Democratic Republic of the Congo travel advice

The security landscape in the DRC has shifted dangerously in recent months, characterized by an expansion of rebel territorial control and the introduction of modern warfare tactics in previously stable regions. At the heart of the latest alert is a series of drone attacks targeting Bangoka International Airport in Kisangani, the capital of Tshopo Province. On May 23, multiple unmanned aerial vehicles struck the vicinity of the airport, causing significant disruption to commercial aviation and signaling a new phase of technological escalation in the regional conflict. Consequently, the FCDO now advises against all but essential travel to the airport and the surrounding Kisangani area, warning that the situation remains highly unpredictable and that further aerial disruptions are a near certainty.

In the eastern provinces of the DRC, the humanitarian and security crisis has reached a breaking point. The FCDO has issued its most severe "against all travel" warning for the provinces of North Kivu and South Kivu. This follows the strategic capture of Goma and Bukavu—two of the country’s most populous and economically significant eastern cities—by M23 rebels supported by the Rwanda Defence Forces (RDF). The occupation of these urban centers represents a massive blow to state sovereignty and has paralyzed the region’s transport networks. While reports indicate that M23 and RDF forces withdrew from the city of Uvira in January 2026 after a brief occupation starting in December 2025, the FCDO warns that violent clashes continue to rage in the surrounding territories. For British nationals currently in North or South Kivu, the official advice is clear: leave immediately if a safe route is available.

The logistical challenges of departing the eastern DRC are compounded by the closure of major transit hubs. Both Goma and Bukavu airports have been subjected to direct attacks, and all commercial flight operations have been suspended indefinitely. Furthermore, the land border crossings between Rwanda and the DRC, specifically the Gisenyi-Goma and Ruzizi-Bukavu corridors, are subject to closure at a moment’s notice. The British government has been explicit in its assessment that support for its citizens is severely limited outside the capital, Kinshasa. Travelers are warned not to assume that the FCDO will be able to facilitate an evacuation or provide emergency assistance should the situation deteriorate further into a full-scale regional crisis.

Beyond the eastern conflict, the FCDO has highlighted significant risks along the DRC’s northern frontier. All travel is advised against within a 50km radius of the border with the Central African Republic (CAR). This porous border region is plagued by the spillover of violence from CAR-based armed groups and the presence of various local militias. The lack of state presence in these remote areas makes them a haven for kidnapping, banditry, and extrajudicial violence, providing no safety net for foreign visitors.

In the western part of the country, the Kwamouth territory within the Mai-Ndombe Province has been designated a "no-go" zone. The FCDO advises against all travel to this region, which includes the towns of Kwamouth and Bandundu, stretching down to the southern border of the province. This area has been embroiled in a brutal inter-communal conflict between the Teke and Yaka communities, which began over land rights and customary taxes but has since spiraled into a cycle of village burnings and mass displacements. The violence in Mai-Ndombe is a stark reminder that the DRC’s instability is not confined to its eastern borders but is a systemic issue affecting multiple provinces.

The advisory also extends to the southeastern reaches of the country, specifically targeting Upemba National Park in the former Katanga region. The FCDO advises against all but essential travel to the park due to the presence of "Mai-Mai" militia groups and the risk of encounter with armed poachers. For those who deem their travel to Upemba essential, the UK government insists on a mandatory notification of travel plans to the park authorities. However, the overarching recommendation remains to avoid the area, as the dense forest terrain makes rescue operations nearly impossible for consular staff.

A critical component of the FCDO’s message involves the legal and financial implications of these warnings. Travel insurance is typically predicated on the traveler following official government advice. By entering an area where the FCDO "advises against all travel" or "all but essential travel," a policyholder likely breaches the terms of their contract. This means that in the event of an injury, kidnapping for ransom, or medical emergency, the insurer may refuse to cover the costs of medical evacuation, hospitalization, or repatriation. Given that a private medical evacuation from a remote part of the DRC can cost upwards of £100,000, the financial risk of ignoring these warnings is as catastrophic as the physical risk.

The FCDO’s warnings are backed by a sober analysis of the DRC’s current geopolitical standing. The involvement of the Rwanda Defence Forces alongside M23 rebels has heightened diplomatic tensions in the Great Lakes region, leading to a breakdown in regional peace initiatives like the Luanda and Nairobi processes. The use of drone technology in Kisangani suggests that non-state actors or their foreign backers are increasing their capability to strike deep into Congolese territory, moving beyond traditional guerrilla warfare into more sophisticated tactical operations. This evolution in combat makes the security environment "unpredictable," a term used repeatedly in the FCDO briefing to denote that traditional safety measures may no longer be effective.

For British citizens who remain in the DRC or are considering essential travel to Kinshasa, the FCDO emphasizes the importance of constant vigilance. The British Embassy in Kinshasa remains the only point of contact for consular assistance, and even there, its ability to intervene in legal or security matters is limited by Congolese law and the prevailing security climate. The FCDO provides a 24-hour emergency number (+243 815 566 200 or 020 7008 5000) for those in immediate distress, but the primary responsibility for safety rests with the individual.

Before any potential departure, travelers are urged to conduct exhaustive research on their specific destination within the DRC, acknowledging that "no travel can be guaranteed safe." This includes checking for updates on local protests, which can turn violent quickly, and staying informed about the health risks, including periodic outbreaks of Ebola, Mpox, and cholera. The FCDO’s "Getting Help" guide offers a roadmap for navigating crises, but it serves as a secondary resource to the primary advice: avoid high-risk areas entirely.

In summary, the Democratic Republic of the Congo is currently facing a multi-front security crisis that has rendered large swaths of the country unsafe for foreign nationals. The fall of Goma and Bukavu, the withdrawal from Uvira, the drone strikes in Kisangani, and the communal violence in Mai-Ndombe all point toward a nation in a state of extreme flux. The British government’s directive is a preventative measure designed to protect both the lives of its citizens and the resources of the state. As the situation continues to evolve, the FCDO will provide updates via its email notification service, and all those with interests in the region are strongly encouraged to sign up for these alerts to stay informed of further escalations in this rapidly changing conflict.