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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 STATE 090852 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: CASC PTER ASEC AG
SUBJECT: TRAVEL WARNING - ALGERIA 
 
¶1. This Travel Warning updates information on the current 
security situation in Algeria and warns American citizens 
against travel to the Kabylie region of the country.  The 
threat from terrorism continues to pose a significant 
security risk.  This supersedes the Travel Warning issued 
on March 26, 2008. 
 
¶2. The Department of State urges U.S. citizens who travel 
to Algeria to evaluate carefully the risks posed to their 
personal safety.  Terrorist attacks including bombings, 
false roadblocks, kidnappings, ambushes, and assassinations 
occur regularly.  Since early 2007, the use of suicide bomb 
attacks, particularly vehicle-borne attacks, has emerged as 
a terrorist tactic in Algeria, including in the capital. 
The group that claimed credit for the December 11, 2007, 
suicide car-bomb attacks in Algiers has pledged more 
attacks against foreign targets, and specifically against 
American targets. 
 
¶3. The Department of State warns American citizens against 
travel to the Kabylie region of Algeria.  Since June 2008, 
the Kabylie region has seen a series of bombing and other 
terrorist attacks of increasing size and frequency, 
including a suicide car-bomb attack at a gendarmerie school 
in Issers on August 19 that killed at least 44 people. 
While many of the attacks have targeted Algerian security 
forces, other targets have included a bus transporting the 
employees of a foreign company, and many of the victims of 
the attacks have been civilians. 
 
¶4. The Department of State recommends that U.S. citizens 
avoid overland travel in Algeria.  Americans who reside or 
travel in Algeria should take prudent security measures 
while in the country, including making provisions for 
reliable and experienced logistical support.  Visitors to 
Algeria are advised to stay only in hotels where adequate 
security is provided.  All visitors to Algeria should 
remain alert and adhere to prudent security practices such 
as avoiding predictable travel patterns and maintaining a 
low profile. 
 
¶5. The U.S. Government considers the potential threat to 
U.S. Embassy personnel assigned to Algiers sufficiently 
serious to require them to live and work under significant 
security restrictions.  These practices limit, and may 
occasionally prevent, the movement of U.S. Embassy 
officials and the provision of consular services in certain 
areas of the country.  The Government of Algeria requires 
U.S. Embassy personnel to seek permission to travel to the 
Casbah within Algiers or outside the province of Algiers 
and to have a security escort. Travel to the military zone 
established around the Hassi Messaoud oil center requires 
Government of Algeria authorization.  Daily movement of 
Embassy personnel in Algiers is limited, and prudent 
security practices are required at all times.  Travel by 
personnel within the city requires prior coordination with 
the Embassy's Regional Security Office.  American visitors 
are encouraged to contact the Embassy's Consular Section 
for the most recent safety and security information 
concerning travel in the city of Algiers. 
 
¶6. Americans living or traveling in Algeria are encouraged 
to register with the U.S. Embassy in Algiers through the 
State Department's travel registration website, 
https://travelregistration.state.gov, and to obtain updated 
information on travel and security within Algeria. 
Americans without Internet access may register directly 
with the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate. By registering, 
American citizens make it easier for the Embassy to contact 
them in case of emergency.  The U.S. Embassy is located at 
5 Chemin Cheikh Bachir El-Ibrahimi in the El Biar district 
 
STATE 00090852  002 OF 002 
 
 
of Algiers.  The telephone number is [213] 770 08 20 00, 
which can also be reached after hours.  The fax number is 
[213] 21 98 22 99. 
 
¶7. Updated information on travel and security in Algeria 
may be obtained from the Department of State by calling 1- 
888-407-4747 toll-free in the United States and Canada, or 
for callers outside the United States and Canada, a regular 
toll line at 1-202-501-4444.  For further information, 
please consult the Country Specific Information for Algeria 
and the Worldwide Caution, which are available on the 
Bureau of Consular Affairs Internet website at 
http://travel.state.gov. 
 
¶8. Minimize considered. 
RICE