VZCZCXYZ0003
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHDS #1230/01 1100615
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 200615Z APR 07
FM AMEMBASSY ADDIS ABABA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 5754
INFO RUEHKM/AMEMBASSY KAMPALA 3999

UNCLAS ADDIS ABABA 001230 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPARTMENT FOR AF/RSA 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: MASS OTRA UG ET
SUBJECT: COUNTRY CLEARANCE REQUEST - ACOTA 
 
REF: STATE 050924 
 
¶1. Embassy Addis Ababa welcomes African Contingency Operations 
Training and Assistance (ACOTA) Program and Policy Coordinator Chip 
Beck and ACOTA Regional Training and Operations Manager Richard Roan 
to from o/a April 25-26, 2007.  Country clearance is granted subject 
to the actual security situation at the time of proposed travel. 
Travelers should re-confirm this clearance with the control officer 
72 hours prior to commencement of travel, and consult the Department 
of State website at http://travel.state.gov.  The purpose of the 
visit is to transit en route to the ACOTA Peace Support Operations 
Training Strategy Conference (TSC) in Uganda. 
 
¶2.  Control officer: Eric Wong, Political Officer; cell phone: 
251(0)91 150-2116, office telephone number: 251(0)11 517-4560/4289. 
The mission duty officer can be reached at 251(0)11 517-4000, cell 
phone 251(0)91 121-3437 or after hours at 251(0)11 124-2400.  The 
Embassy pouch address is 2030 Addis Ababa Place, Washington, DC 
20521-2030. The Embassy operating hours is from Monday to Thursday 
is 7:45 a.m. to 17:30 hrs.  On Fridays, from 7:45 a.m to 11:45 hrs. 
 
¶3. Post understands that no further embassy assistance is required. 
 
¶4. Entry Requirements: Post strongly recommends that 
Business/Tourist visas be obtained at the closest Ethiopian embassy 
to the traveler's point of origin.  If that is not possible, for 
persons traveling on an ordinary U.S. passport, a business visa 
valid for five days only if he/she has a relevant document can be 
obtained only at Bole International Airport for USD 20.00.  A 
Tourist visa can be given for one month only.  A person traveling on 
a diplomatic passport can obtain an entry visa free of charge. 
Passengers should be aware that, if they elect to obtain an entry 
visa at the airport, they may be delayed by as much as one or two 
hours.  Be sure to have exact change in U.S. dollars to pay for the 
visa, as change for larger bills is virtually impossible to find at 
the visa counter and efforts to obtain change from airport banks may 
result in even longer delays.  NOTE: In accordance with terms of a 
SOFA agreement signed with the Government of Ethiopia, military 
personnel are allowed to travel within Ethiopia using their military 
I.D. cards as valid travel documents.  Individuals (both military 
and civilian) who are visiting the African Union are required to 
in-brief at the U.S. Embassy prior to consultations at the AU and 
out-brief U.S. Embassy at the conclusion of consultations at the AU 
prior to departure. 
 
¶5.  If a traveler is coming from or has recently visited countries 
where yellow fever, cholera or influenza is endemic, immunization 
records documenting  yellow fever and/or cholera vaccination may be 
required to enter the country.  Travelers coming directly from the 
U.S. or Europe are generally not asked for such documentation. 
Recommended vaccinations include: tetanus, hepatitis A, hepatitis B, 
typhoid, meningitis, poliomyelitis and, for high-risk groups, 
rabies. 
 
¶6.  Visitors should confirm onward flight reservations at least 72 
(seventy-two) hours prior to departure to reduce the possibility of 
cancellation.  Please note that many airlines operating in Ethiopia 
cancel reservations that have not been confirmed and will often 
refuse to reinstate them at the time of scheduled departure. 
 
