From: owner-travel-advisories Subject: NEW TRAVEL INFO -- Gabon Newsgroups: wstd.travel.advisories Date: Fri, 4 Dec 1998 18:53:10 GMT Organization: The World @ Software Tool & Die Xref: world wstd.travel.advisories:2003 Path: world!bzs Message-ID: <199812041354_MC2-6280-E80@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: 85 STATE DEPARTMENT TRAVEL INFORMATION - Gabon ============================================================ Gabon - Public Announcement December 3, 1998 In the run-up to the December 6, 1998 presidential election, Gabonese Immigration authorities have increased Immigration controls, including those at Libreville Airport. Some foreign nationals have been refused entry into Gabon, even though the travelers possess valid Gabonese visas. The U.S. Embassy in Libreville recommends that U.S. citizens defer travel to Gabon until the entry restrictions are relaxed and/or regularized. For further information on travel to Gabon, please consult the Department of State's Consular Information Sheet for Gabon. This Public Announcement expires on December 31, 1998. Gabon - Consular Information Sheet April 8, 1997 Country Description: Gabon is a developing nation in west central Africa. French is the official language. Facilities for tourism outside the capital city, Libreville, are limited. Entry Requirements: A visa is required and must be obtained in advance. Travelers should obtain the latest information and details from the Embassy of the Republic of Gabon, 2035 20th Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20009, telephone (202) 797-1000. Overseas inquiries should be made to the nearest Gabonese embassy or consulate. Medical Facilities: Medical facilities in Gabon are limited. Some medicines are not available. 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 to be useful. For additional health information, travelers can contact the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's international travelers hotline at (404) 332-4559. Internet: http://www.cdc.gov. Information on Crime: Petty thievery is common in urban areas. Violent crime such as armed robbery, while not endemic, does occur. 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. 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 strict. Convicted offenders can expect jail sentences and fines. Road Travel and Safety: Road conditions vary, but are poor in most of the country. Emergency road service outside of the capital is limited. Travelers are routinely stopped at police checkpoints. Embassy Location/Registration: U.S. citizens are encouraged to register with the Consular Section of the U.S. Embassy in Libreville on Boulevard de la Mer, and to obtain updated information on travel and security in Gabon. The mailing address is b.p. 4000, Libreville, Gabon. The telephone numbers are (241) 762-003/4 or 743-492. No. 97-60 This replaces the Consular Information Sheet dated March 8, 1996 as part of a regular annual update. ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- 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