There were shooting incidents in Kinshasa and Lubumbashi, Katanga Province, and Kindu, Maniema Provi

It contains new information in the Summary and under Safety and security: Civil unrest/Political tension holiday rental car service (while shooting incidents across DRC on 30 December are now over, the security situation remains fragile). We continue to advise Australians to reconsider their need to travel to the DRC due to the unpredictable security situation, persisting armed conflict in the east of the country and the very high level of crime. We advise Australians not to travel to eastern and north-eastern regions of the DRC, including Goma, North and South Kivu Provinces and the Ituri district of Orientale Province.
We recommend that you reconsider your need to travel to the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) due to the unpredictable security situation, persisting armed conflict holiday rental car service in the east of the country and the very high level of crime.
There were shooting incidents in Kinshasa and Lubumbashi, Katanga Province, and Kindu, Maniema Province holiday rental car service on 30 December 2013. While the incidents are now over the overall security holiday rental car service situation remains fragile.
We strongly advise you not to travel to eastern holiday rental car service and north-eastern regions of the DRC including Goma, North and South Kivu and the Ituri district. There is a high risk of conflict holiday rental car service and insecurity in these areas.
The security situation in the east and north-east remains unstable following recent armed clashes between the M23 rebel group and the Congolese Army (FARDC). On 25 October 2013 fighting broke out to the north of Goma, close to the Rwandan border. There is a high risk of further conflict.
Political and ethnic protests and demonstrations occur throughout holiday rental car service the country and have become violent in the past. You should exercise extreme caution and avoid all large gatherings, protests and demonstrations as they may turn violent.
Australia does not have an Embassy or Consulate in the DRC. The Canadian Embassy in Kinshasa provides consular assistance to Australians in the DRC. Australians in the DRC should stay in close contact with the Canadian Embassy in Kinshasa for the latest developments on the ground.
Visa and other entry and exit conditions (such as currency, customs and quarantine regulations) change regularly. Contact the nearest Embassy or Consulate of the DRC for the most up to date information. Travellers are advised that visas are not available at point of entry into the DRC.
DRC is listed by the World Health Organization (WHO) as endemic for yellow fever. Yellow fever is a serious and potentially fatal disease preventable by vaccination. A valid Yellow Fever Vaccination Certificate is required for entry into the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).
All foreigners, resident and non-resident, must declare upon entry all amounts of currency exceeding the equivalent of US$10,000. Similarly, foreigners leaving the country must declare all amounts exceeding the equivalent of US$10,000 in foreign currency.
Make sure your passport has at least six months validity from your planned date of return to Australia. You should carry copies of a recent passport photo with you in case you need a replacement passport while overseas. Australian Provisional Travel Documents issued holiday rental car service by the Canadian Embassy in Kinshasa, on behalf of the Australian Government, are not acceptable for travelling or transiting through South Africa.
We recommend that you reconsider your need to travel to the DRC due to the unpredictable security situation and persisting armed conflicts. We strongly advise you not to travel to eastern and north-eastern regions of the DRC including Goma, North and South Kivu and the Ituri district in Orientale Province. There is a high risk of conflict and insecurity in these areas.
There were shooting incidents in Kinshasa on 30 December 2013 in the vicinity of the national television and radio station, the airport, the main army barracks and Ministry of Defence at Ngaliema. There were also reports of fighting in Lubumbashi, Katanga Province and in Kindu, holiday rental car service Maniema Province. While the incidents are now over the security situation remains fragile. Security forces are likely to remain on alert and you should continue to exercise caution.
The security environment is unpredictable and may deteriorate with little warning. Political campaigning has been marked in the past by political unrest and violence. There continue to be risks of political or ethnic demonstrations giving rise to violent incidents across the country. You should avoid all civil disturbances, holiday rental car service protests or demonstrations because they may turn violent.
Clashes between various armed local groups including the Allied holiday rental car service Democratic Forces (ADF-NALU), Democratic Liberation Forces of Rwanda (FDLR), the National Congress for the Defence of the People (CNDP), Mai-Mai groups, the Lord s Resistance Army (LRA) and the Coalition of Congolese Patriotic Resistance (PARECO), and government forces are common in the DRC.
