Safety in Congo Kinshasa: what overland travellers should know

Our summary of the country advice published by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Viaggiare Sicuri) on 17 May 2026.

Safety

Postpone the trip — Because the security situation can deteriorate abruptly, the ministry asks travellers to postpone any journey to the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Those already in the country are strongly advised to consider going home on the commercial transport available.
Eastern provinces — The strongest alert covers North Kivu, South Kivu, Ituri and Tanganyika, where numerous armed groups operate and where large-scale operations by the Congolese army and the UN mission continue against groups responsible for civilian massacres, particularly around Beni. M23 has taken a wide stretch of North Kivu up to the edges of Sake and Goma, with frequent fighting in the Masisi and Rutshuru territories and near both cities. A state of siege has been in force in North Kivu and Ituri since 1 May 2021, and anyone still in Goma or North Kivu is told to avoid moving at all.
Areas advised against — Travel is strongly advised against in the eastern and north-eastern regions and in the provinces of Kasai, Lomami, Tanganyika including Kalemie and Kongolo, Bas-Uele, Haut-Uele, Tshopo, Ituri, North Kivu, South Kivu, Maniema, Haut-Lomami and northern Haut-Katanga. It is also better to stay out of the Maluku area of Kinshasa province, past N'djili international airport, because of tribal clashes, and out of the Kwango area in central Congo. Around the Virunga National Park near the Rwenzori in North Kivu there are continuous clashes, and the Garamba National Park is held by South Sudanese militias and other armed groups running the ivory trade.
Kidnapping and terrorism — The risk of kidnapping for extortion, foreigners included, is high in the eastern provinces and in some districts of Kinshasa. Terrorism risk is very high in the east, above all in Ituri and North Kivu, where the ISIS-affiliated ADF carries out massacres and attacks. M23 violence and the withdrawal of the international missions have made things worse, with frequent abductions and lethal incidents affecting civilians and foreigners.
Kinshasa unrest — The picture in the capital is uncertain too, with frequent demonstrations, protests that flare up without warning and clashes with the security forces, so keep away from crowds and gatherings, particularly near major public buildings. Clashes between Yaka and Teke groups in the Kwamouth territory of Mai-Ndombe, about 200 km from Kinshasa, produced the so-called Mabondo, small machete-armed groups active in the Bateke area and in the northern communes of the city.
Natural hazards — The country is exposed to serious natural disasters: volcanic eruptions at Goma, the risk of gas from Lake Kivu, and floods and landslides in the east and in South Kivu. Kinshasa floods frequently, while drought and extreme rainfall hit other areas, damaging both people and infrastructure.

Before you rely on this

This is our summary of advice written by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs for Italian travellers, published on 17 May 2026. We summarise in good faith, but we cannot guarantee it is accurate, current or complete, and we take no responsibility for decisions made on the basis of it. Rules change without notice and are applied by officials at the border, not by websites. Always read the original source and the travel advice your own government publishes for Congo Kinshasa before you travel. GuideMeet has no way of checking whether an individual guide meets any standard mentioned here — ask them directly.

Source: Viaggiare Sicuri — Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, updated 17 May 2026. Last checked by GuideMeet on 2026-09-20.