.
Do Not Travel To:
- North Kivu province due to crime, terrorism, civil unrest, active volcanoes, armed conflict, and kidnapping.
- Ituri province due to crime, civil unrest, terrorism, armed conflict, and kidnapping.
- The eastern DRC region and the three Kasai provinces (Kasai, Kasai-Oriental, Kasai-Central) due to crime, civil unrest, armed conflict, and kidnapping.
Country Summary: Violent crime, such as armed robbery, armed home invasion, and assault, is common. Local police lack resources to respond effectively to serious crime. Assailants may pose as police or security agents.
Demonstrations are common in many cities, and some have turned violent. Police may respond with heavy-handed tactics that result in civilian casualties and arrests.
The U.S. government has extremely limited ability to provide emergency consular services to U.S. citizens outside of Kinshasa due to poor infrastructure and security conditions.
Read the country information page for additional information on travel to the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
If you decide to travel to the Democratic Republic of the Congo:
- Visit our website for Travel to High-Risk Areas.
- Avoid demonstrations.
- Use caution when walking or driving.
- Always have a photocopy of your U.S. passport and DRC visa. Keep originals in a secure location. Carry your U.S. passport and DRC visa when crossing provincial borders or flying domestically.
- Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive Alerts and to make it easier to locate you in an emergency.
- Follow the Department of State on Facebook and Twitter.
- Review the Country Security Report for the DRC.
- Prepare a personal contingency plan for emergency situations. Review the Traveler’s Checklist. Ensure that documents and medications are easy to locate in case you need to leave on short notice.
- Visit the CDC page for the latest Travel Health Information related to your travel.
North Kivu Province – Level 4: Do Not Travel
Armed conflict involving armed groups continues in North Kivu, near the major city of Goma. Missiles and armed drones have been used in the conflict. The fighting has displaced hundreds of thousands of people from their homes, crowding internally displaced persons (IDP) camps, and contributing to instability in the province.
Violent crime, such as murder, rape, kidnapping, and pillaging, continue throughout North Kivu province. Road travelers are frequently targeted for ambush, armed robbery, and kidnapping.
Terrorist and armed groups operate in North Kivu province. They have attacked military and civilian targets, including humanitarian aid workers, businesspeople, and other NGO personnel operating in the area.
Demonstrations and large gatherings can occur throughout the region, especially in urban areas. Mobs can form rapidly and turn violent, posing a threat to bystanders.
Mount Nyiragongo is an active volcano. It is located near Goma in the volcano region of Virunga National Park.
The U.S. government is unable to provide emergency consular services to U.S. citizens in North Kivu province as travel of U.S. government employees under the U.S. Embassy (Chief of Mission) security responsibility to North Kivu Province is restricted.
Visit our website for Travel to High-Risk Areas.
Ituri Province – Level 4: Do Not Travel
Violent crime, such as murder, rape, kidnapping, and pillaging, continue throughout Ituri province. Road travelers are frequently targeted for ambush, armed robbery, and kidnapping.
Terrorist and armed groups operate in Ituri province. They have attacked military and civilian targets, including humanitarian aid workers and other NGO personnel operating in the area.
Demonstrations and large gatherings can occur throughout these regions, especially in urban areas. Mobs can form rapidly and turn violent, posing a threat to bystanders.
Armed groups, individuals, and military forces routinely clash with each other. Civilians are frequently targeted in attacks.
The U.S. government is unable to provide emergency consular services to U.S. citizens in Ituri province as travel of U.S. government employees under the U.S. Embassy (Chief of Mission) security responsibility to Ituri Province is restricted.
Visit our website for Travel to High-Risk Areas.
Eastern DRC Region and the Three Kasai Provinces – Level 4: Do Not Travel
Violent crime, such as murder, rape, kidnapping, and pillaging, continue throughout South Kivu, Tanganyika, Haut Lomami, and three Kasai provinces of Kasai Oriental, Kasai Central, and Kasai. Road travelers are frequently targeted for ambush, armed robbery, and kidnapping.
Demonstrations and large gatherings can occur throughout these regions, especially in urban areas. Mobs can form rapidly and turn violent, posing a threat to bystanders.
Armed groups, individuals, and military forces routinely clash with each other. Civilians are frequently targeted in attacks.
The U.S. government is unable to provide emergency consular services to U.S. citizens in eastern DRC and these provinces, as travel of U.S. government employees under the U.S. Embassy (Chief of Mission) security responsibility to these regions is restricted.
Visit our website for Travel to High-Risk Areas.
