VZCZCXYZ0003
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHKI #1934/01 3621610
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 281610Z DEC 06
FM AMEMBASSY KINSHASA
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 5359

UNCLAS KINSHASA 001934 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
AIDAC 
 
AID/W FOR DCHA/OFDA- FERRARA 
STATE FOR PRM 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: OTRA AMGT APER ASEC PREF CG
SUBJECT: COUNTRY CLEARANCE FOR DRC - WILLIAM FITZGERALD, ANTOINETTE 
FERRARA, WENDY HENNING 
 
REF: STATE 203436 
 
¶1. Post grants country clearance and welcomes the arrival of Deputy 
Assistant Secretary William Fitzgerald, Program Officer Wendy 
Henning along with USAID Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance 
Director of the Disaster Response and Mitigation Division, 
Antoinette Ferrara to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) from 
January 13 - 25, 2007 to participate in a joint assessment mission 
with ECHO. 
 
¶2. POINT OF CONTACT 
 
Bill Damour and Jay Nash will be the Control Officers for the visit 
and can be reached at: 
 
Bill Damour 
  Office Phone:  011-243-81-225-5872 
  Cell phone:   011-243-81-880-4901 
  IVG:    8-934-2024 
Jay Nash 
  Office Phone:     011-243-81-880-3274 
  Cell Phone:       011-243-81-880-1426 
  IVG:              8-934-2407 
 
¶3. VISA REQUIREMENTS 
 
A valid Congolese visa is required of all American passport holders, 
whether diplomatic, official or tourist.  Congolese visas cannot be 
issued at the airport. 
 
¶4. FISCAL DATA REQUIREMENTS 
 
Fiscal data or credit card info must be provided in advance to the 
control officer listed above for any assistance required, including 
meet and assist at the airport, hotel reservations, cell phones, 
airport expeditors, translators/interpreters, etc.  The Embassy is 
unable to make hotel reservations or rental arrangements without 
financial information. 
 
¶5. ALL VISITS MUST COMMENCE IN KINSHASA 
 
At the Ambassador's request, all visits to the Democratic Republic 
of Congo, which require country clearance, are to commence in 
Kinshasa, the country's capital.  Travel to other regions of the 
country including the Kivus, Orientale and Maniema provinces, is to 
be undertaken from Kinshasa.  Embassy Kinshasa will provide 
assistance with these travel arrangements.  As travel in the Congo 
can be complicated, visitors should consult with their Embassy 
control officer early in the planning process. 
 
¶6. AIRPORT ADVICE FOR ARRIVING PASSENGERS 
 
Procedures at Ndjili Airport are changing as airport officials try 
to strengthen security procedures.  At this time, Embassy expeditors 
are no longer allowed in the Arrivals Hall and can provide 
assistance only after travelers pass through Immigration control. 
 
After deplaning and entering the Arrivals Hall, travelers should 
proceed to the "Official VIP/Diplomat" line, with passports and 
health certificates ready for presentation to the Immigration 
officials.  After clearing Immigration, travelers will be met on the 
other side of the booth by the Embassy expeditor, holding a placard 
with the names of travelers being met. 
The expeditor will then collect baggage claim tickets and passports, 
collect the bags, and then take travelers outside to the Embassy 
vehicles.  Once outside the terminal, local porters will carry your 
bags to the Embassy vehicle.  Please be prepared to give the 
expeditor one USD per bag to pay the porters. 
 
While at the airport, travelers are warned to not, repeat not, pay 
money or give their documents to anyone other than the Embassy 
expeditor.  This also applies to individuals in uniform, who may 
offer their services.  Be polite but do not accept their 
assistance. 
 
¶7. CUSTOMS AND ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT 
 
If you will be carrying tools, heavy cases, or any electronic 
equipment other than personal devices, contact your control officer 
with specific information that can be passed to the expeditor for 
assistance with customs clearance. 
 
¶8. ACCOMODATION 
 
Three single rooms have been booked at the Memling Hotel, tel: 
011-243-81-700-1111. The room price is within per diem and includes 
breakfast. 
 
 
¶9. SECURITY 
 
Due to elections and possible demonstrations throughout the election 
period, Post remains in an enhanced security position. 
 
Kinshasa is a critical threat crime post.  Although there is no 
specific threat targeting Americans, all visitors should remain 
vigilant and cautious during their stay in Kinshasa.  Because of 
political instability in parts of the country, all travel outside of 
Kinshasa must be approved by the RSO.  Your control officer will 
make reservations for you at one of the hotels the Regional Security 
Office has approved for visitors.  The RSO advises that you exercise 
caution in the areas around these hotels, and that you not travel 
after nightfall unless accompanied by someone familiar with the 
security situation in Kinshasa.  TDY personnel should not use any 
form of local transportation and should refrain from 
displaying/using cameras in public. 
 
