Warden Messages

Eastern Congo and Voting Reminder

Greetings registered US citizens in Rwanda;

There are two issues I want to raise with you: the situation in North Kivu and the up-coming U.S. elections.

Due to the current security situation in North Kivu in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), the U.S. Embassy in Kinshasa has suspended all official, non-essential travel to that region until further notice. Recent fighting between the Congolese military and militia forces in North Kivu province, particularly around Masisi and Rutshuru, continues. An unknown number of persons (both military and civilian) have been killed over the past week and there are reports of more than 5,000 internally displaced persons seeking refuge in the Goma area and elsewhere. Movements of forces on both sides, build-up of government troops and continued clashes are expected.

As a reminder, the US Embassy in Kigali does not recommend travel to Eastern Congo, Burundi, or Southwestern districts of Uganda bordering the Congo.

 

I also want to remind you that the U.S. election season is fast approaching. Some states’ primaries fall as early as January 2008. You should be able to find all you need to register, apply for an absentee ballot, and familiarize yourself with different states’ requirements at our website: http://kigali.usembassy.gov/voting_in_u.s._elections

We also have hard copies of the online guides and forms available in our office.

Finally, you can find our public hours listed on the website, as well as other useful information and services. Please let us know if you have difficulty coming in during the listed hours; we will try and accommodate Americans with emergencies or who are living far from Kigali.

Best wishes, and please encourage your U.S. citizen friends and visitors to register at our website!