From: owner-travel-advisories Subject: NEW TRAVEL INFO -- Republic of Congo Newsgroups: wstd.travel.advisories Date: Fri, 4 Dec 1998 16:49:38 GMT Organization: The World @ Software Tool & Die Xref: world wstd.travel.advisories:2005 Path: world!bzs Message-ID: <199812041153_MC2-6280-7C3@compuserve.com> Sender: "U.S. Department of State" <76702.1202@compuserve.com> Approved: usenet@world.std.com Distribution: wstd Precedence: bulk Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit X-List-Info: LN=travel-advisories WHOM=76702.1202@compuserve.com Content-Disposition: inline Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Mime-Version: 1.0 Lines: 104 STATE DEPARTMENT TRAVEL INFORMATION - Republic of Congo ============================================================ Republic of Congo - Travel Warning December 3, 1998 The Department of State warns U.S. citizens to defer travel to the Republic of Congo (Brazzaville) due to the uncertain security situation in some regions. Although the war in the Republic of Congo ended in October 1997, shooting and other acts of violence between elements of the Congolese military and paramilitary groups have since occurred in some areas, particularly in the Pool Region, southwest of Brazzaville. The U.S. Embassy in Brazzaville suspended operations on June 18, 1997 and there remains no resident U.S. diplomatic presence in the Republic of Congo to provide consular assistance to U.S. citizens. The Brazzaville Embassy Office (based in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo) may, in some circumstances, be able to provide limited emergency services to U.S. citizens. This replaces the Travel Warning dated June 17, 1997, to reflect the end of the civil war in the Republic of Congo and to reiterate that the U.S. Embassy in Brazzaville is closed. Republic of Congo - Consular Information Sheet June 24, 1996 Country Description: The Congo is a developing nation in Central Africa. Facilities for tourism are limited. Entry Requirements: A passport and a visa are required. Information on entry requirements may be obtained from the Embassy of the Republic of the Congo, 4891 Colorado Avenue, N.W., Washington D.C. 20011, telephone (202) 726-0825, or the Permanent Mission of the Congo to the U.N., 14 E. 65th St., New York, NY 10021, telephone (212) 744-7840. Areas of Instability: Most areas of the Congo are generally calm, although sporadic disturbances continue to occur in the capital, Brazzaville. Night travel outside the city center should be avoided. Medical Facilities: Medical facilities in the Congo are limited. Some medicine is in short supply. Doctors and hospitals often expect immediate cash payment for health services. U.S. medical insurance is not always valid or accepted outside the United States. The Medicare/Medicaid program does not provide for payment of medical services outside the United States. Travelers should consider supplemental medical coverage. For additional information, travelers can contact the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's international travelers hotline, telephone (404) 332-4559. Internet: http://www.cdc.gov. Information on Crime: Street crime, including mugging and purse snatching, is common in Brazzaville, as well as in some parts of the countryside. The loss or theft abroad of a U.S. passport should be reported immediately to local police and to the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate. The pamphlets "A Safe Trip Abroad" and "Tips for Travelers to Sub-Saharan Africa" provide useful information on protecting personal security while traveling abroad and on travel in the region in general. Both are available from the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C. 20402. Road Safety/Automobile Travel: Road conditions are generally poor and deteriorate significantly during the rainy season, November-June. Maintenance of the few paved roads is limited. Overland travel off the main roads generally requires a four-wheel drive vehicle. Poorly-marked armed checkpoints, often manned by undisciplined soldiers, exist throughout the country. Nighttime travel on unfamiliar roads is dangerous. Detention of Americans: Local security force commanders, particularly in areas outside Brazzaville, may detain foreigners and have been known to attempt extortion. Such detention of U.S. citizens is not always reported by Congo authorities to the U.S. Embassy. The Embassy has protested such actions. Drug Penalties: U.S. citizens are subject to the laws of the country in which they are traveling. Penalties for possession, use or trafficking in illegal drugs are strictly enforced. Convicted offenders can expect jail sentences and fines. Embassy Location/Registration: U.S. citizens are encouraged to register at the U.S. Embassy and obtain updated information on travel and security in the Congo. The U.S. Embassy is located on Avenue Amilcar Cabral in Brazzaville. The telephone number is (242) 83-20-70. The mailing address is B.P. 1015, Brazzaville, Congo or Box C, APO AE 09828. No. 96-125 This replaces the Consular Information Sheet dated April 25, 1995 to update information on Areas of Instability and Road Safety/Automobile Travel. ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- The "travel-advisories@stolaf.edu" mailing list is the official Internet and BITNET distribution point for the U.S. State Department Travel Warnings and Consular Information Sheets. To unsubscribe, send a message containing the word "unsubscribe" to: travel-advisories-request@stolaf.edu Archives of past "travel-advisories" postings are available at the URL: "http://www.stolaf.edu/network/travel-advisories.html" or via Gopher: gopher.stolaf.edu, Internet Resources/US-State-Department-Travel-Advisories