A recent scam involves individuals in civilian clothes claiming to 
be Congolese police/security officials who approach unsuspecting 
expatriates on the street and demand to see their passport or other 
identification documents.  They try and convince the would-be victim 
to get in their unmarked vehicle and accompany them to the local 
police precinct.  If you are on the street and approached by someone 
claiming to be a police or security official, identify yourself as a 
diplomat working at the U.S. Embassy, walk briskly away, and make 
sure to report the incident to the RSO or Post One as soon as you 
have access to a phone.  Do not approach or get in their vehicle. 
 
¶10. CURRENCY 
 
The use of dollars in the DRC is legal and acceptable for most 
transactions.  Travelers arriving in the DRC with more than USD 
10,000 must fill out a currency declaration.  Travelers departing 
the DRC are not allowed to take out more than USD 10,000 in cash. 
 
Please note that ATMs are not available in Congo.  However, USG 
personnel are authorized USD and Franc Congolais accommodation 
exchange at the Embassy and/or USAID cashier; personal or travelers' 
checks are acceptable.  Most personnel use Franc Congolais only for 
small purchases and tips. 
 
American Express, Visa, Master Card, and Diner's Club are accepted 
in payment of bills at Kinshasa's two major hotels.  However, very 
few other businesses in the Congo accept credit cards and their use 
outside of the major hotels is discouraged.  Cashing travelers 
checks outside the Embassy is generally not advised because banks 
charge substantial fees for cashing them; travelers checks are 
rarely accepted at all outside of Kinshasa. 
 
¶11. MEDICAL 
 
Access to the Embassy Health Unit is available for US citizen, 
direct-hire USG employees and their eligible family members.  If you 
have been or will be posted more than 60 days overseas in a calendar 
year (not necessarily consecutive), you must provide proof of a 
Department of State medical clearance from M/MED to qualify for 
access to the our Health Unit.  Official visitors who are overseas 
less than 60 days in a calendar year are not required to have 
medical clearance and are authorized emergency, but not routine, use 
of the Health Unit. 
 
Other official visitors may receive Health Unit services if they 
meet the following criteria: 1) an individual employment 
relationship with the USG, 2) a MED Washington clearance, and 3) a 
USG agency that guarantees payment for medical expenses and/or 
personal overseas health and medevac insurance.  Visitors without 
Health Unit access will be referred to a local medical clinic, which 
provides all emergency and non-routine medical care for Embassy 
employees and family members. 
 
MALARIA: Congo is a malaria-affected area.  All travelers should 
consult with medical personnel and take malaria prophylactics as 
appropriate, before arriving in Kinshasa. 
 
YELLOW FEVER: You must have a valid yellow fever vaccination and 
your yellow vaccination card when you arrive.  You may be charged a 
fine of $50-$100 without proof of vaccination. 
 
¶12. ACCESS TO CONTROLLED ACCESS AREAS 
 
Each visitor to Kinshasa requiring unescorted access to controlled 
access areas (CAA) must arrange for their sponsoring agency or 
sending post to forward their security clearance to the RSO by 
telegram in advance of the visit.  In accordance with regulations, a 
diplomatic passport or Department of State identification card is 
not sufficient to allow unescorted access to CAA'S.  Kinshasa does 
not have the resources to escort visitors who arrive without proper 
 
advance security clearance. 
 
¶13.  Government-owned thumb/flash drives with proper classification 
label can be used at Post, but only on Open Net computers outside of 
the Controlled Access Area (CAA).  These devices cannot be used on 
any classified computers at Post. Thumb/flash drives must be hand 
carried and protected the same as a laptop.  The drive(s) could be 
pouched in advance to the control officer or the IMO. Upon arrival 
at Post, the Control Officer will provide a thumb/flash drive 
request form that should be completed and taken to the IPC or ISC 
along with the flash drive before use.  Questions should be directed 
to Information Management Officer (IMO) MbennaVG@state.gov or 
Information Systems Security Officer(ISSO) BakkenCA@state.gov. 
 
¶14. You may visit the Embassy's Intranet website at 
http://kinshasa.state.gov.  While still under construction, 
information is being added daily that you may find useful. 
 
¶15. Have a good trip.  Post looks forward to seeing you in Kinshasa. 
 
DOUGHERTY