Sudan Country Clearance Granted for TDY Econ Officer

UNCLAS KHARTOUM 000065 SIPDIS SIPDIS SENSITIVE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: OTRA AMGT APER ACOA ASEC SU SUBJECT: Sudan Country Clearance Granted for TDY Econ Officer Curtis Stewart Ref: STATE 004445 ¶1. (SBU) Embassy Khartoum welcomes and grants country clearance for AF WAE Econ Officer Curtis Stewart to travel to Khartoum to assist post from January 17 to mid-May, 2007. ¶2. (SBU) U.S. citizens are reminded that Sudanese visas are now required for travel to all parts of Sudan. The Sudanese Government has informed us that it no longer recognizes SPLM clearances (see paragraph 7 for details.) ¶3. (SBU) CONTACT INFORMATION: Point of Contact for the visit is Pol/Econ Counselor Eric Whitaker, who can be reached on cell phone number 011-249-912159576. The Embassy switchboard number is 249-183-774-700 or 249-183-774-702. The Embassy may be contacted after hours by calling the local guard at Post One at 249-183-774-701. The Embassy is open from 08:00 to 16:30 Sunday through Thursday. ¶4. (U) Assistance will be provided at Khartoum International Airport on arrival. ¶5. (U) EXCHANGE RATE: Current exchange rate at post is 200 Sudanese Dinars to one USD. ¶6. (U) PASSPORT/VISA: ¶A. U.S. Citizens are reminded that Sudanese visas are now required for travel to all parts of Sudan. It is the traveler's responsibility to obtain a Sudanese visa prior to arrival in Khartoum. Please note that the Government of Sudan does not/not issue airport visas and currently does not permit entry of a traveler whose passport bears an Israeli stamp. ¶B. IF TRAVELING FROM THE UNITED STATES AND/OR A U.S. MISSION ABROAD: The Sudanese Government has a restrictive poQcy in regards to visa issuances to official American travelers. Official Americans should not begin their travel to Sudan without having obtained a Sudanese visa or having received notice that a visa has been authorized for issuance in another city. Recently the Sudanese Government has advised that official American travelers coming from Washington, DC, no longer need post's assistance in preparing diplomatic notes for visa issuance; travelers may apply directly to the Sudanese Embassy in Washington. For visa issuance from other Sudanese Embassies, official American travelers may have to contact the American Embassy in Khartoum for assistance. ¶7. (U) MEDICAL CLEARANCE: ¶A. All employees, including WAEs and civil service employees Qo are in TDY status for more than 60 days (cumulatively) in a calendar year, are required to have an up-to-date medical clearance from the Department of State Office of Medical Services (M/MED) in order to receive full State Department medical benefits from an Embassy Medical Unit, to include Embassy Khartoum Medical Unit. ¶B. MEDICAL CLEARANCE FOR PSC AND NON-PSC: As per State cable 201464, all contract workers (PSC and non-PSC, to include institutional contractors and grantees) must have a medical clearance issued from M/MED before arrival at post. A copy of this clearance is required by the Medical Unit on arrival at post before any Embassy Khartoum Medical Unit services can be provided. ¶C. IMMUNIZATIONS (DIRECT HIRE, WAE, TDYERS, PSC, AND NON-PSC): Please ensure that you complete all immunizations recommended by M/MED before arrival at post. Yellow fever and polio (IPV) are required at least 10 days before departure. Malaria prophylaxis is required for post and should commence 1 or 2 weeks before departure. Please ensure enough prophylaxis is issued to cover your TDY period at post. Upon arrival, travelers should visit the Medical Unit to register and receive further health information. Travelers' diarrhea is a common problem in Sudan. Only bottled water or distilled water should be used for drinking (this includes ice). Eat foods that are well cooked. Avoid fruits without peels, raw vegetables, salads, and local dairy products, which might not be pasteurized. At least 8-10 glasses of water or fluids are recommended to avoid dehydration. A topical insect repellent and sunscreen SPF 15-30 are also recommended. ¶8. (U) BRINGING IN COMPUTERS: ¶A. In accordance with 95 State 243815 and 95 State 244394, Department of State policy prohibits the connection of official, portable computers to OpenNet or ClassNet without the explicit approval of the Bureau or Post ISSO (12 FAM 625). ¶B. Personally owned computers, personal digital assistants, cell phones, digital cameras, and audio recorders may not be brought into the Embassy without approval from the RSO or ISSO. Personally owned computers may not be connected to OpenNet or ClassNet under any circumstances and may not be used within USG Controlled Access Areas (CAA)(12 FAM 625). Unclassified government-owned portable computers intended for use any place within overseas facilities, and particularly within the CAA, cannot be taken in and out of the CAA, unless specifically authorized bQthe RSO. Classified portable computers must remain within the CAA at all times. ¶C. COTRs/CORs are responsible for their contract employees, and must ensure that all contracted employees receive required systems security training before accessing OpenNet or any other post or bureau-operated system. ¶D. (U) Transport and use at post: 1) As stated in reftels (paragraph 9.A above),official travelers on temporary duty, including non-state personnel, must coordinate the transport of official unclassified portable computers that will be used within USG controlled access facilities with the RSO and ISSO. A country clearance request cable containing a statement to this effect will meet the requirement. 2) Unclassified portable computers intended for use within the CAA on a long-term basis (over 30 days),must be shipped Qa professional or non-pro diplomatic courier (classified pouch). 