The following Emergency Message was posted by the US State Department July 27, 2012:
Emergency Message for U.S. Citizens — U.S. Government Personnel Leaving Goma
7/27/2012
U.S. Embassy Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) Emergency Message for U.S. Citizens U.S. Government Personnel Leaving Goma
The U.S. Embassy alerts U.S. citizens that because of continued heavy fighting between FARDC and various armed groups, including ex-CNDP deserters (referred to as M23), north of the town of Goma in the province of North Kivu, the Embassy has instructed all official U.S. government personnel to depart Goma and surrounding areas until the Embassy can further assess the security situation. The Embassy will send out additional messages as warranted. The situation is fluid and is likely to remain so for the foreseeable future.
You can stay in touch and get Embassy updates by checking the U.S. Embassy Kinshasa web site. You can also get global updates at the U.S. Department of State’s, Bureau of Consular Affairs website 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 iPhone App for 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.