FCO amends DRC travel advice

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) has revised its travel advice for the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

It is now advising against all travel to Kinshasa amid heavy fighting in the capital which began yesterday in the centre of town.

The FCO advises British citizens who are in Kinshasa to not move around in town and to keep in close touch with the British embassy for the latest developments.

Kinshasa's main airport, Ndjili, is closed today and the FCO advises against all but essential travel to the rest of DRC because of "continuing tension and insecurity after elections".

The department's statement continued: "The situation elsewhere could deteriorate at short notice, particularly sparked by the violence in Kinshasa."

There is continued insecurity and lawlessness in some areas of DRC and there is sporadic fighting between the Congolese army and insurgents in north Kivu.