R 130930Z JAN 09
FM AMEMBASSY ASMARA
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 0102

UNCLAS ASMARA 000016 
 
 
DEPARTMENT FOR DS/IP/AF, DS/TIA/ITA, OSAC, AND AF/E 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ASEC AMGT APER ER
SUBJECT: ANNUAL OVERSEAS SECURITY ADVISORY COUNCIL (OSAC) 
CRIME AND SAFETY REPORT 
 
REF: 08 STATE 132056 
 
 
¶1.  The following unclassified crime and medical information 
is provided for the OSAC public website.  Responses are keyed 
to Reftel. 
 
¶I.  Overall Safety and Crime Environment 
 
¶A.  Post continues to receive reports of violent crime in 
Eritrea.  According to Eritrean police, local sources, and 
other diplomatic contacts, there continues to be an increase 
in street crimes, pickpocketing, robberies, residential 
burglaries, vehicle break-ins, and assaults.  There are also 
been an increase in the number of incidents involving 
emotionally disturbed persons (EDPs) in parts of Asmara where 
Westerners live, eat, and frequent.  These EDPs have 
assaulted Westerners and Eritreans in the past.  RSO 
continues to receive reports of break-ins at both Western and 
Eritrean residences.  Thus far they have been limited to 
residences that do not have 24/7 guard presence.  There have 
been no break-ins at any U.S. Embassy residences in several 
years.  Hotels have generally proven to be safe for visitors. 
 
¶B.  Road Safety:    The road conditions on the primary roads 
in the city of Asmara are generally adequate but the overall 
condition of the secondary roads continues to decline and 
residents in many neighborhoods have taken to filling 
potholes themselves.  Driving in Asmara can be hazardous due 
to the many pedestrians and bicyclists who seem oblivious to 
the vehicle traffic.  As gas has become increasingly 
expensive, the numbers of bicyclists has increased 
dramatically.  Pedestrian and bicyclist behavior changes 
little at night and safety items such as lights and 
reflectors are seldom used.  Vehicles frequently travel 
without using headlights at night in an effort to save gas. 
Motorists should use extreme caution during hours of 
darkness.  Roads outside of Asmara are in poor condition and 
except for the major ones between cities, unpaved.  The roads 
are winding with numerous switchbacks, steep embankments, and 
no shoulders.  The Asmara-Massawa road is notorious for 
horrific accidents due to the heavy truck traffic and blind 
corners.  For several months during the winter, fog on the 
most mountainous stretches of the road reduces visibility to 
near zero, particularly in the afternoon and evening.  The 
embassy recommends that travel outside of Asmara be 
undertaken only during daylight. 
 
II.  Political Violence in Eritrea 
 
¶A.  Historical Perspective:  Post continues to receive 
reports of Eritreans yelling anti-American or other 
derogatory phrases at either Americans or other westerners 
who are perceived to be Americans.  The Government of the 
State of Eritrea (GSE) continues to run anti-American 
articles in its state owned/controlled media. However, the 
majority of Eritreans do not appear to be anti-American.  As 
in any foreign setting, visitors to Eritrea must remain aware 
of their surroundings at all times and avoid confrontational 
events whenever possible. 
 
¶B.  Regional Terrorism and Organized Crime:  The GSE has 
reported their officials have been victims of attacks in 
northern and western Eritrea by indigenous groups such as the 
Eritrean Islamic Jihad or other dissident groups supported by 
Ethiopia and Sudan.  There are continuous reports of 
explosions due to unknown individuals placing mines along 
roads outside of Asmara. The UN and the USG have travel 
restrictions prohibiting their personnel from going to 
dangerous areas. 
 
