VZCZCXRO4997
OO RUEHAG RUEHAO RUEHAP RUEHAT RUEHBC RUEHBI RUEHBL RUEHBW RUEHBZ
RUEHCD RUEHCHI RUEHCI RUEHCN RUEHDA RUEHDE RUEHDF RUEHDT RUEHDU RUEHED
RUEHEL RUEHFK RUEHFL RUEHGA RUEHGD RUEHGH RUEHGI RUEHGR RUEHHA RUEHHM
RUEHHO RUEHHT RUEHIHL RUEHIK RUEHJO RUEHJS RUEHKN RUEHKR RUEHKSO
RUEHKUK RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHLH RUEHLN RUEHLZ RUEHMA RUEHMC RUEHMJ RUEHMR
RUEHMRE RUEHNAG RUEHNG RUEHNH RUEHNL RUEHNP RUEHNZ RUEHPA RUEHPB
RUEHPD RUEHPOD RUEHPT RUEHPW RUEHQU RUEHRD RUEHRG RUEHRN RUEHROV
RUEHRS RUEHTM RUEHTRO RUEHVC RUEHVK RUEHYG
DE RUEHC #2511 1131950
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 221943Z APR 08
FM SECSTATE WASHDC
TO ALL DIPLOMATIC AND CONSULAR POSTS COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE
RUEHFSI/DIR FSINFATC
RHEHNSC/WHITE HOUSE NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL WASHINGTON DC
RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHINGTON DC
RUEHPH/CDC ATLANTA 6646
RUCPDOC/ALL USDOC DISTDIR COLLECTIVE WASHINGTON DC
RHMCSUU/CDRAMC FT BELVOIR VA//AMCMI-SS//
RUEAHQA/HQ USAF WASHINGTON DC//XOXXI//
RHMCSUU/HQ AFOSI DOQ ANDREWS AFB MD//IVOA//
RHMCSUU/FAA NATIONAL HQ WASHINGTON DC//ACI-400//
RHMCSUU/COMNAVAIRSYSCOM PATUXENT RIVER MD//AIR1031B//
RHMFIUU/NRC WASHINGTON DC//INFOSEC//
RHMFISS/CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL//CCJ2-JIT//
RUCPCIM/CIM NTDB WASHINGTON DC
RHMCSUU/COGARD INTELCOORDCEN WASHINGTON DC
RHMFIUU/CDR USPACOM HONOLULU HI
RHMFISS/CDR USSOUTHCOM MIAMI FL
RUEHTRO/AMEMBASSY TRIPOLI IMMEDIATE 0018
INFO RUESBKC/ATO ASIA IMMEDIATE 1646

UNCLAS STATE 042511 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: CASC OTRA PREL BY
SUBJECT: TRAVEL WARNING - BURUNDI 
 
 
¶1.  This Travel Warning updates American citizens on 
security conditions in Burundi.  American citizens should 
exercise caution while traveling in the country.  The U.S. 
Embassy restricts the travel of its personnel in Burundi, 
and certain areas of the capital, Bujumbura, are off- 
limits.  This supersedes the Travel Warning for Burundi 
dated December 10, 2007. 
 
¶2.  The Department of State continues to caution U.S. 
citizens traveling to Burundi.  Burundi was plagued by a 
civil war from 1993 to 2006 that often involved non- 
government, non-combatant targets.  In September 2006, the 
government and the last remaining hold-out rebel group from 
the peace process, the PALIPEHUTU-FNL, signed a cease-fire 
agreement.  Many of the cease-fire provisions have not been 
implemented and the rebels still retain the capability to 
conduct indirect fire attacks on the capital.  In April 
2008 rebel forces engaged Burundian military units just 
outside of Bujumbura city limits.  Rebels are still present 
throughout Bujumbura Rural, which surrounds the capital 
city. 
 
¶3.  Crime, often committed by groups of armed bandits or 
street children, poses the highest risk for foreign 
visitors to Bujumbura and Burundi in general.  Common 
crimes include muggings, burglaries, robberies, and 
carjackings.  Visitors should be careful when stopped in 
heavy traffic due to the threat of robbery by roving bands 
of criminals.  The U.S. Embassy has received reports of 
armed criminals ambushing vehicles, particularly on the 
roads leading out of Bujumbura.  U.S. Government personnel 
are restricted from walking on the streets during hours of 
darkness, and prohibited from using local public 
transportation.  Due to insufficient resources, local 
authorities in any part of Burundi are often unable to 
provide timely assistance in case of need. 
 
¶4.  The U.S. Embassy restricts the travel of Embassy 
personnel and certain areas of the capital, Bujumbura, are 
off-limits to Embassy personnel.  In addition, the 
Embassy's Regional Security Officer must pre-approve all 
travel outside the capital by U.S. Embassy personnel, and 
employees must travel in two-vehicle convoys.  The Embassy 
recommends that Americans not travel on national highways 
from dusk to dawn. 
 
¶5.  Americans who travel to, or remain in, Burundi despite 
this Travel Warning are urged to contact the U.S. Embassy 
in Bujumbura for information on the latest Embassy security 
guidelines, and to register at the State Department's 
travel registration website, 
https://travelregistration.state.gov.  By registering, 
American citizens make it easier for the Embassy to contact 
them in case of emergency.  Americans without Internet 
access may register directly with the U.S. Embassy in 
Bujumbura at Avenue des Etats-Unis, telephone (257) 22-22- 
34-54, fax (257) 22-22-29-26.  Security information for 
American citizens in Burundi is posted at 
http://burundi.usembassy.gov/warden_informati on.html. 
 
¶6.  For further information, consult the Country Specific 
Information for Burundi and the current Worldwide Caution 
Travel Alert, available on the Bureau of Consular Affairs 
Internet website at http://travel.state.gov.  Updated 
information on travel and security in Burundi is available 
at 1-888-407-4747 toll-free in the U.S. and Canada, and for 
callers in other countries, a regular toll line at 1-202- 
501-4444.  These numbers are available from 8:00 a.m. to 
8:00 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. 
federal holidays). 
 
¶7. Minimize considered. 
RICE