This Travel Warning was issued on May 25,
2008, to provide an update on the security situation in the Central African
Republic (CAR). American citizens traveling to or residing in the CAR
should exercise extreme caution. This supersedes the Travel Warning for the
CAR issued August 9, 2007.
American citizens who travel to or reside
in the Central African Republic (CAR) should exercise extreme caution,
especially outside the capital city of Bangui. Armed rebel groups, bandits,
and poachers present real dangers and the Central African government is
unable to guarantee the safety of visitors in most parts of the country.
The U.S. Department of State advises
American citizens who are not affiliated with humanitarian relief efforts to
avoid travel to northwestern and northern CAR, particularly the areas
bordering Chad, due to insecurity caused by banditry and clashes between
government and rebel forces. In addition, the embassy recommends that
Americans traveling outside the capital not travel with any armed escort, as
an armed escort may cause problems with local authorities or draw fire from
rebel troops. In the northwestern prefecture of Ouham and Ouham-Pende,
roadblocks by rebels and by government forces pose a serious and continuing
threat to aid workers and travelers. Fighting between rebels and government
forces continues sporadically, and efforts to broker a peace agreement or
ceasefire between the parties have not succeeded to date. An expatriate aid
worker was killed in an attack on a well-marked vehicle north of Bocaranga
in June 2007, and local citizens continue to be kidnapped and held for
ransom on a regular basis. Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and UN
agencies operating in that area share information on security incidents and
the NGOs generally abide by the UN travel restrictions. U.S. Government
employees on temporary duty and other contract visitors to the U.S. Embassy
are allowed to visit the northwestern or northeastern CAR prefectures only
on a case-by-case basis and with specific authorization of the Chief of
Mission.
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Rebels and armed men are also present
in the northeastern Vakaga prefecture, and pose a threat to all
travelers in that area. A peace agreement with one group of rebels is
in place, but splinter groups and other armed men pose a threat to
travelers. The firing on a medical convoy of well-marked NGO vehicles,
which led to one patient’s death in March 2008, resulted in the
temporary suspension of most humanitarian activities in the Vakaga
prefecture outside Birao.
Highway bandits (“coupeurs de route” in
French, “zaraguinas” in Sango) pose a serious threat to travelers throughout
the country. Two World Health Organization physicians were murdered by
unidentified assailants outside Bossembélé in April 2006. There have been
repeated attacks on Central African and expatriate travelers on the
Berberati-Carnot-Baoro-Bouar-Bozoum road.
Poachers and armed men also pose a threat
to game hunters in the north central CAR, in and around the Parc National de
Bamingui-Bangoran. A French hunter was murdered and three others wounded in
an attack on a hunting party outside the town of Ndele in April 2007. The
poachers in this area are heavily armed, often with automatic weapons, and
outside local and national government authority.
The Central African government is
unable to guarantee the safety of visitors to any part of the country
including the capital. Outside the capital many areas are lawless; some
rebel groups remain active in the western, northern, northeastern, and
southeastern provinces despite a cease-fire signed in early February. The
U.S. Embassy advises its personnel to exercise caution in traveling to all
parts of the country. Two World Health Organization physicians were murdered
by unidentified assailants in central CAR in April 2006. In the past two
months, visitors traveling with armed escorts experienced several attacks.
The Embassy now advises Americans traveling outside the capital not to
travel with a CAR military escort, or any armed escort, as the armed escort
may draw fire from rebel troops.
U.S. citizens already in the Central African Republic should contact the
American Embassy in Bangui to verify their locations and contact points.
They should avoid travel outside the capital unless absolutely necessary and
exercise caution at all times, particularly at public gatherings.
For
Information on How
to Protect Yourself, Your Family, Your
Employees, and Your Trips Abroad,
Contact our specialists today.
info@worldwidemedicalplans.com
877-211-3654 or
559-294-0316
Click here
for Instant Quotes & Online Purchase
for Global Travel Medical, Accident
& Life Insurance
In Bangui, tensions remain high due
to unpaid civil servant salaries and skirmishes between government forces
and opposition groups, as well as due to aggressive police actions. There
are approximately 300 peacekeeping troops from neighboring member countries
of the Economic and Monetary Union of Central Africa (CEMAC) that move in
and out of the capital. CAR security forces, sometimes with French military
assistance, staff checkpoints throughout the city. Some crimes are
perpetrated by uniformed CAR security and military personnel.
The U.S. Embassy in Bangui has just four American officers and can provide
only limited emergency services to U.S. citizens at this time.
U.S. citizens in the CAR are strongly urged to register on the State
Department's web site at
https://travelregistration.state.gov. Americans
without Internet access may register directly with the U.S. Embassy in
Bangui. By registering, American citizens make it easier for the Embassy to
contact them in case of emergency.
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The U.S. Embassy in the CAR is
located at Avenue David Dacko, B.P. 924, Bangui; tel. (236) 61-02-00; fax
(236) 61-44-94. For additional information on safety and security in the
CAR, contact the Consular Section of the U.S. Embassy in Yaounde, Cameroon,
at telephone (237) 223-4014, (237) 223-0512, or 223-0581; fax (237)
223-0753; web site
http://yaounde.usembassy.gov/. Americans may also
obtain updated information from the American Embassy in N'djamena, Chad, at
telephone (235) 51-70-09, 51-92-33 or 51-90-52; fax (235) 51-56-54; web site
http://ndjamena.usembassy.gov/.
U.S. citizens should also consult the Department of State's most recent
Consular Information Sheet for Central African Republic and the Worldwide
Caution Public Announcement, which are located on the Department's web site
at http://travel.state.gov.
Up-to-date information on safety and security is also available at
1-888-407-4747 toll free in the U.S. and Canada, or for callers from other
countries, on a regular toll-line at 1-202-501-4444. These numbers are
available from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday
(except U.S. federal holidays).
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