Xref: world wstd.travel.advisories:493 Newsgroups: wstd.travel.advisories Path: world!compuserve.COM!76702.1202 From: 76702.1202@compuserve.COM (Wally Doerge) Subject: ALL: NEW TRAVEL INFO -- Mali Message-ID: <940614124812_76702.1202_CHN50-1@CompuServe.COM> Sender: daemon@world.std.com (World Mail) Organization: The World @ Software Tool & Die Distribution: wstd Date: Tue, 14 Jun 1994 12:48:13 GMT Approved: usenet@world.std.com Lines: 104 STATE DEPARTMENT TRAVEL INFORMATION - Mali ============================================================ Mali - Consular Infromation Sheet June 13, 1994 Country Description: Mali is a developing West African nation with a new democratically elected system of government. Facilities for tourism are limited. Entry Requirements: A passport and a visa are required. For further information the traveler may contact the Embassy of the Republic of Mali, 2130 R Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20008, telephone (202) 332-2249. Areas of Instability: Attacks by groups of armed bandits, usually focused on vehicle theft, have occurred in the Timbuktu, Gao and Kidal regions. Overland travel to the areas north of the Niger river in the Mopti region, as well as to the areas near the Mauritanian border in the Kayes, Koulikoro, and Segou regions, is also risky. However, tourists who have traveled by air or by river boat to these areas have not been threatened. To date, travelers to the towns of Mopti, Segou, Kayes, or Koulikoro have not reported attacks. Medical Facilities: Medical facilities are limited. Many medicines are unavailable. Doctors and hospitals often expect immediate cash payment for health care services. U.S. medical insurance is not always valid outside the United States. Supplemental medical insurance with specific overseas coverage, including medical evacuation, has proved useful. Information on health matters may be obtained from the Centers for Disease Control's international travelers hotline, telephone (404) 332-4559. Information on Crime: Petty crime, including pickpocketing and purse snatching, is not uncommon. Incidents of banditry and vehicle theft have been reported along major travel routes, near the principal cities and in smaller towns. Victims have included foreigners. U.S. passports, alien registration cards, and other documents are high value items, and should be protected at all times. 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 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 and convicted offenders can expect jail sentences and fines. Road Conditions: The roads from Bamako to Mopti, Douentza, Koutiala, Sikasso, and Bougouni, and a few other roads are paved. Road conditions on other routes are poor, particularly in the rainy season which runs from mid-June to mid-September. On major roads, stops at customs and police checkpoints are frequent. Driving is particularly hazardous after dark, and nighttime travel may be dangerous. Photography: Photography is no longer restricted, except for military subjects. However, interpretation of what may be considered off limits varies. Other subjects may be considered sensitive from a cultural or religious viewpoint, and it is helpful to obtain permission before taking photographs in Mali. Currency: The Malian currency is the CFA franc which is exchangeable for French francs at a fixed rate. Exchange of dollars in cash or travelers checks is slow and often involves out-of-date rates. The U.S. Embassy cannot provide exchange facilities for non-official Americans. Use of credit cards is limited to payment for services at two hotels in Bamako. Cash advances on credit cards are performed by only one bank in Mali, the BMCD Bank in Bamako, and only on a "VISA" credit card. Telephone Service: International calls are expensive, and collect calls cannot be made from Mali. Calls to the United States cost approximately ten dollars a minute. Outside Bamako, it is often impossible to obtain an international telephone line. Registration: U.S. citizens who register at the U.S. Embassy in Bamako may obtain updated information on travel and security in Mali. Exportation of Artifacts: In 1993, the U.S. government began providing emergency protection for Malian cultural property, thereby restricting the importation of Malian archeological cultural property to the U.S. While these U.S. restrictions apply only to archeological items, travelers planning to export any Malian cultural property are required by Malian law to obtain an export authorization from the National Museum in Bamako. Embassy Location: The U.S. Embassy is located at the intersection of Rue Rochester NY and Rue Mohammed V, in Bamako, the capital city. The mailing address is B.P. 34, Bamako, Mali. The telephone number is (223) 22-54-70. The fax number is (223) 22-39-33. No. 94-099 This replaces the Consular Information Sheet dated March 25, 1994, to add information about crime, road conditions, photography, and the export of artifacts.