The U.S. Embassy has also imposed a curfew on U.S. Government employees. U.S. citizens, English-speaking individuals of other nationalities and travelers who appear to be members of military or missionary groups have sometimes been specifically targeted for arrest, detention, deportation, increased scrutiny and difficulties at the airport and other ports of entry, or other forms of harassment. Anyone who wishes to travel outside of Kinshasa must obtain advance written permission from the Ministry of the Interior. Extremist groups continue to make threats of violence against U.S. citizens and interests in the Great Lakes region. While operating out of northeastern DRC in March 1999, a rebel group specifically targeted and killed U.S. citizens and other English-speaking people in southwestern Uganda.
Travelers run the risk of attack or detention.
Travelers should avoid any area where demonstrations are occurring or where crowds have gathered. Ferry services between Kinshasa and Brazzaville are subject to interruption with little or no notice. There has been a dramatic deterioration of the country's physical infrastructure and basic security environment. Urban crime remains a problem. There is occasional official hostility to U.S. citizens and other expatriates, periodic shortages of basic items such as gasoline, a chronic shortage of medical supplies, high inflation, and in some areas, corruption and serious malnutrition.