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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 STATE 031455 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: CASC PTER ASEC CT
SUBJECT: TRAVEL WARNING: CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC 
 
¶1.  The Department of State warns U.S. citizens of the 
risks of traveling to the Central African Republic (CAR), 
and recommends against all but essential travel outside 
the capital, Bangui.  Travelers in the CAR should 
exercise extreme caution.  This replaces the Travel 
Warning of March 25, 2008 to advise against non-essential 
travel outside of Bangui. 
¶2.  Armed rebel groups, bandits, and poachers present 
real dangers and the Central African government is unable 
to guarantee the safety of visitors in most parts of the 
country.  The U.S. Department of State advises American 
citizens against travel outside of the capital Bangui. 
 
¶3. U.S. citizens who travel within CAR despite this 
warning should avoid travel to northwestern and northern 
CAR, particularly the areas bordering Chad, due to 
insecurity caused by banditry and clashes between 
government and rebel forces.  In addition, the Embassy 
recommends that Americans traveling outside the capital 
not travel with an armed escort, as an armed escort may 
cause problems with local authorities or draw fire from 
rebel troops.  In the northwestern prefecture of Ouham 
and Ouham-Pende, roadblocks by rebels and by government 
forces pose a serious and continuing threat to aid 
workers and travelers.  Fighting between rebels and 
government forces continues sporadically, and despite 
peace accords signed in December 2008, a complete 
ceasefire between the parties has not succeeded to date. 
Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and UN agencies 
operating in that area share information on security 
incidents and the NGOs generally abide by the UN travel 
restrictions.  U.S. Government employees on temporary 
duty and other contract visitors to the U.S. Embassy are 
allowed to visit the northwestern or northeastern CAR 
prefectures only on a case-by-case basis and with 
specific authorization of the Embassy's Chief of Mission. 
An expatriate aid worker was killed in an attack on a 
well-marked vehicle north of Bocaranga in June 2007, and 
local citizens continue to be kidnapped and held for 
ransom on a regular basis. 
¶4.  Rebels and armed men also are present in the 
northeastern Vakaga prefecture, and pose a threat to all 
travelers in that area.  A peace agreement with one group 
of rebels is in place, but splinter groups and other 
armed men pose a threat to travelers.  The firing on a 
medical convoy of well-marked NGO vehicles, which led to 
one patient?s death in March 2008, resulted in the 
temporary suspension of most humanitarian activities in 
the Vakaga prefecture outside Birao. 
¶5.  Highway bandits ("coupeurs de route" in French, 
"zaraguinas" in Sango) pose a serious threat to travelers 
throughout the country.  Two World Health Organization 
physicians were murdered by unidentified assailants 
outside Bossemb?l? in April 2006.  There have been 
repeated attacks on Central African and expatriate 
travelers on the Berberati-Carnot-Baoro-Bouar-Bozoum 
road. 
¶6.  Poachers and armed men also pose a threat to game 
hunters in the north central CAR, in and around the Parc 
National de Bamingui-Bangoran.  A French hunter was 
murdered and three others wounded in an attack on a 
hunting party outside the town of Ndele in April 2007. 
The poachers in this area are heavily armed, often with 
automatic weapons, and outside local and national 
government authority. 
¶7.  There are approximately 300 peacekeeping troops from 
neighboring member countries of the Economic and Monetary 
Union of Central Africa (CEMAC) that move in and out of 
the capital.  CAR military and civilian security forces, 
sometimes with French military assistance, staff 
checkpoints throughout the city.  Central African 
 
STATE 00031455  002 OF 002 
 
 
security forces (and people posing as such) at those 
checkpoints frequently harass local and expatriate 
travelers for bribes or small amounts of money (described 
as ?coffee? in French).  American citizens should avoid 
public demonstrations, as even those intended to be 
peaceful can turn confrontational and possibly escalate 
into violence. 
¶8.  The small U.S. Embassy staff in Bangui can provide 
only limited services to U.S. citizens at this time. 
¶9.  U.S. citizens in the CAR are strongly urged to 
register on the State Department?s web site at 
https://travelregistration.state.gov.  Americans without 
internet access may register directly with the U.S. 
Embassy in Bangui.  By registering, American citizens 
make it easier for the Embassy to contact them in case of 
emergency. 
¶10.  The U.S. Embassy in the CAR is located at Avenue 
David Dacko, B.P. 924, Bangui; tel. (236) 2161-0200; fax 
(236) 2161-4494.  Americans may also obtain updated 
information from the U.S. Embassy in N'djamena, Chad, at 
telephone (235) 51-70-09, 51-92-33 or 51-90-52; fax (235) 
51-56-54; web site http://ndjamena.usembassy.gov 
¶11.  For additional information on travel to the CAR, see 
the Department of State's most recent Country Specific 
Information Sheet for Central African Republic at 
http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/ cis_1085.htm 
l.  Up-to-date information on safety and security is also 
available at 1-888-407-4747 toll free in the U.S. and 
Canada, or for callers from other countries, on 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). 
¶12. Minimize considered 
CLINTON