Today's focus for close protection teams is the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The Foreign Office has warned that protests are planned in Kinshasa on 15 September. It advises against all travel to the country's eastern provinces, including North Kivu, South Kivu and Ituri, and against all but essential travel to two southern districts of Kinshasa near N'djili airport and to the N1 road corridor east of the capital. Movement through central Kinshasa is possible but demands crowd avoidance and alternate routing on a protest day.
In the Balkans, the Foreign Office has flagged large public gatherings in Pristina and other urban centres over the week from 11 September, including on 12 and 16 September, which could disrupt traffic and public transport. Teams working in Kosovo should allow extra time, avoid the gatherings, and keep principals clear of crowds.
The UK national threat level from terrorism remains severe, meaning an attack is highly likely. Northern Ireland related terrorism in Northern Ireland stands at substantial. The standing advice holds: work to the current Foreign Office position for each country rather than an older brief, and keep a fallback route wherever a border, port or airport could close at short notice.
