CCTV News: According to the WeChat official account of the Chinese Embassy in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, on February 21, the Chinese Embassy in the Congo (Defense) issued a security situation notice, reminding all Chinese citizens in Congo to attach great importance to security issues.

1. Recent important cases

(I) On the morning of February 16, M23 entered Bukavu, the capital of South Kivu Province, and occupied many important places such as the provincial governor's residence. The government troops retreated without any resistance, and thousands of civilians fled to Burundi for refuge. On the 17th, M23 moved to Uvira, which borders Burundi.

(II) On February 16, in order to prevent the Gang army from evacuating to Kalemi with weapons and equipment, the Militia of Wazarendo in Uvira Town, South Kivu Province had a fierce exchange of fire with the Gang army, killing at least 17 people and seriously damaged the port facilities and surrounding buildings. The residents of Uvira Town were in panic and fled one after another.

(Wednesday) On February 17, six gunmen robbed MB Lounge bar and a forex exchange store on Huileries in the Lingwala neighborhood of Kinshasa. This is the second armed robbery in the area within two weeks. So far, the police have not arrested any suspects.

(IV) On February 17, the Ugandan People's Defense Forces (UPDF) special forces entered Bunya, the capital of Ituri Province. A spokesperson for the Ukrainian army said that the deployment of the Ukrainian and Congo this time was to help the Congo fight against illegal armed forces.

2. Important reminder

At present, the security situation in the Congo (DPRK) is complex and severe. The security situation in North Kivu and South Kivu provinces in the east of Kivu have deteriorated sharply, and the Gang army and M23 have continued to exchange fierce fire. The security situation in Ituri Province, Upper Velai Province and other places is not optimistic. M23, ADF, CODECO, Mai-Mai militia, Zaire militia and other illegal armed forces continued to cause chaos in provinces such as North Kivu, South Kivu, Ituri, and Upper Velai. Violent conflicts, armed robbery, kidnapping and other incidents occur from time to time. In the morning, Chinese citizens faced a high security risk.

The Chinese Embassy in the Congo (DRC) reminds all Chinese citizens in Congo to attach great importance to safety issues. Chinese citizens are not allowed to go to extremely high-risk areas such as Ituri, North Kivu, South Kivu, Upper Velai Province, etc. Chinese citizens and enterprises that are still in the local area are evacuated or transferred to safe areas as soon as possible. We do not go to nine provinces including Lualaba, Upper Katanga, Lower Velai, Tanganyika, Manima, Zhongkaisai, Sankuru, Lomami, and Upper Lomami unless necessary. If the local Chinese citizens have not reported it yet, please report your personal information to the embassy as soon as possible (see: http://cd.china-embassy.gov.cn/zytz/202212/t20221215_10990860.htm). For enterprises and individuals who have just engaged in gold mining activities, please report to the embassy as soon as possible (report website: https://www.wjx.cn/vm/mIDINTY.aspx#). Any person who refuses to report information and insists on going to or staying in the above-mentioned areas will be personally responsible for all the consequences arising from this.

Ask Chinese citizens who are doing business in the capital Kinshasa area to pay close attention to the local situation, strengthen security precautions, and resolutely eliminate paralysis and fluke mentality. Please be vigilant when going out, keep in touch with relatives, friends and colleagues around you, and avoid risks in a timely manner. Chinese-funded institutions located in areas where the security situation has significantly deteriorated, please take practical measures to continue to increase security investment with the highest standards, reduce non-essential personnel, and make emergency plans to adjust production and operation and personnel arrangements in emergencies. Be cautious in going to areas with high incidence of tropical infectious diseases, pay attention to preventing tropical infectious diseases such as monkeypox, develop good personal hygiene habits, avoid contact with wild animals, reduce going to places with dense crowds, and take personal hygiene protection if necessary.

Please be careful when Chinese citizens are in the morning to prevent telecommunications fraud, pay more attention when receiving unfamiliar calls to avoid being deceived.

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

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

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ Global Consular Protection and Service Emergency Hotline (24 hours): +86-10-12308 or +86-10-65612308

Consular Protection and Assistance Telephone number: +243-851474669