Is Kinshasa safe to visit right now? (September 2026)

Travel advisories for Democratic Republic of the Congo

What the advice says

• The US State Department rates the country Level 4, Do Not Travel, and this advisory applies at the country level rather than singling out Kinshasa specifically.
• UK FCDO guidance notes a high global threat of terrorism affecting British nationals and warns that attacks in the DRC, while concentrated in eastern provinces, could occur indiscriminately in places visited by foreign nationals.
• Protests and demonstrations can occur in Kinshasa with little notice, including large and violent protests outside embassies in January 2025, and these can involve gunfire, road blockages, and disruption to flights, borders, and communications.
• Foreign nationals in Kinshasa face a particular risk of street robbery, especially near hotels and supermarkets, and criminals sometimes pose as taxi drivers, passengers, or security personnel to carry out robberies with threats of violence.
• Criminal kidnapping, including so-called express kidnaps where victims are taken to ATMs before release, is a risk in parts of Kinshasa such as the Limete area, and foreign nationals can be perceived as wealthier and therefore targeted.
• UK guidance advises avoiding walking alone in the streets at any time, especially after dark, not displaying valuables or cash, using a hotel safe, and using only privately booked transport rather than hailing taxis in the street.
• Travelers should stay aware of their surroundings, follow local media for news of planned protests, and be ready to alter plans or observe a curfew at short notice if instructed by local authorities.