US EMBASSY IN KINSHASA'S ALARM

These repeated alarm signals reminds me of the periods between the "Pillages" of 1993 and the Mobutu debacle in 1997. They are coming in close sequence. What does this say, when the UN in Goma is celebrating the alleged death of a neighboring president? Is the UN hoping to solve the DRC problems with leaders' killing on social media?? Why is Ladsous stooping that low? Because the Western powers he represents are hiding their declining power in the conflicts they unleash on the continent. And we let them just do that. Anyway, I do not wish to write extensive comments since I am gathering a number of facts before doing so. I only want to keep reading the signs that appear in something like this official communication. We know it's about bakata katanga activities, but you can see how these powers are wishing for some bakata Congo. They are only trying to disguise their move, so that we'll translate everything again into the "perspective of ethnic hatred": this is how they want the continent to understand itself, and the weak "imaginaire" of people like the congolese are content with that, but for how long?

  U.S. Embassy Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC)

Security Message for U.S. Citizens 
Unrest near Lubumbashi in Katanga Province

January 10, 2014

The Embassy has received information of armed engagements between the Congolese armed forces (FARDC) and various armed groups near the city of Lubumbashi in Katanga province, including fighting in the village of Kajiba (25 kilometers east of Lubumbashi) and Kiziba (10 kilometers southeast of Lubumbashi). The Embassy has also received reports that some armed groups may be planning attacks in Lubumbashi and other cities in Katanga. The Embassy will distribute additional information as this becomes available. The U.S. Embassy advises U.S. citizens to avoid all public demonstrations and areas where crowds have gathered because even events intending to be peaceful can at times rapidly turn violent or even deadly without prior warning.

U.S. citizens should ensure that their travel documents, including their U.S. passport and Congolese visas/residency permits, are valid. In addition, U.S. citizens should have their travel documents in their possession at all times in case of an immediate need to travel.

You can stay in touch and get Embassy updates by checking the U.S. Embassy Kinshasa web site (kinshasa.usembassy.gov). You can also get global updates at the U.S. Department of State's, Bureau of Consular Affairs website (travel.state.gov) where you can find the current Worldwide Caution, Travel Warning, Travel Alerts, and Country Specific Information. Follow us on Twitter and the Bureau of Consular Affairs page on Facebook as well; or you can download our free Smart Traveler App from iTunes or the Android market to have travel information at your fingertips. If you don't have internet access, you may obtain up-to-date information on security conditions by calling 1-888-407-4747 toll-free in the United States and Canada, or on a regular toll line at 1-202-501-4444 from other countries. These numbers are available from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays). 

If you are going to live in or travel to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, please take the time to tell us about your trip by enrolling in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP). If you enroll, we can keep you up to date with important safety and security announcements. It will also help your friends and family get in touch with you in an emergency. You should remember to keep all of your information in STEP up to date. It is important during enrollment or updating of information to include your current phone number and current email address where you can be reached in case of an emergency. 

The U.S. Embassy in Kinshasa is located at 310 Avenue des Aviateurs, tel. +243-081-225-5872 (Do not dial the zero when calling from abroad). The Consular Section of the Embassy may be reached at tel. +243-081-884-6859 or +243-081-884-4609 and is open Monday-Thursday, 7:30 a.m.-5:15 p.m. and Fridays from 7:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. 

For after-hours emergencies, U.S. citizens should call 081-556-0151 and ask to speak with the duty officer.