Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09BRAZZAVILLE12
2009-01-14 14:05:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Brazzaville
Cable title:
ANNUAL OVERSEAS SECURITY ADVISORY COUNCIL (OSAC) CRIME AND
how-toR 141405Z JAN 09 FM AMEMBASSY BRAZZAVILLE TO SECSTATE WASHDC 1240 INFO AMEMBASSY BRAZZAVILLE
UNCLAS BRAZZAVILLE 000012
DS/OSAC AND DS/IP/AF
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ASEC AMGT APER
SUBJECT: ANNUAL OVERSEAS SECURITY ADVISORY COUNCIL (OSAC) CRIME AND
SAFETY REPORT FOR REPUBLIC OF CONGO-BRAZZAVILLE
REF: 2008 STATE 132056
I. Overall Crime and Safety Situation:
A. Crime Threats: In the Republic of Congo (ROC) major crimes
against foreigners is rare, however muggings and pickpocketings
do occur in the capital city of Brazzaville and in the port city
of Point Noire. Criminal elements are known to target
middle-class and affluent neighborhoods without 24-hour guards.
Care should be taken at night and in areas where street children
congregate. Roadblocks manned by armed groups are common on the
route traveling south of Brazzaville through the Pool region.
Travelers should note that in the case of theft and robbery
legal recourse is limited, therefore, they may wish to leave all
valuable items at home.
B. Safety: Most roads within the cities of Brazzaville and Point
Noire are in need of major repair. Potholes are a very common
and serious hazard. An even greater hazard are the taxi and
minibus drivers who swerve erratically to avoid potholes or to
pick-up fares. Emission controls and traffic laws are not
enforced, creating polluted and congested road conditions.
II. Political Violence:
A. Historical Perspective: The last bout of fighting in the
Congo Civil Wars broke out in March 2002 when rebel groups
launched attacks first in the Pool region and later in
Brazzaville. The fighting was quickly contained in Brazzaville,
however "Ninja" rebels continued to resist in the Pool region.
In March 2003, the ROC government signed a cease-fire accord,
which remains in effect today. Efforts to integrate the
ex-combatants into mainstream society continue, however the
process has been slow and rebels have been reluctant to disarm.
B. Regional Terrorism and Organized Crime: There are no known
groups operating in ROC.
C. International Terrorism or Transnational Terrorism: There are
no known groups operating in ROC.
D. Civil Unrest: Civil unrest is rare in ROC, however rallies
and demonstrations do occur during election periods and are
occasionally marred by violence. Travelers should avoid
political rallies and street demonstrations. Presidential
elections are scheduled for July 2009.
III. Post Specific Concerns:
A. Floods: Heavy rains and floods occur during the rainy seasons
of October-December and March-May.
B. Industrial and Transportation Accidents: Two Antonov aircraft
accidents in 2005 resulting in loss of life, and a third in
neighboring DRC in 2007, have caused the suspension of Antonov
passenger flight operations in the ROC.
C. Kidnappings: Kidnapping for criminal profit is not a known
practice in ROC.
D. Drugs and Narco-Terrorism: Drug abuse is reportedly common in
poor neighborhoods, however evidence of drug trade is not
readily apparent to travelers in Brazzaville and Point Noire.
IV. Police Response:
A. Incidents of Police Detention or Harassment: Travelers
complain that border police and traffic police arbitrarily delay
them to check documents, with the officers often warning that
there is a problem and demanding a fine be paid. Travelers
should abide by orders from public officials, but are advised to
courteously request to speak with a supervisor and to contact
their embassy if they feel they are being threatened or are in
violation of a law.
B. Police Contact Numbers: Police resources are limited and
response to emergency calls is often slow.
Brazzaville- 516 89 89 or 815 387
Point Noire- 558 46 18 or 596 07 70
V. Medical Emergencies:
A. Contact Information for Local Hospitals and Clinics: Medical
facilities are extremely limited. Some medicines are in short
supply, particularly outside the larger cities. Travelers should
carry their own supply of appropriately labeled medications.
Travelers to ROC are at a high risk for contracting malaria. The
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) advise that
travelers should take one of the following antimalarial drugs:
Mefloquine, Doxycycline, or Atovaquone/Proguanil; as well as
other protective measures to prevent insect bites, such as the
use of insect repellent. In February 2003, the Department of
State issued a Public Announcement stating that there had been a
number of deaths in the remote border area between northeastern
Gabon and ROC due to an outbreak of Ebola Hemorrhagic Fever.
This was the third such outbreak since December 2001. No vaccine
or antiviral medication is available for treatment of Ebola.