¶7.  Money: Credit cards are not accepted at most hotels, except for 
the Sheraton and the Hilton and are not accepted at any local 
restaurants, shops or other facilities.  Foreigners are required to 
pay for car rentals in hard currency.  There are no ATMs in 
Ethiopia.  You will not be able to get cash using your ATM card, but 
guests and visitors at the Sheraton Addis Hotel can obtain up to USD 
500.00 per day using a major credit card that has a cash advance 
facility.  For travelers on official orders, the Embassy and USAID 
cashiers and Bank of Abyssinia provide accommodation exchange 
services.  The Bank of Abyssinia provides these services (cashing a 
personal check drawn on a U.S. bank to local currency) at both the 
Embassy (in the lobby of the Admin Building from 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 
p.m., Monday through Friday) and USAID (2:00 - 4:00 p.m., Monday 
through Thursday and 9:30 - 11:30 a.m. on Friday).  The Embassy 
cashier provides cashing service for USD cash to local currency. 
The embassy cashier hours are Monday to Thursday from 8:30am to 
12:00PM, Friday from 8:30am to 11:00am and Wednesday is closed. The 
daily maximum is USD 500.00. Both the Embassy and USAID cashiers can 
sometimes provide U.S. dollars if needed, but supplies are very 
limited.  For this reason, travelers should always arrive with 
enough cash to meet their needs. The current rate of exchange is 
approximately 8.70 Ethiopian Birr to one U.S. dollar. 
 
¶8.  Currency regulations: Currency declarations are required on 
entry to Ethiopia, and travelers may be asked by customs officials 
to show the amount of currency they have.  Holders of diplomatic or 
official passports will not be asked.  It is illegal to buy or sell 
foreign currency except at banks, or licensed hotels.  It is also 
against the law to pay for purchases with foreign currency.  If you 
wish to pay your hotel bill in cash, you must exchange the hard 
currency at a legal exchange point and present the receipt to the 
hotel at time of payment. 
 
¶9.  Health: Medical facilities in Ethiopia generally do not meet 
international standards.  Very basic care is available at some 
private hospitals in Addis Ababa (and through the Embassy Health 
Unit for authorized users).  Because of its altitude (7,000-8,000 
feet above sea level), travel to Addis Ababa is not recommended for 
those with pulmonary/heart conditions.  This includes individuals 
suffering from bronchial asthma, angina pectoris, previous 
myocardial infarction, emphysema, congestive heart failure or sleep 
apnea.  Individuals with sickle cell anemia should carefully 
consider the altitude of this post before traveling here. 
Dehydration is a common problem and travelers should ensure that 
they drink plenty of clean, bottled water, which is widely available 
in shops or restaurants. (NOTE: Do not accept a bottle that is 
unsealed.)  Many pharmacies in Addis Ababa are reasonably well 
stocked, but medications are not always standard and may not even be 
genuine.  Travelers should bring sufficient supplies of any 
medications they might need while in country.  Post policy is to 
stabilize those requiring acute care and to evacuate them 
immediately. All travelers are advised to closely adhere to the 
following guidelines: 
 
¶A.  Short-term (TDY) assignments carry an added risk because of the 
 
lack of time for acclimatization. Dehydration and stress from 
exercise or illness compound the basic risks of high altitude. For 
more information, contact your health unit or the medical clearances 
section of the Offices of Medical Services. 
 
¶B.  Bring sufficient supplies of all chronic and emergency 
medications. 
 
¶C.  Only personnel covered under the State Department's medical 
program, and with a valid medical clearance for Addis Ababa are 
eligible for medevac at USG cost.  All other visitors are required 
to have in their possession documentation of currently valid medical 
evacuation insurance sufficient to ensure evacuation by chartered 
air ambulance or ensure their agency will cover the cost. 
 
¶D.  Malaria prophylaxis is not needed in Addis Ababa, but is needed 
should travel be extended to lowland malarial areas outside Addis 
Ababa.  Medical facilities are not generally adequate to care for 
complications due to malaria.  Chloroquine-resistant malaria is 
present at lower elevations of Ethiopia. In these areas, malaria 
prophylaxis containing mefloquine, doxycycline or chloroquine with 
proguanil, together with exposure prevention techniques (use of 
mosquito repellent, long-sleeve shirts and long trousers, mosquito 
nets, etc.) are essential. 
 
¶10. Weather: Addis Ababa experiences two rainy seasons (light rains 
from February through April and heavy rains from June through 
September).  The average daytime temperature in Addis Ababa is 
between 75 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit.  Nighttime temperatures can 
range from the upper 30's to the low 60's depending upon the time of 
year.  Business dress in Addis Ababa tends to be fairly formal, with 
jackets and ties for men and skirts or pant-suits standard for 
women. Travelers should bring a medium weight sweater or jacket for 
evenings, when the temperature drops as soon as the sun sets. 
Because of the altitude, the sun in Addis Ababa is quite intense, 
and travelers should carry and use a strong sun block. 
 
