TRAVEL WARNING: CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 STATE 031455

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: CASC PTER ASEC CT
SUBJECT: TRAVEL WARNING: CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC


1. The Department of State warns U.S. citizens of the
risks of traveling to the Central African Republic (CAR),
and recommends against all but essential travel outside
the capital, Bangui. Travelers in the CAR should
exercise extreme caution. This replaces the Travel
Warning of March 25, 2008 to advise against non-essential
travel outside of Bangui.

2. 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 against travel outside of the capital Bangui.


3. U.S. citizens who travel within CAR despite this
warning should 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 an 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 despite
peace accords signed in December 2008, a complete
ceasefire between the parties has not succeeded to date.
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 Embassy's Chief of Mission.
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.

4. Rebels and armed men also are 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.

5. 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 Bossemb?l? in April 2006. There have been
repeated attacks on Central African and expatriate
travelers on the Berberati-Carnot-Baoro-Bouar-Bozoum
road.

6. 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.

7. 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 military and civilian security forces,
sometimes with French military assistance, staff
checkpoints throughout the city. Central African

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security forces (and people posing as such) at those
checkpoints frequently harass local and expatriate
travelers for bribes or small amounts of money (described
as ?coffee? in French). American citizens should avoid
public demonstrations, as even those intended to be
peaceful can turn confrontational and possibly escalate
into violence.

8. The small U.S. Embassy staff in Bangui can provide
only limited services to U.S. citizens at this time.

9. 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.

10. The U.S. Embassy in the CAR is located at Avenue
David Dacko, B.P. 924, Bangui; tel. (236) 2161-0200; fax
(236) 2161-4494. Americans may also obtain updated
information from the U.S. 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

11. For additional information on travel to the CAR, see
the Department of State's most recent Country Specific
Information Sheet for Central African Republic at
http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/ cis_1085.htm
l. 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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CLINTON