¶C.  International or Transnational Terrorism:  The GSE has 
provided sanctuary for members of the former Council of 
Islamic Courts (CIC) inside Eritrea, including to Sheikh 
Hassan Dahir Aweys who has affiliation with the reportedly 
defunct Al Ittihad Al Islamia (AIAI).  He was publicly 
reported as being in Asmara as late as November 2008.  The 
GSE reportedly has provided regional groups such as the 
Sudanese Liberation Movement (SLM), the Sudanese Justice and 
Equality Movement (JEM), the Oromo Liberation Front (OLF), 
the Ogaden National Liberation Front (ONLF), and the Alliance 
for the Reliberation of Somalia (ARS) with a wide range of 
logistical support such as Eritrean passports.  The GSE 
professes it would know if foreign terrorist groups such as 
Al-Qaida were present in Eritrea.  However, Eritrea has a 
long, porous land border with Sudan and an extensive border 
on the Red Sea.  With limited security resources to 
adequately patrol these borders, Post assumes groups would be 
able to unofficially enter/transit through Eritrea through 
one of these borders without the GSE's knowledge. 
 
¶D.  Civil Unrest: Widespread civil unrest and disorder would 
be met with brutal force by the GSE.  There have been no 
demonstrations against any USG facility in recent history. 
 
 
III.  Post Specific Concerns 
 
¶A.  Landmines, including ones that were newly laid in 2008, 
and unexploded ordinance litter the countryside and cause 
sporadic injuries and death.  Although some de-mining efforts 
have taken place, areas that are not well traveled, 
especially in the north and west, are potentially dangerous. 
The embassy recommends checking with local government and 
village officials before undertaking travel to remote areas 
or off the main roads.  Travelers should exercise extreme 
caution and avoid secondary roads.  Additionally, travelers 
should ensure that other traffic has recently passed over 
unimproved roads before traversing them. 
 
¶B.  Increased military tensions along the Ethiopian and 
Djiboutian borders: 
Tensions between Ethiopia and Eritrea continue to be high and 
both sides have massed over 100,000 soldiers each along their 
shared border.  In 06/2008 there were military skirmishes 
between Eritrea and Djibouti as well.  Post has issued travel 
advisories advising Americans to avoid the border area. 
There have been sporadic reports of fighting between these 
two forces and reports of landmine explosions in these areas 
as well. 
 
¶C.  Travel Restrictions:  The GSE issued a decree in May 2006 
that restricts all foreigners, including diplomats, to Asmara 
unless travel permits are obtained ten days in advance.  The 
difficulties in obtaining travel permissions in a timely 
manner, or at all, severely limits the U.S. Embassy's ability 
to respond to U.S. citizen emergencies outside of Asmara.  In 
recent months, the U.S. Embassy has received reports of 
difficulties experienced by U.S. citizens (official and 
private) in obtaining visas to travel to Eritrea.  Visas 
cannot be obtained at the Asmara International Airport for 
most visitors and not without explicit approval by the GSE. 
Travelers are advised to allow adequate lead time when 
applying for a travel visa and should contact their nearest 
Eritrean Embassy for updated information on application and 
wait times. 
 
¶D.  Vienna Convention:  The GSE does not notify the U.S. 
Embassy in cases of U.S. citizen detention, in contravention 
of Vienna Convention obligations.  American citizens of 
Eritrean origin are particularly vulnerable in cases of 
detention or emergency, as the Eritrean government has stated 
it does not recognize the U.S. citizenship of dual nationals, 
regardless of whether the individual travels on an Eritrean 
or U.S. travel document.  In several instances, the U.S. 
Embassy has only become aware of U.S. citizen problems long 
after the incident occurred.  Visitors are advised to consult 
the latest consular information sheet and travel warning for 
Eritrea before planning travel.  This information can be 
found on the State Department's website at 
http://www.state.gov. 
 
IV.  Eritrean Police Response: 
 
¶A.  Police Detention or Harassment:  If visitors encounter 
detention or harassment from the Eritrean police or Eritrean 
National Security Organization (ENSO), they should 
immediately report the incident to the Embassy's consular 
section and request guidance.  Bilateral relations between 
the GSE and the USG are poor and Eritrean officials 
(including police officials) refuse to meet with Embassy 
officers.  The Embassy's interaction with Eritrean police is 
extremely limited. 
 