Travelers are advised to consult with their physician, the CDC
or other health professionals regarding immunizations and other
precautions or concerns before traveling to ROC.
CHU General Hospital- Plateau de Quinze Ans, Centreville,
Brazzaville (switchboard not operational)
Netcare Clinic- 661 52 53 or 666 69 11
COGEMO Clinic- 563 79 68
B. Air Ambulance Services: AMREF Flying Doctors based out of
Wilson Airport in Nairobi, Kenya.
Tel: (254 20) 315454, 315455, 600090, 600602
Mobile: +254 733-628-422, +254 733-639-088
Satellite Phone: +873 762315580
VI. Travel Precautions:
A. Crimes Unique or Frequent in Region: Crime in Brazzaville and
Point Noire is typical of many large cities in Sub-Saharan
Africa. There are large pockets of very poor living adjacent to
the very wealthy. Most crimes are crimes of opportunity or
against residences without guard services. Pickpocketing,
muggings and aggressive street persons are the most common
threat. There has been an increase in incidents with aggressive
street kids in Brazzaville. In Point Noire there was a reported
incident of drink tampering targeting a foreign traveler in a
local nightclub and an armed robbery of an AMCIT on the beach.
Few thefts are reported from the hotels in the larger cities of
ROC and most employ security on the premises, however
precautions should be taken to protect valuables.
B. Best Security Practices: Travelers should maintain awareness
of their surroundings at all times. Keep doors and windows
closed and locked when traveling in vehicles. Avoid walking
alone at night. Photographs of government buildings and military
installations should not be taken without permission.
Photographs of national forests, parks, ports, infrastructure,
etc. may be taken with permission from the appropriate ministry
or authority. When photographing persons, especially police and
military, it is best to request permission. If permission is
refused, the photo should not be taken. There are no travel
restrictions imposed in ROC, however caution is urged when
traveling through the Pool region as there are reports of
frequent roadblocks and robberies by armed groups.
VII. Embassy Contacts:
Embassy switchboard is manned 24-hours. From the U.S. dial
prefix 011. Local calls omit 242 country code.
Switchboard: 242 811 481 or 242 811 480
Regional Security Officer (RSO): 242 526 3556
American Citizen Services: 242 811 481
Duty Officer: 242 526 3562
The U.S. Embassy is currently located in the BDEAC building in
Brazzaville. The new embassy is scheduled to open in January
2009 and is located on Maya Maya Avenue near the airport.
VII. OSAC Country Council:
At present, there is no OSAC Country Council in the Republic of
Congo.
EASTHAM
DS/OSAC AND DS/IP/AF
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ASEC AMGT APER
SUBJECT: ANNUAL OVERSEAS SECURITY ADVISORY COUNCIL (OSAC) CRIME AND
SAFETY REPORT FOR REPUBLIC OF CONGO-BRAZZAVILLE
REF: 2008 STATE 132056
I. Overall Crime and Safety Situation:
A. Crime Threats: In the Republic of Congo (ROC) major crimes
against foreigners is rare, however muggings and pickpocketings
do occur in the capital city of Brazzaville and in the port city
of Point Noire. Criminal elements are known to target
middle-class and affluent neighborhoods without 24-hour guards.
Care should be taken at night and in areas where street children
congregate. Roadblocks manned by armed groups are common on the
route traveling south of Brazzaville through the Pool region.
Travelers should note that in the case of theft and robbery
legal recourse is limited, therefore, they may wish to leave all
valuable items at home.
B. Safety: Most roads within the cities of Brazzaville and Point
Noire are in need of major repair. Potholes are a very common
and serious hazard. An even greater hazard are the taxi and
minibus drivers who swerve erratically to avoid potholes or to
pick-up fares. Emission controls and traffic laws are not
enforced, creating polluted and congested road conditions.
II. Political Violence:
A. Historical Perspective: The last bout of fighting in the
Congo Civil Wars broke out in March 2002 when rebel groups
launched attacks first in the Pool region and later in
Brazzaville. The fighting was quickly contained in Brazzaville,
however "Ninja" rebels continued to resist in the Pool region.
In March 2003, the ROC government signed a cease-fire accord,
which remains in effect today. Efforts to integrate the
ex-combatants into mainstream society continue, however the
process has been slow and rebels have been reluctant to disarm.
B. Regional Terrorism and Organized Crime: There are no known
groups operating in ROC.
C. International Terrorism or Transnational Terrorism: There are
no known groups operating in ROC.
D. Civil Unrest: Civil unrest is rare in ROC, however rallies
and demonstrations do occur during election periods and are
occasionally marred by violence. Travelers should avoid
political rallies and street demonstrations. Presidential
elections are scheduled for July 2009.
