VZCZCXRO6752
OO RUEHAG RUEHAO RUEHAP RUEHAT RUEHBC RUEHBI RUEHBL 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
RUEHMT RUEHNAG RUEHNEH RUEHNG RUEHNH RUEHNL RUEHNP RUEHNZ RUEHPA
RUEHPB RUEHPD RUEHPOD RUEHPT RUEHPW RUEHQU RUEHRD RUEHRG RUEHRN
RUEHROV RUEHRS RUEHSK RUEHTM RUEHTRO RUEHVC RUEHVK RUEHYG
DE RUEHC #1310/01 3501856
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 151848Z DEC 08
FM SECSTATE WASHDC
TO ALL DIPLOMATIC AND CONSULAR POSTS COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE
RUEHTRO/AMEMBASSY TRIPOLI IMMEDIATE 4662
RUEHFSI/DIR FSINFATC IMMEDIATE
RHEHNSC/WHITE HOUSE NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE
RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE
RUEHPH/CDC ATLANTA IMMEDIATE 7202
RUCPDOC/ALL USDOC DISTDIR COLLECTIVE WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE
RHMCSUU/CDRAMC FT BELVOIR VA//AMCMI-SS// IMMEDIATE
RUEAHQA/HQ USAF WASHINGTON DC//XOXXI// IMMEDIATE
RHMCSUU/HQ AFOSI DOQ ANDREWS AFB MD//IVOA// IMMEDIATE
RHMCSUU/FAA NATIONAL HQ WASHINGTON DC//ACI-400// IMMEDIATE
RHMCSUU/COMNAVAIRSYSCOM PATUXENT RIVER MD//AIR1031B// IMMEDIATE
RHMFIUU/NRC WASHINGTON DC//INFOSEC// IMMEDIATE
RHMFISS/CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL//CCJ2-JIT// IMMEDIATE
RUCPCIM/CIM NTDB WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE
RHMCSUU/COGARD INTELCOORDCEN WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE
RHMFIUU/CDR USPACOM HONOLULU HI IMMEDIATE
RHMFISS/CDR USSOUTHCOM MIAMI FL IMMEDIATE
INFO RUESBKC/ATO ASIA IMMEDIATE 1782

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 STATE 131310 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: CASC ASEC IV
SUBJECT: TRAVEL WARNING - COTE D'IVOIRE 
 
¶1.  The Department of State warns U.S. citizens of the 
risks of traveling to Cote d'Ivoire and urges U.S. 
citizens to exercise extreme caution while traveling 
in Cote d'Ivoire.  This replaces the Travel Warning 
for Cote d'Ivoire dated June 09, 2008, updates 
information on the security and political situation, 
and advises all U.S. citizens to maintain an adequate 
supply of water, food, and fuel. 
¶2.  Cote d'Ivoire continues to experience periodic 
episodes of political unrest and violence since a 2002 
failed coup attempt evolved into an armed rebellion 
that split the country in two.  Ivorian President 
Laurent Gbagbo and New Forces leader Guillaume Soro 
signed the Ouagadougou Political Agreement (OPA) in 
March 2007 and a new government was formed with Soro 
as Prime Minister (PM).  Although implementation of 
the accord is ongoing, the political situation has not 
fully returned to normal.  In December 2007, Bouake, 
the largest city under the control of the New Forces, 
experienced rioting by disaffected rebel soldiers and 
paramilitary forces, as well as fighting between 
opposing factions within the rebel movement, amid 
rumors of another coup attempt.  Travel for the 
local population was severely restricted during this 
period, and two employees of the U.S. Embassy were 
evacuated by United Nations (UN) forces to a 
safehaven.  Both UN and French peacekeepers remain in 
the country. 
¶3.  Given the sometimes tense and potentially volatile 
security situation, the Department of State urges 
American citizens to exercise extreme caution should 
they travel to Cote d'Ivoire, and to take special care 
when traveling outside Abidjan.  In February 2008, 
Embassy personnel and other international 
organizations were prevented from traveling to and 
from western Cote d'Ivoire due to rioting by 
government soldiers.  Americans planning travel to 
Cote d'Ivoire despite this Travel Warning should 
consult the Embassy or their host organization(s) for 
the most recent security assessment of the areas where 
they plan to travel.  Increases in food and oil prices 
could provoke impromptu strikes or demonstrations, as 
occurred in Abidjan in July 2008.  Crimes such as 
mugging, robbery, burglary, and carjacking pose the 
highest risk for foreign visitors in Abidjan. 
 Visitors should be careful when stopped in heavy 
traffic or at impromptu roadblocks due to the threat 
of violent robbery, and should avoid travel outside of 
the city after dark.  Land routes to neighboring 
countries are open, although overland travel to 
Liberia and Guinea is strongly discouraged, and 
caution is urged when crossing into Mali, Burkina 
Faso, and Ghana. 
¶4.  Long-delayed presidential elections scheduled for 
November 30, 2008 have been postponed and a new date 
has not yet been set.  Americans traveling to Cote 
d'Ivoire should follow political developments 
carefully, as there is potential for violence in the 
run-up to, and aftermath of, the elections. 
¶5.  The Department of State continues to prohibit 
minor dependents under the age of 18 from accompanying 
U.S. government employees assigned to the Embassy in 
Abidjan.  Embassy employees are asked to be cautious 
when traveling within Abidjan and to avoid travel 
outside of the city at night.  Private Americans are 
urged to follow the same guidelines.  U.S. Embassy 
personnel must obtain prior approval before traveling 
more than 35 kilometers outside Abidjan.  Some of 
those requests may be denied, or multi-vehicle convoys 
may be required for security reasons.  Americans 
resident in Cote d'Ivoire should maintain several 
 
STATE 00131310  002 OF 002 
 
 
days' supply of cooking fuel, food, and water at home, 
and ensure that their vehicles are fully fueled at all 
times. 
¶6.  The U.S. Embassy is located in the Riviera Golf 
neighborhood of the Cocody section of Abidjan.  The 
Embassy may close to the public temporarily from time 
to time in response to security developments.  U.S. 
citizens who remain in, or travel to, Cote d'Ivoire 
despite this Travel Warning should consult the 
Department of State's latest Country Specific 
Information for Cote d'Ivoire and the Worldwide 
Caution at http://travel.state.gov.  Americans should 
register with the U.S. Embassy by completing a 
registration form on-line at 
https://travelregistration.state.gov/ibrs or by 
calling (225) 22-49-40-00, or faxing (225) 22-49-42- 
¶02.  Americans in Cote d'Ivoire who need assistance 
should contact the Embassy at (225) 22-49-40-00. 
¶7.  Current information on safety and security can 
also be obtained by calling 1-888-407-4747 toll-free 
within the United States and Canada, or, for callers 
outside of the United States and Canada, by calling 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). 
¶8.  Minimize considered. 
RICE