Congo (Kinshasa) Security Situation Briefing (January 4, 2023)

　　1. Recent important cases

　　(1) On December 29, a Chinese citizen disappeared in Kolwezi, and was later found to have been kidnapped and extorted, and was unfortunately killed.

At present, the main suspect in the case has been arrested, and the case is under further investigation.

　　(2) On December 29, the Alliance of Congolese Self-Defense Organizations fought fiercely with M23 in Tongo Village, Rutshuru District, North Kivu Province. The alliance claimed to have killed 13 M23 fighters.

　　(3) On January 1, the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) attacked a cargo truck on the Beni-Kasindi road in North Kivu Province, killing two people.

　　(4) On January 2, a landmine was detonated by children playing in the Ruzizi Plain in South Kivu Province, killing 2 children and injuring 6 others.

　　(5) From January 2 to 4, M23 exchanged fire with the Congolese government forces and successively occupied the towns of Kisharo and Nyamilima in the Rutshuru region of North Kivu Province, causing local people to flee their homes.

　　2. Important Reminder

　　Currently, the security situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo is severe and complicated.

Since mid-December, M23 and Congolese government forces have exchanged fire again in the Rutshuru area of ​​North Kivu Province in eastern Congo, and have not yet withdrawn from the occupied area.

Chinese citizens already in the local area are requested to pay close attention to changes in the security situation and take timely measures to avoid danger and security.

　　Provinces such as Ituri, North Kivu, South Kivu, and Haut-Uélé in eastern Congo face extremely high risks of armed attacks and hostage kidnapping, and vicious cases involving Chinese citizens and institutions frequently occur.

Please expedite the evacuation of Chinese citizens in the above four high-risk provinces.

If Chinese citizens already in the local area have not yet reported, please report their personal information to the embassy as soon as possible (for the operation process, please refer to: http://cd.china-embassy.gov.cn/zytz/202212/t20221215_10990860.htm).

For those who refuse to file information and insist on going to or staying in the above four provinces, they will be personally responsible for all consequences arising therefrom.

　　In Kolwezi, Lubumbashi, Likasi and other places in the southeast of Congo, vicious security cases involving Chinese companies and citizens such as robbery and theft are still on the rise.

　　Please Chinese citizens and Chinese-funded institutions in Congo fully understand the severity and complexity of the current security situation, and resolutely put an end to paralyzed thinking and luck.

Pay close attention to the local security situation, strengthen awareness of risk prevention, increase investment in security with the highest standards, and coordinate security and production operations.

Chinese-funded institutions located in areas where the security situation has deteriorated significantly, please take practical measures to avoid unnecessary going out, reduce non-essential personnel, and earnestly prepare contingency plans for adjusting production operations and personnel arrangements in emergencies.

　　In case of emergency, please call the police and contact the embassy in time.

　　Congo (Kinshasa) alarm telephone: +243-818906284, +243-816770006, +243-827205000

　　Global Consular Protection and Service Emergency Hotline of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (24 hours): +86-10-12308 or +86-10-59913991

　　Consular Protection and Assistance Tel: +243-851474669

　　(WeChat account of the Chinese Embassy in the Democratic Republic of the Congo)