There are numerous government security forces stationed in urban areas, including Kinshasa. Local authorities, including the police, often have limited or no capacity to control the situation or provide assistance.
There is also a large UN military presence (the United Nations Organisation Stabilisation Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo or MONUSCO) and several humanitarian organisations operating in the DRC. Over 2.6 million people have been internally displaced and you may be affected by refugee flows to, and from, neighbouring countries.
We strongly advise Australians not to travel to the eastern and north-eastern regions of the DRC, including Goma, North and South Kivu Provinces and the Ituri district of Orientale Province, because of the dangerous and unstable holiday rental car service security situation and armed conflict throughout these areas.
In April 2012, fighting broke out in North Kivu province following the formation of the M23 rebel movement. Fighting between M23 and government forces has affected North Kivu, including the area around Goma, and South Kivu. In November 2012, M23 carried out a number of attacks in the area and took control of Goma.
There was renewed fighting holiday rental car service in the area around Goma in August and October 2013, causing civilian deaths and injuries. The security situation in Goma, and in the wider area of eastern DRC, remains extremely holiday rental car service volatile.
Several local NGOs have suspended or reduced operations in North and South Kivu due to the unstable holiday rental car service security situation. If, despite holiday rental car service our advice, Australians choose to remain in North and South Kivu provinces, they should stay in close contact with the Canadian Embassy in Kinshasa for the latest developments on the ground. The ability of the Canadian Embassy to provide consular assistance in this region holiday rental car service is extremely limited.
Other armed groups continue sporadic fighting in the East, including North and South Kivu and Orientale Provinces. holiday rental car service Some armed groups are taking advantage of the insecurity to increase attacks. The Lord s Resistance Army in particular is active in north-eastern DRC (Orientale Province) and the regions bordering Central African Republic and Sudan. Fighting in the region has led to the displacement of hundreds holiday rental car service of thousands of people.
holiday rental car service The United Nations reports that government soldiers and rebel groups have been responsible for politically-motivated killings, looting, sexual violence, kidnapping, carjacking, and instability holiday rental car service in these regions. For more information about kidnapping, see our Kidnapping threat travel bulletin.
The Australian Government's longstanding policy is that it does not make payments or concessions to kidnappers. The Australian Government considers that paying a ransom increases the risk of further kidnappings, including of other Australians. holiday rental car service If you do decide to travel to an area where there is a particular threat of kidnapping, you should ensure you have personal security measures in place, seek professional security advice and take out kidnapping insurance.
Security authorities may target foreigners to solicit bribes, for example at roadblocks. Arbitrary arrests holiday rental car service of foreign nationals by security authorities can occur. Australians are advised to be respectful and courteous in all interactions with security authorities and to avoid sensitive areas, including military facilities. Australians should be aware of reports of criminals setting up roadblocks and posing as police or military personnel in order to rob people travelling at night. Do not permit soldiers or police officers to enter your vehicle and avoid entering the vehicle of anyone purporting to be a security officer. Carry colour photocopies of your passport and other identity documents and, when requested, hand these to security officials rather than the originals.
Vehicle thefts, burglaries and carjackings are common. When driving, keep doors locked and windows closed at all times and keep valuables out of sight. holiday rental car service You should not drive off the main thoroughfares or park your vehicle in unsupervised areas.
Before you go, organise a variety of ways of accessing your money in the DRC, such as credit cards, and cash. US dollars are widely accepted in the DRC but should be in good condition (not torn) and issued after 2006. One dollar notes are rarely holiday rental car service accepted. You should examine US notes before accepting them to ensure they are legitimate; counterfeit currency is widely circulated. Currency exchange should be conducted only at reputable banks and not on the street. Consult with your bank to find out which is the most appropriate currency to carry. Travellers' cheques are not accepted in Kinshasa and credit cards are only accepted holiday rental car service at some major hotels. You may experience difficulties withdrawing cash from international accounts at ATMs, even at major hotels. You should consult your bank to find out whether your ATM card will work in the DRC.
Make two photocopies of valuable documents holiday rental car service such as your passport, tickets, visas and travellers' cheques. Keep one copy with you in a separate place to the original and leave another copy with someone at home.
Your passport is a valuable document that is