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Marisa Laudadio
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A โLevel 3โ travel advisory is the second-highest warning the State Department issues. By: Viktor Forgacs on Unsplash
The U.S. Department of State has added a new โLevel 3โ warning to its travel advisories database. This designation concerning overseas travel is the second-highest alert the agency issues.
โReconsiderโ travel to the Democratic Republic of the Congo
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio oversees the Department of State, which is responsible for issuing travel advisories. By: Aaron Schwartz โ Pool via CNP / MEGA
The new โLevel 3โ advisory applies to the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). The State Department wants Americans to โreconsiderโ travel to the African nation due to crime and civil unrest. In addition, โSome areas have increased risk due to armed conflict,โ the travel advisory reads. โViolent crime is commonโ in the DRC, according to the State Department. โThis includes armed robbery, armed home invasion and assault.โ Thatโs even more concerning since โlocal police lack the resources to respond to serious crime in a timely and adequate mannerโ and โassailants may pose as police or security agents,โ the State Department warns. Officials also want travelers to know that โDRC law enforcement does not always inform the U.S. embassy when they arrest a U.S. citizen. They may also delay access to detained or charged U.S. citizens,โ the alert explains. โDRC law enforcement has used violence and threats during interrogations.โ
More reasons travel to the DRC is a bad idea
The Democratic Republic of the Congo is in central Africa and is about the size of the continental U.S. east of the Mississippi River. By: Johnnathan Tshibangu on Unsplash
The State Department further warns that demonstrations are common in many cities in the African nation. โPolice may respond with force, resulting in deaths and arrests. Looting, assault, traffic obstruction, property damage and other violent actions occur when police donโt respond in a timely manner, or at all,โ the travel advisory adds. In some areas, Americans wonโt be able to get help from U.S. officials. โThe U.S. government cannot provide emergency consular services to U.S. citizens outside of Kinshasa due to poor infrastructure and security risks,โ the State Department explains.
There are โLevel 4โ warnings there, too
A โLevel 4โ travel advisory is the highest warning issued by the State Department and means โdo not travelโ to this area. By: Global Residence Index on Unsplash
Within the DRC, there are also areas where travel warnings have been escalated to an even higher level, which means Americans are advised not to travel to those regions at all. Regions under โLevel 4โ warnings include North and South Kivu provinces and Ituri province โdue to crime, terrorism, civil unrest, armed conflict and kidnapping,โ the State Department warns. Tanganyika, Haut Lomami and the three Kasai provinces are at โLevel 4โ for the same reasons, minus terrorism as a concern. Travelers should also avoid the Mai-Ndombe province โdue to ethnic/communal violence,โ the State Department advises.
When travel canโt be avoided
The U.S. embassy in the Democratic Republic of the Congo is in Kinshasa, the African nationโs capital. By: Kaysha on Unsplash
The State Department encourages citizens whose travel to the African nation canโt be avoided to always have a photocopy of their U.S. passport and DRC visa on them, to enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive alerts from the U.S. embassy, and to, if arrested, immediately ask authorities to notify the U.S. Embassy in Kinshasa. Further, travelers should always avoid demonstrations and crowds and use caution when walking or driving.
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