¶B.  Assistance For Crime Victims:  The Eritrean police have 
been responsive when victims of crimes have requested 
assistance.  However, the Embassy has no assurance that we 
would be notified by the GSE in the case of a U.S. citizen 
emergency or that the Embassy would be able to access U.S. 
citizens to render assistance outside of Asmara.  The 
Eritrean police are poorly trained and plagued by a lack of 
resources such as radios and vehicles.  In the past, Embassy 
Local Guard Force members have had to pick up Eritrean police 
and transport them to the scene of crimes involving Embassy 
personnel.  There is no rapid response to any reports of 
crime.  Investigative abilities by the Eritrean police are 
extremely basic and usually ineffective. 
 
Crime Prevention unit:  291-1-12-52-29 
Investigations unit:  291-1-11-54-02 
Airport Security:  291-1-18-66-04. 
1st Police Station:  291-1-127-799 
2nd Police Station:  291-1-116-219 
3rd Police Station:  291-1-114-942 
4th Police Station:  291-1-159-159 
5th Police Station:  291-1-151-118 
6th Police Station:  291-1-115-551 
7th Police Station:  291-1-186-370 
 
 
 
¶V.  Medical Emergencies: 
Medical facilities in Eritrea are inadequate by U.S. 
standards and are extremely limited.  The Embassy medical 
policy is to stabilize and evacuate.  However, evacuation 
options are extremely limited.  A medical evacuation by 
private air ambulance requires an arrangement with off-shore 
companies and may take several days to arrange through the 
Eritrean authorities.  Travelers are recommended to get 
adequate air ambulance evacuation insurance prior to arrival. 
 
Travelers must bring their own medical supplies or 
prescription drugs and preventive medicines.  Doctors and 
hospitals expect immediate cash payment for health care 
services.  Malaria is prevalent in the coastal areas and in 
the western lowlands.  Malaria prophylaxis is recommended 
when traveling to these areas.  The following is a list of 
the most important medical contact numbers for Asmara. 
Travelers should check with the American Citizen Services 
Section at the U.S. 
 
Embassy for the most current information. 
Orota Hospital:  291-1-201-917 and 202-914 
Sembel Hospital:  291-1-150-175 
Selam Poly Clinic:  291-1-200-946 and 124-610 
SOS USA:  1-800-523-6586 
SOS London International:  00-44-20-8762-8133 
SOS Geneva:  00-41-22-785-6464 
Nairobi Air Ambulance:  00-254-2-315-454 
Tricare Europe Chief - Healthcare Operations: 
00-49-6302-67-6312 or 6362 
 
VI.  Travel Precautions: 
 
Armed robbery is rare in Asmara.  Westerners and Embassy 
employees have been the victims of petty crimes and assaults 
in recent months.  Americans and Westerners are perceived as 
being wealthy and as lucrative targets, particularly as the 
Eritrean economy continues to worsen.  EDPs, vagrants, and 
beggars are becoming increasingly aggressive and belligerent 
towards perceived wealthy westerners.  Visitors and residents 
are encouraged to exercise vigilance in their personal 
security measures as they would in any big U.S. city. 
Visitors should avoid flashing large sums of cash in crowded 
public areas.  Eritrean law prohibits visitors from 
exchanging currency with unregistered street moneychangers 
and provides stiff mandatory penalties for violators, 
including incarceration. 
 
VII.  Further Information: 
 
Contact Numbers for the U.S. Embassy: 
Embassy main and after-hours number:  291-1-12-00-04 
Regional Security Officer:  291-1-12-43-67 
American Citizen Services:  291-1-12-03-42 
Foreign Commercial Service:  Not present. 
 
VIII.  OSAC Country Council 
 
There is no formal OSAC in Asmara.  The RSO regularly meets 
with security officials from other diplomatic missions to 
share information. 
 
 
MCMULLEN