III. Post Specific Concerns:
A. Floods: Heavy rains and floods occur during the rainy seasons
of October-December and March-May.
B. Industrial and Transportation Accidents: Two Antonov aircraft
accidents in 2005 resulting in loss of life, and a third in
neighboring DRC in 2007, have caused the suspension of Antonov
passenger flight operations in the ROC.
C. Kidnappings: Kidnapping for criminal profit is not a known
practice in ROC.
D. Drugs and Narco-Terrorism: Drug abuse is reportedly common in
poor neighborhoods, however evidence of drug trade is not
readily apparent to travelers in Brazzaville and Point Noire.
IV. Police Response:
A. Incidents of Police Detention or Harassment: Travelers
complain that border police and traffic police arbitrarily delay
them to check documents, with the officers often warning that
there is a problem and demanding a fine be paid. Travelers
should abide by orders from public officials, but are advised to
courteously request to speak with a supervisor and to contact
their embassy if they feel they are being threatened or are in
violation of a law.
B. Police Contact Numbers: Police resources are limited and
response to emergency calls is often slow.
Brazzaville- 516 89 89 or 815 387
Point Noire- 558 46 18 or 596 07 70
V. Medical Emergencies:
A. Contact Information for Local Hospitals and Clinics: Medical
facilities are extremely limited. Some medicines are in short
supply, particularly outside the larger cities. Travelers should
carry their own supply of appropriately labeled medications.
Travelers to ROC are at a high risk for contracting malaria. The
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) advise that
travelers should take one of the following antimalarial drugs:
Mefloquine, Doxycycline, or Atovaquone/Proguanil; as well as
other protective measures to prevent insect bites, such as the
use of insect repellent. In February 2003, the Department of
State issued a Public Announcement stating that there had been a
number of deaths in the remote border area between northeastern
Gabon and ROC due to an outbreak of Ebola Hemorrhagic Fever.
This was the third such outbreak since December 2001. No vaccine
or antiviral medication is available for treatment of Ebola.
Travelers are advised to consult with their physician, the CDC
or other health professionals regarding immunizations and other
precautions or concerns before traveling to ROC.
CHU General Hospital- Plateau de Quinze Ans, Centreville,
Brazzaville (switchboard not operational)
Netcare Clinic- 661 52 53 or 666 69 11
COGEMO Clinic- 563 79 68
B. Air Ambulance Services: AMREF Flying Doctors based out of
Wilson Airport in Nairobi, Kenya.
Tel: (254 20) 315454, 315455, 600090, 600602
Mobile: +254 733-628-422, +254 733-639-088
Satellite Phone: +873 762315580
VI. Travel Precautions:
A. Crimes Unique or Frequent in Region: Crime in Brazzaville and
Point Noire is typical of many large cities in Sub-Saharan
Africa. There are large pockets of very poor living adjacent to
the very wealthy. Most crimes are crimes of opportunity or
against residences without guard services. Pickpocketing,
muggings and aggressive street persons are the most common
threat. There has been an increase in incidents with aggressive
street kids in Brazzaville. In Point Noire there was a reported
incident of drink tampering targeting a foreign traveler in a
local nightclub and an armed robbery of an AMCIT on the beach.
Few thefts are reported from the hotels in the larger cities of
ROC and most employ security on the premises, however
precautions should be taken to protect valuables.
B. Best Security Practices: Travelers should maintain awareness
of their surroundings at all times. Keep doors and windows
closed and locked when traveling in vehicles. Avoid walking
alone at night. Photographs of government buildings and military
installations should not be taken without permission.
Photographs of national forests, parks, ports, infrastructure,
etc. may be taken with permission from the appropriate ministry
or authority. When photographing persons, especially police and
military, it is best to request permission. If permission is
refused, the photo should not be taken. There are no travel
restrictions imposed in ROC, however caution is urged when
traveling through the Pool region as there are reports of
frequent roadblocks and robberies by armed groups.
VII. Embassy Contacts:
Embassy switchboard is manned 24-hours. From the U.S. dial
prefix 011. Local calls omit 242 country code.
Switchboard: 242 811 481 or 242 811 480
Regional Security Officer (RSO): 242 526 3556
American Citizen Services: 242 811 481
Duty Officer: 242 526 3562
The U.S. Embassy is currently located in the BDEAC building in
Brazzaville. The new embassy is scheduled to open in January
2009 and is located on Maya Maya Avenue near the airport.
VII. OSAC Country Council:
At present, there is no OSAC Country Council in the Republic of
Congo.
EASTHAM