Following violent attacks on its embassy in Kinshasa, the United States has initiated efforts to evacuate its citizens from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The unrest erupted when demonstrators targeted several diplomatic missions in response to escalating conflict in North Kivu, where M23 rebels, allegedly supported by Rwanda, seized control of Goma.

The US Embassy in Kinshasa issued a security alert advising American nationals to shelter in place and subsequently leave the country via commercial flights, amidst ongoing unrest in the capital. Air France, Brussels Airlines, and Uganda Airlines have suspended flights to Kinshasa due to heightened tensions.

In light of these developments, the US government has urged its citizens in the DRC to ensure their travel documents are up-to-date and to prepare essential items for departure. Meanwhile, Kinshasa authorities have banned further demonstrations, although sporadic protests by students continue to disrupt normal activities.

While Goma has experienced a relative calm, the overall situation remains tense. President William Ruto of the East African Community convened an emergency summit aimed at easing tensions between Rwanda and the DRC, an initiative that DRC President Félix Tshisekedi did not attend. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio also engaged with President Tshisekedi and Rwanda’s Paul Kagame, advocating for the revitalization of the Luanda Process to achieve lasting peace in the region.