01
Approved transport only
Use a vehicle and driver arranged in advance by the mission, a reputable hotel or a known professional provider. Record the name, phone, vehicle, pickup point and backup contact. Do not hail a street taxi.
Movement and practical stay
Operate with a plan for every journey.
Kinshasa traffic, demonstrations, checkpoints, power interruptions and communications failures can change a normal day quickly. The practical response is advance planning, redundancy and clear authority—not improvisation.
02
Daily movement board
For each trip record destination, departure, driver, route, expected arrival and safe-arrival confirmation. Do not publish live locations, team movements, hotel details or clinic routes on public social media.
03
Traffic and disruption
Build contingency time around airport, clinic and return movements. Demonstrations, weather, roadblocks and official restrictions may require delay, rerouting, sheltering or cancellation.
04
Communications redundancy
Carry an unlocked phone, charger, backup battery and paper contact list. Agree on voice, SMS, an approved secure messaging channel and a physical check-in process if data service fails.
05
Cash and payments
The Congolese franc is the local currency and cash remains important. Confirm approved payment methods, carry limited daily funds in separate locations and do not exchange money with unknown street intermediaries.
06
Power and essential supplies
Ask lodging and clinical sites about generator, charging, water and internet backup. Keep essential documents offline and carry a charged phone, battery, light and the mission emergency card.
07
Language and conduct
French is central for official and administrative communication. Arrange qualified interpretation for consent and technical discussions. Dress conservatively, ask before photographing people and do not photograph security-sensitive locations.
08
If plans fail
Use the mission security focal point, insurer and diplomatic contact list. A robust plan never depends on one driver, one phone, one payment method, one route or one emergency contact.
Mobile network context
Mobile network context
The DRC regulator’s late-2025 market report identifies Africell, Airtel, Orange and Vodacom as mobile operators. This is not a recommendation or a guarantee of visitor registration, local coverage, tariff or service continuity.
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