Foreign travel advice

Democratic Republic of the Congo

! Warning FCDO advises against all travel to parts of Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Warnings and insurance

Download a more detailed map (PDF)

Your travel insurance could be invalidated if you travel against advice from the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO).

Security situation in North Kivu

M23Fighting havein expressedSake, their23km intent to occupythe Goma.West Weof adviseGoma, againstand allthe travelsurrounding toregion Goma.has Ifintensified youand M23 are now in Goma,control youof shouldthe leavetown. whileM23 commercialmay routescontinue remainto available.advance Fightingtowards inGoma. Sake,The 23kmsituation toin theGoma Westremains ofuncertain, Goma,unstable and thecan surroundingchange regionquickly. hasIf intensifiedyour reason for being in Goma is not essential, consider leaving. Be prepared to leave at short notice and M23have areadequate nowsupplies of food, water and medicine in controlcase of the town.need to lock down. The border crossings between Rwanda and the DRC at Gisenyi/Goma could close at short notice. Support from the UK government is severely limited outside Kinshasa. You should not assume that FCDO will be able to provide assistance to leave the country in the event of serious unrest or crisis.

Areas where FCDO advises against travel

DRC-Central African Republic border

FCDO advises against all travel to within 50km of the border with the Central African Republic.

Eastern DRC  

FCDO advises against all travel to the provinces of:

  • Haut-Uélé and Ituri, including the entire DRC-South Sudan border
  • TheNorth Kivu, including all travel by air into and out of Goma airport, but excepting the city of Goma
  • South Kivu, except the city of Bukavu, where FCDO advises against all but essential travel
  • Maniema
  • Tanganyika
  • Haut-Lomami

FCDO advises against all but essential travel to:

  • the city of BukavuGoma

Territory in Mai-Ndombe Province

FCDO advises against all travel to the Kwamouth territory of Mai-Ndombe Province. This is between, and including, the towns of Kwamouth, Bandundu and the southern border of Mai-Ndombe province.

Areas in Kinshasa Province

FCDO advises against all but essential travel to:

  • the districts of N’djili and Kimbanseke in Kinshasa city, south of the main access road to N’djili airport, in Nsele commune
  • the N1 road in Kinshasa Province, between and including Menkao to the west, Kenge to the east, the border of Mai-Ndombe province to the north, and 10km to the south
  • the district of Kasa Vubu in Kinshasa City bordered by the N1 Triumphal Road (Stadium), Barumbu District, Lingwala District and South of the botanical garden.

Kasaï Oriental, Kasaï, Kasaï Central

FCDO advises against all travel to the province of Kasaï Oriental.

FCDO advises against all but essential travel to the provinces of Kasaï and Kasaï Central.

See details about why FCDO advises against travel.    

Before you travel

No travel can be guaranteed safe. Read all the advice in this guide. You may also find it helpful to: 

Travel insurance

If you choose to travel, research your destinations and get appropriate travel insurance. Insurance should cover your itinerary, planned activities and expenses in an emergency.

About FCDO travel advice

FCDO provides advice about risks of travel to help you make informed decisions. Find out more about FCDO travel advice.

Get travel advice updates

Sign up to get email notifications when this travel advice is updated. 

Follow and contact FCDO: