Algeria Travel Alert
JoAnne Green
This Travel Warning is being updated to alert Americans to ongoing
security concerns in Algeria. The overall security environment remains
dangerous, especially in the Sahara regions. This supersedes the Travel
Warning of January 19, 2005.
The Department of State urges U.S. citizens who travel to Algeria
despite this Travel Warning to evaluate carefully their safety and
security. Over the past several months, the city of Algiers and its
immediate suburbs have continued to record a significant drop in the
number of terrorist-associated incidents. However, there are continued
security concerns. Random terrorist attacks still occur in rural and
remote areas, on public transportation outside the major cities, and in
some parts of the country at night.
In February 2003, 32 Western Europeans were taken hostage by terrorists
in the Sahara desert areas of southeastern Algeria, between the cities
of Ouargla and Tamanrasset. Fourteen of the hostages were transported
by the terrorists into northern Mali. The Department of State continues
to caution U.S. citizens to avoid traveling in this area.
The Department of State cautions Americans who reside or travel in
Algeria to take prudent security measures while in the country,
including arranging for pre-determined local contacts to meet and
accompany them upon arrival and departure at Algerian airports.
Nighttime and overland travel outside the greater Algiers area should
be avoided if possible. Visitors to Algeria are advised to stay only in
the large, internationally-recognized hotels where security is
provided. Americans should arrange for a known Algerian companion to
accompany them when traveling anywhere in Algeria, whether in the
capital city of Algiers or in other cities and rural areas.
The Embassy is gradually lifting the travel restrictions it has placed
on its employees. However, all persons must remain alert and adhere to
prudent security practices.
Americans who travel to or remain in Algeria despite this Travel
Warning are urged to register and to obtain updated information on
travel and security in Algeria at the Consular Section of the U.S.
Embassy in Algiers or on our travel registration website at
https://travelregistration.state.gov/ibrs/.
The Embassy is located at 4 Chemin Cheikh Bachir El-Ibrahimi, B.P. 408
(Alger-Gare) 16000, in the capital city of Algiers. The Embassy can be
reached at telephone [213] (21) 691-425; [213] (21) 691-255; [213] (21)
691-186; or fax [213] (21) 693-979.
Updated information on travel and security in Algeria may be obtained
from the Department of State by calling 1-888-407-4747 within the
United States, or, from overseas, 1-202-501-4444. For further
information, please consult the Consular Information Sheet for Algeria,
the current Worldwide Caution Public Announcement and the Middle East
and North Africa Public Announcement, all of which are available on the
Bureau of Consular Affairs internet website at http://travel.state.gov.
SPECIAL NOTE: To protect yourself, your familly, your employees, and
your trip, please visit http://www.worldwidemedicalplans.com