3) An official traveler can personally transport a USG portable computer to post only under the following conditions: -- The official traveler must have at least a secret level security clearance; -- The official traveler will be on temporary duty at the Embassy for a period not to exceed 30 days; -- The portable computer must have been transported under the continuous personal control of the official traveler; -- Under no circumstances may the computer have been left unattended outside of the CAA or in a public area, nor should it be checked in as luggage on public transport; and -- All wireless and audio features on the portable computer must be disabled or de-installed, to include infrared ports and sound card, before entering the CAA, regardless of mode of transport. ¶9. (U) SECURITY: ¶A. All visitors to Khartoum are required to make an appointment, within 24 hours of arrival, with the Regional Security Officer. Adherence to and compliance with all mission security directives is mandatory; violating these directives may result in disciplinary action and/or revocation of country clearance. ¶B. The Department of State has a Travel Warning in effect for Sudan and strongly urges all travelers to review this document. Visitors should follow all prudent personal security measures such as, but not limited to, varying routes and times of travel, avoiding becoming involved in demonstrations, attending non-official events at large public venues, avoiding predictable patterns of activities, and being aware of surroundings for potential threats. Anti-U.S. street demonstrations always remain a strong possibility; however they are usually well controlled by the host country government and generally peaceful. The criminal environment does not specifically target Americans in Khartoum. Crimes of opportunity are the most typical incidents that may affect any visitor in country. ¶10. (U) TERRORISM: Visitors are also reminded that Sudan is a critical threat terrorism environment and that the country is still listed as a state sponsor of terrorism. The Department acknowledges that the Sudanese go+aQinterests in Sudan. ¶11. (U) TRAVEL OUTSIDE KHARTOUM WITHIN SUDAN: ¶A. Post requires at least 3-days advance notice for proposed travel to any area outside Khartoum. (See Paras B and D below for Darfur and Juba specific restrictions). Fighting continues in specific parts of Southern Sudan and Darfur, especially along the Chad, Uganda and Kenya borders. The humanitarian crisis in Darfur as well as the instability in Southern Sudan poses collateral security issues for all expatriates operating in country. Banditry is prevalent in outlying areas and it is not uncommon to see illegal roadblocks, especially in regions that lack a formal security presence. ¶B. TRAVEL TO DARFUR: All official travel to the Darfur region is contingent upon an RSO security assessment of the specific area to be visited immediately prior to the proposed travel. Darfur continues to be an area of instability and the potential for official travelers being caught in the wrong place at the wrong time is a growing concern. Some areas have erupted in factional fighting with little or no warning. The RSO continues to monitor the temperament of the local populace and any reporting concerning threats and/or incidents directed at Western NGOs operating in this area. A recent Sudanese newspaper headline quoted the Sudanese President declaring Darfur aid agencies the "real" enemy of the Government of Sudan. Extensive ground travel outside the major cites in Darfur is generally not advisable due to the fluid and unpredictable security situation. ¶C. If official travel is approved to the Darfur region, the following information must be provided to the Embassy a minimum of 96 hours (4 days) prior to the departure date for Darfur: a clean, color, scanned copy of information page of valid passport, as well as extension pages if applicable, and the valid Sudanese visa page in order for appropriate Government of Sudan approvals to be obtained. A clean, color, scanned passport photo is also needed for the Darfur permit. If the traveler also wants to take photos, a photo permit is also required for Darfur. One clean, color, scanned passport size photograph must also be provided to the Embassy a minimum of 96 hours prior to travel to the Darfur area. Sending all this required information at one time is most convenient for expediting the processing procedures. ¶D. TRAVEL TO SOUTHERN SUDAN: As with Darfur, all travel to Southern Sudan is contingent upon an RSO security assessment of the specific area to be visited immediately prior to the proposed travel. High unemployment, banditry, the presence of Ugandan rebels (LRA) and an ineffective police presence have contributed to a very tenuous security structure in much of Southern Sudan. At this time, overland travel anywhere south of Juba is strictly prohibited without an armed United Nations escort. All USG personnel in Juba are expected to stay at the U.S. Consulate General there. Other accommodations will not be permitted except in the most extraordinary circumstances. Landmines and unexploded ordinance remain a problem in some areas of Southern Sudan, thereby requiring further travel precautions and restrictions. ¶E. Effective October 1, 2005, the UN Humanitarian Air Service (UNHAS) in Sudan will commence charging $100 per fixed-wing aircraft flight and $40 per helicopter flight within Sudan. Charter flights will be charged at the actual expense level. Although no charge was made for flights in the past, higher costs, a high rate of no-shows, and frequent non-essential travel made the fee necessary for the continued functioning of the UNHAS. Travelers to Sudan should be aware of these charges, which are done at the time of booking, and include a provision for such in their travel orders. ¶12. (U) WEATHER: Sudan for most of the year is hot and dry, with summer (March - October) temperatures reaching 120 plus degrees Fahrenheit. Winter (November - February) temperatures average 80-90 degrees. Although the heat in Southern Sudan is not as intense as that in Khartoum, it is nonetheless humid, with frequent rains during the summer months (May - September). ¶13. (U) ATTIRE: In public, it is recommended that men and women do not wear shorts or non-sleeved shirts or blouses, including participants in running/walking activities, and that woman wear ankle-length skirts or dresses, or pants. Lightweight, cotton clothing is recommended, including a hat and sunglasses. ¶14. (U) Please contact your Post Point of Contact if you have any questions. Have a safe journey; we look forward to your visit. Regards. HUME