Violent clashes have been ongoing since the evening of January 26 in Goma. On Monday, M23 rebels seized several key locations, including the airport, port, and a local military base.

South Korea is planning to impose travel restrictions due to the escalating conflict in the eastern part of Congo, the country’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Friday.

According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, a Level-4 travel ban will be imposed on the northern Kivu province of the Central African country starting Saturday. This is the most stringent travel ban imposed by the South Korean government, meaning South Korean citizens will not be allowed to travel there. Meanwhile, a Level-3 warning will remain in place for other parts of Congo, advising citizens to leave the area as soon as possible.

Violence has escalated recently in Congo. Intense conflict continues between the M23 rebel group and the army. According to news agency Yonhap, the M23 rebels claim to have captured the capital of the northern Kivu province, Goma. This city is a significant regional hub, with around 1 million residents, more than 700,000 of whom are already internally displaced and living in difficult conditions.

Congo’s President Félix Tshisekedi addressed the nation on national television on Thursday, stating that the government would fight back with full force to reclaim its land. He also emphasized that military operations are ongoing to liberate every inch of the country from enemies.

Violent clashes have been occurring in Goma since the evening of January 26. On Monday, M23 rebels captured several key locations, including the airport, port, and a local military base, worsening the situation.

The United Nations has also expressed deep concern over the conflict. UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ spokesperson, Stéphane Dujarric, said that the M23 rebels are now advancing toward the capital of South Kivu province, Bukavu, further destabilizing the region. He also reported that according to reliable sources, the Rwandan military is also crossing the border into the area.

At the request of the DRC government, the United Nations Security Council withdrew its peace mission (MONUSCO) from South Kivu last year. This has raised concerns about increasing humanitarian and security issues in the area.

Intense fighting is also ongoing between M23 rebels and the Congolese army in the Minova area of South Kivu. The UN has warned that inter-ethnic conflict could also flare up there.

Given the situation, South Korea has decided to impose the travel ban to protect its citizens and keep them away from this dangerous conflict.