Belgium has advised its citizens against travelling to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) after violent protests erupted in Kinshasa over the ongoing conflict in the east of the country.
The Belgian foreign ministry issued the warning on Wednesday, stating: “All travel to the Democratic Republic of Congo is currently discouraged.”
This follows violent demonstrations on January 28, during which protesters targeted several embassies, including Belgium’s. Further protests are anticipated in the coming days.
Belgian citizens currently in the DRC have been advised to leave by their means.
In response to the unrest, Brussels Airlines cancelled its Wednesday flights to and from Kinshasa, stating that future operations would be assessed based on security conditions.
Protesters in Kinshasa, angered by perceived international inaction, attacked the embassies of Rwanda, Kenya, Uganda, France, Belgium, and the United States.
Supermarkets were looted, and tyres were set ablaze during the demonstrations. France, the EU, and Kenya have condemned the attacks.
The protests stem from accusations that Rwanda and Uganda are supporting the M23 armed group, which launched a major offensive in North Kivu province and entered Goma, the main city in eastern DRC, on Sunday.
Belgium, as the former colonial ruler of the DRC, maintains close ties with the country and has a significant Congolese diaspora.
