From: owner-travel-advisories Subject: NEW TRAVEL INFO -- Guinea Newsgroups: wstd.travel.advisories Date: Thu, 2 Apr 1998 17:01:10 GMT Organization: The World @ Software Tool & Die Xref: world wstd.travel.advisories:1667 Path: world!bzs Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Message-ID: <199804021204_MC2-38BF-15B3@compuserve.com> Content-Disposition: inline Precedence: bulk Sender: "U.S. Department of State" <76702.1202@compuserve.com> Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Mime-Version: 1.0 Distribution: wstd Approved: usenet@world.std.com Lines: 132 STATE DEPARTMENT TRAVEL INFORMATION - Guinea ============================================================ Guinea - Public Announcement April 1, 1998 In the wake of recent rioting over government construction of new roads through densely populated areas of Conakry, the U.S. Embassy in Conakry, Guinea issued the following warden message to the American community on March 30. "Due to shop closings, police activity and the potential for civil unrest, American citizens are advised to maintain a high level of awareness and restrict their movements throughout the city to essential travel. If you encounter crowds or signs of civil unrest, take alternate routing and report the incident to the Embassy as soon as possible. As always, exercise normal caution, report any incidents, carry your radio and stay tuned for further announcements." For further information on travel to Guinea, consult the Department's latest Consular Information Sheet for Guinea. This Public Announcement expires May 31, 1998. Guinea - Consular Information Sheet April 8, 1996 Country Description: Guinea is a developing coastal West African country with minimal facilities for tourism. Travelers should make hotel arrangements in advance. Entry Requirements: A visa is required. There is an airport departure tax. Travelers should obtain the latest information and details from the Embassy of the Republic of Guinea, 2112 Leroy Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20008, telephone (202) 483-9420. Overseas inquiries should be made to the nearest Guinean embassy or consulate. Areas of Instability: Guinea has experienced occasional civil unrest in larger towns in all regions of the country. Conakry, the capital city, experienced violence during an early February 1996 military mutiny over soldiers' pay. The government of Guinea has taken steps to address the soldiers' grievances, and life in Conakry has returned to normal; however, the long-term outlook remains unclear. U.S. citizens have not been targeted in any demonstration-related violence. Medical Facilities: Medical facilities are limited. Doctors and hospitals often expect immediate cash 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 that 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 (404) 332-4559. Crime Information: In an effort to stem the tide of urban banditry, the Guinean government has established roadblocks from midnight to 6 AM. Residential and street crime is common. Criminals particularly target visitors at the airport, in the markets, and near hotels and restaurants frequented by foreigners. Visitors should avoid unsolicited offers of assistance by freelancers at the airport or hotels as these people may be seeking opportunities to make off with bags, purses, or wallets. Being met at the airport by your hotel personnel, family members or business contacts can reduce vulnerability to these crimes of opportunity. Commercial scams and disputes with local business partners have occasionally created legal difficulties for U.S. citizens. The ability of the U.S. Embassy to extricate U.S. citizens from unlawful business deals is extremely limited. The loss or theft abroad of a U.S. passport should be reported immediately to local police and to the U.S. Embassy. 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. Restrictions on Photography: Visitors are advised to restrict photography to private gatherings. Explicit permission from the Guinean government should be obtained before photographing military and transportation facilities, government buildings or public works. Visitors should note that taking a photograph without permission in any public area may agitate security personnel or create offense among those being photographed. Currency Regulations: Credit cards are rarely accepted in Guinea, and credit card cash advances are not available at local banks. Inter-bank fund transfers are frequently difficult, if not impossible, to accomplish. Telephones: The communication system is poor. Telephones are available in Conakry and other major towns at major hotels. International service is frequently unreliable. Local Transportation: Guinea's road network is underdeveloped. Vehicles are often poorly maintained; road safety rules are routinely ignored; and night time travel is inadvisable. Domestic airlines offer services to most interior cities on a variety of Russian turbo prop aircraft to often rudimentary dirt landing strips. Embassy Location/Registration: U.S. citizens are encouraged to register with the Consular Section of the U.S. Embassy in Conakry at Second Boulevard and Ninth Avenue, and to obtain updated information on travel and security in Guinea. The U.S. Embassy's mailing address is B.P. 603. The telephone number is (224) 41-15-20/21/23. The fax number is (224) 41-15-22. No. 96-081 This replaces the Consular Information Sheet dated December 8, 1994, to update information on entry requirements, medical facilities, crime and telephones. ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- 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