US asks its citizens to leave DRC after attacks

KINSHASA, DR Congo

The United States of America is pulling its citizens out of Democratic Republic of Congo after a riotous mob attacked its embassy in Kinshasa on Tuesday.

World Bank staff and civilians evacuated from Goma in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo walk through the Grande Barrier border crossing in Rwanda on January 29, 2025.  

The embassy, in an alert to US citizens in the country, also announced that it was closed for business.

"Due to an increase in violence throughout the city of Kinshasa, the US Embassy in Kinshasa advises US citizens to shelter-in-place and then safely depart while commercial flight options are available," the embassy in Kinshasa said on Wednesday evening, after hours of siege.

Demonstrators also stormed the embassies of France, Belgium, Kenya, Uganda and the buildings where the Rwandan embassy was located, in reaction to developments in the war in North Kivu, where the M23 rebels, backed by Rwanda, have seized almost the entire city of Goma after bloody clashes.

"We encourage US citizens to depart via commercial flights when they feel like they can safely go to the airport. Please be aware that there may be roadblocks and protests on the road to the airport, which could impact travel time and security," reads the security alert issued by the US embassy in Kinshasa. 

The embassy also advises Americans in the DRC to review personal security plans, “ensure that your travel documents are up-to-date, and essential items are packed in bags that you can easily carry".

The embassy attacks have prompted Air France to suspended flights to Kinshasa. A flight scheduled to land in Kinshasa on Tuesday turned back over Burkina Faso because of the violent demonstrations that were happening in the Congolese capital at the time. 

Brussels Airlines and Uganda Airlines, too, have suspended their flights to Kinshasa amid growing tensions in the region.

Political parties had planned to organise further demonstrations to "support the Congolese army and denounce Rwandan aggression in the DRC," but Kinshasa Governor Daniel Bumba outlawed such activities. 

But students launched small, sporadic demonstrations on Wednesday morning, prompting businesses to shutter. 

While a general lull has been observed in Goma, the situation remains tense. 

In an attempt to ease the tensions between Rwanda and the DRC, President William Ruto, the current chairperson of the East African Community, has called an extraordinary summit, which President Félix Tshisekedi has snubbed.

In parallel with this initiative, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio called President Tshisekedi and Rwanda’s Paul Kagame urging them to relaunch the Luanda Process in order to achieve lasting peace in the region.