US orders families of govt personnel to leave DR Congo

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Demonstrators gather in front of a burning car during an opposition rally in Kinshasa on September 19, 2016. Police fired tear gas at scores of opposition supporters rallying in Kinshasa to demand that DR Congo's long-serving President Joseph Kabila step down this year, AFP journalists said. Kabila, who has ruled DR Congo since 2001, is banned under the constitution from running again -- but he has given no sign of intending to give up his job in December. / AFP PHOTO / EDUARDO SOTERAS
Demonstrators gather in front of a burning car during an opposition rally in Kinshasa on September 19, 2016.
Police fired tear gas at scores of opposition supporters rallying in Kinshasa to demand that DR Congo’s long-serving President Joseph Kabila step down this year, AFP journalists said. Kabila, who has ruled DR Congo since 2001, is banned under the constitution from running again — but he has given no sign of intending to give up his job in December. / AFP PHOTO / 

WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — The United States on Thursday ordered families of government personnel stationed in the Democratic Republic of Congo to leave amid fears about escalating violence, the State Department said.

“The potential for civil unrest is high in parts of Kinshasa and other major cities,” it said, referring to the country’s capital in a statement.

“As a result of the deteriorating security situation, family members of US government personnel have been ordered to leave the country beginning September 29. Most official US government travel to the DRC has been halted.”

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