US Scales down DRC Embassy Operations, advises Americans to leave the country

The U.S. Embassy in Kinshasa has advised all U.S. citizens in the Democratic Republic of Congo-DRC to leave immediately, citing the absence of security guarantees.

The embassy says the Americans should leave using commercial means at the airports and border points that are still operational, specifically N’diji Airport.

The Monday notice says the embassy is further reducing the number of U.S. personnel working in the Embassy, adding that visa interviews and other usual duties are being suspended.

“Due to the security situation in Kinshasa, the U.S. Embassy will not be conducting any visa interviews and will not be able to offer routine services for U.S. citizens,” the notice says.

It comes amidst growing protests by the citizens of the Democratic Republic of Congo against countries that are perceived to be sympathetic to the rebel group M23 since its entry into the Eastern city of Goma last week. The announcement by the rebels, which the US and other sections of the international community say are supported by Rwanda, sparked of protests in the country’s capital Kinshasa.

The anti-M23 protestors attacked embassies of several countries including the US, Uganda, Kenya, France, and Belgium. U.S. Special Envoy to the UN, Ambassador Dorothy Shea voiced her country’s condemnation of the seizure of Goma and urged the UN Security Council “to consider measures to halt the territorial advances by Rwandan troops and M23”.

She also said that the US stood “in firm support of the Congolese people and the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the DRC” and urged Rwanda to respect the same. She added that the U.S. was watching with concern and deplored the destruction of diplomatic facilities in Kinshasa while calling on the DRC government to respect its obligations to protect diplomatic premises and personnel.

“We call for an immediate ceasefire and end to this fighting. Rwanda must withdraw troops from the DRC,” she said, calling on the two countries to a negotiating table. In the advisory to the U.S citizens issued Monday, the Embassy tells them to ensure that their and their family’s travel documents are in order and essential items are packed in bags that they can easily carry.