Travel Warning: Cote DIvorie

March 31, 2000

The United States Department of State warns U.S. citizens to evaluate carefully the implications for their security and safety before deciding to travel to Algeria. Although the number of terrorist incidents in Algeria has fallen considerably over the last two years, there are still unpredictable attacks at night, in rural villages and roadsides, and on public transport. Most recent terrorist activity has occurred in rural areas in northern Algeria.

At the height of terrorist violence in Algeria, most commercial airlines cancelled service to and from Algeria. Since then, a number of carriers have resumed service, including one Western airline. U.S. government employees, however, routinely use chartered aircraft for travel to and from Algeria because of ongoing concerns about security.

The Department of State strongly recommends that those Americans who travel to Algeria exercise maximum caution, and take the following measures:

--Minimize use of regularly scheduled commercial flights and be met and accompanied by pre-arranged local contacts upon arrival and departure at airports.

-- Nighttime and overland travel should be strictly avoided.

-- Visitors to the capital of Algiers should stay only in the large, internationally-recognized hotels where security is provided.

-- U.S. citizens should not move anywhere in Algeria unless accompanied by a known Algerian companion. This measure applies to walking the streets of Algiers and other cities.

U.S. Embassy personnel follow all of the precautions mentioned above. In addition, U.S. Embassy employees and official visitors are confined to the Embassy compound or their hotels except when it is necessary to conduct official business. Official travel within Algiers is by armored car with appropriate security.

U.S. oil companies operating in the desert region south of the Saharan Atlas Mountains have experienced no attacks in the past year. The Algerian government and the companies themselves take stringent security precautions to ensure their safety, including the measures described above.

For further information on travel to Algeria, please consult the Department of State's latest Consular Information Sheet on Algeria at http://travel.state.gov.