On
September 22, 2009, the
U.S. Department of State issued the following Travel Warning:
The
Department of State warns U.S. citizens of the continued risks of
traveling to Cote d’Ivoire and urges them to exercise caution while
traveling there.
Cote
d’Ivoire has been a divided country 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 Agreement (OPA) in March 2007,
and a new government was formed with Soro as Prime Minister (PM).
Implementation of the accord is ongoing, with elections scheduled
for late 2009, but the government has not regained full control of
the northern part of the country which remains under the de-facto
control of the New Forces. The United Nations Operation in Cote
d’Ivoire (UNOCI) currently operates a peacekeeping mission, and
France maintains the Force Licorn in Cote d’Ivoire in support of
UNOCI.
Given
the unpredictable and sometimes tense situation in regions
throughout the country, and the ongoing presence of two distinct
military/peacekeeping forces, the Department of State urges U.S.
citizens to exercise caution should they travel to Cote d’Ivoire,
and to take special care when traveling outside Abidjan. Security
conditions in the north and in the west can deteriorate without
warning. Embassy personnel traveling to western Cote d’Ivoire are
often required to use security escorts provided by the United
Nations. U.S. citizens planning travel to Cote d'Ivoire should
consult the Embassy or their host organization(s) for the most
recent security assessment of the areas where they plan to travel.
Crimes such as mugging, robbery, burglary, and carjacking pose the
highest risk for foreign visitors in Abidjan. Visitors should be
careful when stopped in heavy traffic or at roadblocks due to the
threat of violent robbery, and should avoid travel outside of the
city after dark. 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.
For
Information on How
to Protect Yourself, Your Family, Your
Employees, and Your Trips Abroad,
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Presidential elections are scheduled for November 29, 2009, but
preparations are behind schedule. Although the unstable and
unpredictable security environment that led to previous evacuations
no longer prevails, Americans traveling to Cote d’Ivoire should
follow political developments carefully, as there is potential for
violence in the run-up to, and aftermath of, elections.
The
U.S. Embassy in Abidjan, previously a partially unaccompanied post,
allowed minor dependents to return to post as of June 2009.
However, Embassy personnel and dependents are required to adhere to
strict security policies and procedures. Embassy employees are
instructed to be cautious when traveling within Abidjan and not to
travel outside of the city at night. Private U.S. citizens are
urged to follow the same guidelines. Embassy personnel must obtain
prior approval before traveling more than 35 kilometers outside
Abidjan. Some requests may be denied, or multi-vehicle convoys may
be required for security reasons. U.S. residents in Cote d’Ivoire
should maintain several days’ supply of cooking fuel, food, and
water at home, and ensure that their vehicles are fully fueled at
all times.
The
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.
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
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
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.
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.
For
Information on How
to Protect Yourself, Your Family, Your
Employees, and Your Trips Abroad,
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info@worldwidemedicalplans.com
877-211-3654 or
559-294-0316
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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.
UN and French peacekeepers remain in the country. The new government is
tasked with disarmament, demobilization, reintegration of former
combatants, creating a national identification system, and organizing
elections by early 2008. Most key tasks remain unaccomplished, and
political violence could still break out unexpectedly at any time.
Given the tense and potentially volatile security situation, the
Department of State urges American citizens to defer non-essential
travel to Cote d’Ivoire. For those who must travel to Cote d’Ivoire
despite this warning, the U.S. Embassy recommends extreme caution when
traveling within the country. Shops and businesses are open, and travel
throughout the south, although controlled by forces loyal to President
Gbagbo is possible. Overland routes to the north, still controlled by
the New Forces, are also open. The airport currently operates normally
and handles a number of flights by regional and European carriers. Land
routes to the Ghanaian border are open.
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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.
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
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.
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for Instant Quotes & Online Purchase
for Global Travel Medical, Accident
& Life Insurance
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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