From: owner-travel-advisories Subject: NEW TRAVEL INFO -- Equatorial Guinea Newsgroups: wstd.travel.advisories Date: Thu, 14 Mar 1996 13:43:26 GMT Organization: The World @ Software Tool & Die Xref: world wstd.travel.advisories:992 Path: world!root Message-ID: <960314134325_76702.1202_CHN50-1@CompuServe.COM> Precedence: bulk Sender: root@world.std.com (daemons) Distribution: wstd Approved: usenet@world.std.com Lines: 94 STATE DEPARTMENT TRAVEL INFORMATION - Equatorial Guinea ============================================================ Equatorial Guinea - Consular Information Sheet March 13, 1996 Country Description: Equatorial Guinea is a developing country in West Africa. Its capital, Malabo, is located on the island of Bioko, near the coast of Cameroon. The mainland territory of Equatorial Guinea is located between Cameroon and Gabon. Tourism facilities are minimal. Entry Requirements: Travelers should obtain the latest information and details from the Embassy of the Republic of Equatorial Guinea, 1511 K Street, N.W., Suite 405, Washington, D.C., 20005, telephone (202) 393-0525, fax (202) 393-0348. Overseas inquiries should be made to the nearest Equatorial Guinean embassy or consulate. Medical Facilities: Medical facilities are extremely limited. Many medicines are unavailable. Doctors and hospitals often require immediate payment for health services. U.S. medical insurance is not always valid outside the United States. The Medicare/Medicaid program does not provide for payment of medical services outside the United States. Travelers have found supplemental medical insurance with specific overseas and medical evacuation coverage has proven to be useful. For additional health information, travelers can contact the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's international travelers hotline at telephone (404) 332-4559. Information on Crime: Violent crime is rare and the overall level of criminal activity is low. However, the incidence of non-violent street crime and residential burglaries is on the rise because of the country's poor economic situation. 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. Airline Safety/In-Country Travel: The government-owned Equatorial Guinean Airlines (EAG) does not meet any internationally accepted standards for airworthiness. U.S. Government employees are prohibited from flying on this airline. Roads outside the major cities of Malabo and Bata are generally in poor condition and may require a four-wheel drive vehicle. Currency Restrictions: The government of Equatorial Guinea has established stringent currency restrictions, applied upon arrival and departure from the country. Visitors bearing tourist passports must declare any currency in excess of 50,000 CFA local currency ($100 US) upon arrival. Although this requirement is not clearly posted, travelers who fail to declare their excess currency risk forfeiture of any amount over 50,000 CFA upon departure. Photography Restrictions: Special permits may be needed for some types of photography. Police or security officials may charge a fine, attempt to take the person into custody or seize the cameras or film of persons photographing the presidential palace and its environs, military installations, airports, harbors and other sensitive areas. Drug Penalties: U.S. citizens are subject to the laws of the country in which they are traveling. Penalties for possession, use or trafficking of illegal drugs are strict, and convicted offenders can expect jail sentences and fines. U.S. Representation: The United States closed its U.S. Embassy in Malabo in November 1995. U.S. citizens are encouraged to register with the U.S. Embassy in Cameroon, located on Rue Nachtigal, Yaounde, and to obtain updated information on travel and security in Equatorial Guinea. The Embassy's mailing address is B.P. 817, Yaounde, Cameroon. The telephone numbers are (237) 22-25-89, 22-17-94 or 23-40-14. The fax number is (237) 23-07-53. No. 96-059 This replaces the Consular Information Sheet dated November 4, 1994, to reflect the U.S. Embassy's closure, to update information on country description, foreign entry requirements, medical facilities, currency restrictions, U.S. representation location; and, to include information on transportation safety and in-country 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