¶11.  Electronic equipment: Items for personal use (short-wave radio, 
laptop computer, still camera, video camera) can be brought into 
Ethiopia.  Generally such items must be declared on arrival, when a 
customs officer will list these items in the traveler's passport. 
Customs officials may then check on departure to insure that these 
items are being taken out of the country again.  CD players, 
commercial quality camera equipment, video or DVD players or other 
work-related electronic equipment or tools may be difficult to bring 
into the country and may be impounded by Customs officials at the 
airport.  Travelers who intend to bring such equipment into Ethiopia 
should provide the Embassy or USAID complete details (e.g., type of 
equipment, number being imported, make(s), model(s) and serial 
number(s)) at least 24 hours prior to their arrival so that 
appropriate arrangements can be made for bringing it into Ethiopia. 
 
¶12.  Security: The Department of State urges U.S. citizens to 
consider deferring travel to northern Tigray (bordering Eritrea) and 
regions bordering Somalia due to security concerns.  In the northern 
part of the country, the Ethiopian-Eritrean conflict could rekindle 
without warning and significantly affect the border region between 
both countries.  Transportation to this area has been disrupted on 
occasion, limiting the U.S. government's ability to assist its 
citizens.  Other areas of Ethiopia, particularly in border areas, 
are subject to periodic instability, and visitors planning to travel 
outside of Addis Ababa should consult the Consular Information Sheet 
and check with the Regional Security Officer for the most up-to-date 
security information before beginning travel. 
 
¶13.  Crime: Pick-pocketing and other petty crimes are prevalent in 
urban areas.  There are occasional reports of thieves snatching 
jewelry.  Visitors should exercise normal caution and not carry 
large sums of money or wear excessive jewelry on their persons. 
Visitors should carry wallets and other valuables where they will 
not be susceptible to pickpockets.  Walking in Addis Ababa after 
dusk is not safe.  Night driving is strongly discouraged outside of 
major urban areas. Armed banditry can occur on roads outside major 
towns or cities and may be accompanied by violence. 
 
The loss or theft of a U.S. passport should be reported immediately 
to the U.S. embassy located on Entoto Road and to the local police. 
It is advisable to leave passports, plane tickets and valuables in a 
hotel safe.  Visitors, however, will be asked to show passports or 
other official identification when entering the U.S. embassy 
compound. 
 
¶14. Photography:  Ethiopians are very sensitive about photography. 
It is strictly prohibited to photograph military installations, 
police or military personnel, industrial facilities, government 
buildings, and infrastructure facilities (roads, bridges, ports, 
airfields, etc.).  Confiscation of film or camera or even arrest may 
result.  Tourist photography, on the other hand, is encouraged.  A 
good rule of thumb: If there is any doubt about whether the 
photograph should be taken, don't take it. 
 
¶15.  Action Request:  Each visitor, regardless of length of stay, 
must bring/forward fiscal data to pay for direct costs of the visit. 
 Each agency, organization, or visiting delegation will be charged 
for the actual costs attributed to their visit. Direct charges costs 
include, but are not limited to: American and LES staff overtime 
(e.g. expediter, accommodation exchange, representational event 
support), field travel-lodging and M&IE by Embassy employees, 
vehicle rentals, long distance telephone calls, equipment rentals, 
office supplies and all other costs that are directly attributable 
to the visit.  Also, for TDYers over thirty (30) days, there will be 
a charge for ICASS support services.  If your sponsoring agency is 
not signed up for ICASS services at Post, please be prepared to sign 
a MOU for ICASS support services upon arrival.  The agency should 
provide Post with a written communication, generated by the 
traveler's headquarters that confirms the agency will pay ICASS 
charges for the TDYer, provide the agency charges ICASS billing code 
for the TDY support to be applied, and authorize the traveler to 
sign the ICASS invoice generated by the TDY module. Where travel is 
urgent, the TDYers should bring this documentation with them to 
ensure there are no interruptions in the provision of service.  Post 
will not provide any services to a TDYer staying in excess of thirty 
days without this documentation prior to day 31 of the TDY. 
 
¶16.  This cable was last updated on August 30, 2006. 
 
YAMAMOTO