The US Department of State has raised its travel advisory for the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo) to Level 4 – Do Not Travel, warning its citizens against travelling to the restive Central African nation.
Level 4 Travel Advisory means severe risks posed by ongoing armed conflict, violent crime, civil unrest, kidnapping, and terrorism.
DR Congo now joins countries like Haiti, Ukraine, and Venezuela at the highest Level 4 advisory.
On January 28, the US Embassy in Kinshasa ordered the departure of non-emergency government personnel and their families, citing increasing security concerns.
"The US government has extremely limited ability to provide emergency consular services to U.S. citizens outside of Kinshasa due to poor infrastructure and security conditions," the embassy said in its updated warning.
The travel advisory highlights the escalating threat of violent crimes, including armed robbery, murder, sexual violence, and kidnappings, particularly in the eastern provinces where armed groups such as the M23 frequently engage in violent clashes.
The advisory also warns that criminals may pose as security forces, stating, "Assailants may pose as police or security agents."
Beyond criminal violence, the country is experiencing heightened political instability. Demonstrations in urban centres have increasingly turned into violent confrontations with security forces, leading to casualties and mass arrests.
The M23 rebel group, which recently captured Goma in eastern DR Congo, has been accused of exploiting the region's valuable mineral resources, further intensifying tensions. Its advance has sparked violent protests in Kinshasa, where demonstrators looted and set foreign embassies, including Uganda’s, on fire.
The unrest is fuelled by accusations that Rwanda is supporting the M23 rebels, a charge Kigali has denied.
"Rwanda has no involvement in the activities of M23," Yolande Makolo, Rwanda’s government spokesperson, said earlier this month, dismissing the allegations as "politically motivated."
On Wednesday, Rwandan President Paul Kagame and his South African counterpart Cyril Ramaphosa exchanged barbs on social media after the latter called the Rwanda Defence Forces a militia.
Kagame said Ramaphosa was liar who had distorted facts from their private conversation and took serious issues with the reference of his army as a militia, warning that if South Africa chose a confrontation, Rwanda would not hesitate to pay back in similar currency.
Amid the worsening security situation, Angola has evacuated its ceasefire observers from Goma, citing deteriorating conditions.
The observers had been deployed under a regional agreement to monitor a fragile truce between Congolese forces and the M23 rebels, but continued hostilities forced their withdrawal.
The United Nations has also evacuated non-essential staff and their family members from the city.
The United Nations and regional leaders have called for renewed diplomatic efforts to prevent further escalation.
"A peaceful resolution to this crisis is critical to avoiding more suffering for the Congolese people," said Bintou Keita, head of the UN peacekeeping mission in DR Congo.
However, with violence persisting, the path to stability remains uncertain.
The M23 rebels overran Goma, the capital of North Kivu and the largest city in Eastern DR Congo on Monday, capturing hundreds of peacekeepers and Congolese government forces.
Those captured or who surrendered have since been sent to safety via the Rwandan border.