In a security alert issued on February 3, the embassy announced a reduction in its staff and advised Americans to make immediate travel arrangements while commercial options remain available.
"Ensure that your and your family’s travel documents are in order, and pack essential items in bags that you can easily carry. We understand that border crossings remain open for transit, and many flights are departing from N’Djili Airport in Kinshasa," the embassy advised.
At the same time, the embassy, which was among several foreign missions attacked in recent protests in Kinshasa, informed the public and U.S. nationals that it would be unable to conduct visa interviews or offer routine services.
"Due to the security situation in Kinshasa, the U.S. Embassy will not be conducting any visa interviews and will not be able to offer routine services for U.S. citizens," the embassy added.
The advisory comes just a week after the M23 rebel group seized control of Goma, the largest city in eastern DRC. The group has vowed to continue its offensive all the way to the capital, Kinshasa, unless its grievances are addressed.
Speaking during a press conference in Goma on Thursday, Corneille Nangaa, who heads an alliance of rebel groups that includes the M23, said the group would not abandon its course due to "poor governance".
"We will continue the march of liberation all the way to Kinshasa," Nangaa stated.
M23 is fighting against the systematic persecution of Kinyarwanda-speaking Congolese in the region, a situation that has persisted for decades.
Accusing the Congolese administration of poor governance, Nangaa stated that the rebel alliance, AFC, had established a team tasked with reviving the troubled region’s socioeconomic life, as well as overseeing humanitarian, financial, and infrastructure development.
Several other organizations, including the United Nations, have evacuated their staff and families from Goma, citing the deteriorating situation. Due to closed airspace and waterways, the staff were evacuated through Rwanda.

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