Democratic Republic of the Congo travel advice

The FCDO’s primary concern centers on the rapid territorial gains made by the M23 rebel group, which reports indicate is operating with the direct support of the Rwanda Defence Forces (RDF). In a development that has sent shockwaves through the Great Lakes region, these combined forces have successfully captured the strategic cities of Goma and Bukavu, along with their surrounding territories in North and South Kivu. While the city of Uvira was briefly occupied in December 2025 before a withdrawal in January 2026, the surrounding areas remain a theater of intense and unpredictable combat. The capture of Goma and Bukavu is particularly significant; these cities serve as the primary economic and logistical hubs for eastern DRC. With their fall, commercial flights have ceased, and the vital border crossings between Rwanda and the DRC—specifically at Gisenyi-Goma and Ruzizi-Bukavu—are subject to closure without notice, effectively trapping those remaining in the region.

The introduction of drone technology into the conflict marks a chilling new chapter in the DRC’s long history of instability. On May 23, multiple drone attacks targeted the area around Bangoka International Airport in Kisangani, the capital of Tshopo Province. While Kisangani is located deep within the interior and has historically been spared the worst of the border conflicts, these strikes suggest a broadening of the conflict’s geographic scope and a heightening of the technical capabilities of the belligerents. Consequently, the FCDO now advises against all but essential travel to Kisangani’s airport. The unpredictability of these aerial assaults has led to widespread flight disruptions, further isolating the region and complicating potential evacuation routes for foreign nationals and humanitarian workers.

The geographic breadth of the "no-go" zones outlined by the FCDO reflects the multifaceted nature of the violence in the DRC. In the west, the Kwamouth territory of Mai-Ndombe Province has become a flashpoint for inter-communal violence. The FCDO advises against all travel to this area, which spans the towns of Kwamouth and Bandundu down to the southern provincial border. What began as a dispute over land rights and customary taxes between the Teke and Yaka communities has spiraled into a localized insurgency, resulting in hundreds of deaths and the displacement of thousands. The inability of the central government in Kinshasa to contain this violence, despite its proximity to the capital, underscores the fragility of the state’s authority.

In the northern reaches of the country, the 50-kilometer buffer zone along the border with the Central African Republic (CAR) remains a high-risk area. This border is notoriously porous, frequently used by various armed groups, including remnants of the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) and various "Anti-balaka" or "Séléka" offshoots from the CAR conflict. The lack of a permanent state presence in these remote forest regions makes them a haven for banditry, kidnapping, and cross-border raids, leading the FCDO to maintain a strict "no travel" advisory for the entire border strip.

Further south, the Upemba National Park in the South-East DRC has been flagged as an area where only essential travel should be considered. While the park is a site of immense ecological importance, it has increasingly become a refuge for "Mai-Mai" militias and poaching syndicates. The FCDO warns that those who must travel to Upemba against official advice must notify park authorities of their plans, though even this measure offers little guarantee of safety in a region where the rule of law is frequently superseded by the rule of the gun.

For British nationals, the legal and financial implications of these warnings are profound. Travel insurance policies typically contain "exclusion clauses" that are triggered when a government department like the FCDO advises against travel. Should a traveler enter a "no travel" or "essential travel only" zone, their provider may refuse to cover medical evacuations, theft, or injury, potentially leaving individuals with catastrophic bills in a country where medical facilities are often rudimentary and require upfront payment. The FCDO emphasizes that the UK government’s ability to intervene is "severely limited" outside of Kinshasa. In a crisis, there is no guarantee of a government-led evacuation, and individuals are expected to have robust contingency plans that do not rely on British diplomatic intervention.

The geopolitical context of this crisis is equally complex. The resurgence of the M23 movement has reignited long-standing tensions between Kinshasa and Kigali. The DRC government, backed by reports from UN experts, has repeatedly accused Rwanda of providing troops, weapons, and logistical support to the rebels—claims that Rwanda consistently denies. The failure of the "Luanda" and "Nairobi" peace processes to secure a lasting ceasefire has led to a vacuum of diplomacy, filled instead by the deployment of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Mission in the DRC (SAMIDRC). However, the effectiveness of these regional forces remains in doubt as M23 continues to consolidate its hold on the Kivus, mineral-rich provinces that are central to the global supply chain for coltan, cobalt, and gold.

The humanitarian toll of this renewed fighting is staggering. According to United Nations agencies, the DRC now hosts one of the world’s largest populations of internally displaced persons (IDPs), with over 7 million people forced from their homes. In the camps surrounding Goma, conditions are dire, with outbreaks of cholera and acute food insecurity threatening the lives of hundreds of thousands. The closure of airports and the insecurity of road networks have hampered the delivery of life-saving aid, creating a "silent emergency" that the international community has struggled to address.

For those currently in North or South Kivu, the FCDO’s message is clear: leave now if you judge it safe to do so. The window for departure is narrowing as rebel forces tighten their grip on transportation arteries. Those remaining are urged to maintain a high level of situational awareness, monitor local media, and ensure they are registered with the FCDO for updates. In the event of an emergency, the British government provides a 24-hour contact line (+243 81 556 6200 or 020 7008 5000), but the physical presence of officials on the ground in conflict zones is non-existent.

As the DRC navigates this period of extreme volatility, the FCDO’s travel advice serves as a sobering reminder of the risks inherent in a region where conflict is both localized and internationalized. The combination of ethnic tensions, competition for mineral wealth, and the proliferation of advanced weaponry like drones has created a security environment that is more unpredictable than it has been in decades. Travelers and expatriates are urged to respect the FCDO’s boundaries, recognizing that the "advice against travel" is not merely a suggestion, but a necessary precaution in the face of a rapidly deteriorating national crisis. The situation remains fluid, and the international community continues to watch with concern as the "Heart of Africa" faces a trial that threatens to destabilize the entire Great Lakes region. For the time being, the message from London is one of extreme caution: stay away from the zones of conflict, secure your insurance, and do not expect a rescue that may never come.