Democratic Republic of the Congo

The US Department of State warns of the risks of traveling to the Democratic Republic of Congo (Congo-Kinshasa, or DRC).

Armed groups, bandits and elements of the Congolese military remain security concerns in DRC, primarily in the eastern provinces of North and South Kivu and in the southern province of Katanga.

While government troops were fighting in the east, additional fighting between armed groups and rebel militias seeking regional independence broke out in Katanga in November and December 2013, resulting in more than 400,000 people fleeing their villages. 

As a result of fighting between government forces and rebel groups around Goma in March, June and August, hundreds of people were killed and tens of thousands were displaced.