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Welcome
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This Travel Warning was issued on June 09, 2008, to update information on safety and security concerns in Cote d’Ivoire and continues to urge U.S. citizens to exercise extreme caution while traveling in Cote d’Ivoire. This supersedes the Travel Warning issued December 5, 2007. Cote d’Ivoire continues to experience periodic episodes of political unrest and violence, sometimes directed against foreigners, since a 2002 failed coup attempt evolved into an armed rebellion that split the country in two. Ivorian President Laurent Gbagbo and New Forces leader Guillaume Soro signed the Ouagadougou Political Accord (OPA) in March 2007 and a new government was formed with Soro as Prime Minister (PM). Although implementation of the accord is ongoing, the political situation has not fully returned to normal. In December 2007, rebel-controlled Bouake, the largest city in northern Cote d'Ivoire, experienced rioting by disaffected rebel soldiers and para-military forces, as well as fighting between opposing factions within the rebel movement amid rumors of a coup attempt. Travel for the local population was severely restricted during these periods, and two employees of the Embassy were evacuated by UN forces to a safehaven. Both UN and French peacekeepers remain in the country.
In March 2007, after multiple peace
accords and postponed national elections, Ivorian President Gbagbo and
the New Forces rebel leader, Guillaume Soro, signed a peace agreement
that established a new transitional government with Gbagbo as President
and Soro as Prime Minister.
Given the sometimes tense and potentially volatile security situation, the Department of State urges American citizens to exercise extreme caution should they travel to Cote d’Ivoire, and to take special care when traveling outside Abidjan. In February 2008, Embassy personnel and other international organizations were prevented from traveling to and from western Cote d’Ivoire due to rioting by government soldiers. Americans planning travel to Cote d'Ivoire despite this travel warning should consult the Embassy and/or their host organizations for the most recent security assessment of the areas to where they plan to travel. Increases in food and oil prices could provoke impromptu strikes and/or demonstrations. Crime poses the highest risk for foreign visitors in Abidjan, including mugging, robbery, burglary and car jacking. Visitors should be careful when stopped in heavy traffic or at impromptu roadblocks due to the threat of violent robbery. Land routes to neighboring countries are open, although overland travel to Liberia and Guinea is strongly discouraged, and caution is urged when crossing into Mali, Burkina Faso, and Ghana. Long-delayed presidential elections have been rescheduled for November 30, 2008. Americans traveling to Cote d’Ivoire should follow political developments carefully, as there is a potential for violence in the run-up to and aftermath of elections.
The Department of State continues to urge that Americans defer non-essential travel to Cote d'Ivoire. The security situation remains tense and potentially volatile, but shops and businesses are open. Travel throughout the south, controlled by forces loyal to President Gbagbo, is possible, and overland routes to the north, still controlled by the New Forces, are also open. Extreme caution is recommended at all times when traveling within the country. The airport currently operates normally and handles a number of flights by regional and European carriers. Land routes to the Ghanaian border are open. The Department of State continues to prohibit minor dependents from accompanying U.S. government employees assigned to the U.S. Embassy in Abidjan. Embassy employees are asked to limit their travel within Abidjan and to avoid travel at night. Private American citizens are urged to follow the same guidelines. U.S. Embassy personnel must obtain prior approval before traveling north of Yamoussoukro, west of Sassandra, or east of Assinie (including to the Ghanaian border). Americans should also ensure that their vehicles are fully fueled and that they have adequate cooking fuel, food and water for several days.
The new U.S. Embassy is located in the Riviera Golf neighborhood of the Cocody section of Abidjan. The Embassy may close to the public temporarily from time to time, in response to security developments. U.S. citizens who remain in, or travel to, Cote d'Ivoire despite this Travel Warning should consult the Department of State's latest Consular Information Sheet for Cote d'Ivoire and the Worldwide Caution Public Announcement at http://travel.state.gov. Americans should register with the U.S. Embassy by completing a registration form on-line at https://travelregistration.state.gov/ibrs/home.asp, by calling (225) 22-49-40-00, or faxing (225) 22-49-42-02. Americans in Cote d'Ivoire who need assistance should contact the Embassy at (225) 22-49-40-00. American citizens may obtain up-to-date information on security conditions in Cote d'Ivoire by calling 1-888-407-4747 toll free in the United States.
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