November 20, 2014 | U.S. Embassy Bujumbura, Burundi
In view of the ongoing al-Shabaab terrorism threat to attack East African countries and sporadic cases of political violence in Burundi, the U.S. Embassy reminds U.S. Citizens to maintain a heightened state of alert for suspicious activity and to avoid large crowds such as sporting events and civic demonstrations. In Burundi, demonstrations can evolve very quickly and dynamically; even peaceful gatherings can rapidly turn violent.
While the U.S. Embassy is not changing its security posture, we would like to take this opportunity to urge U.S. citizens to review the Department of State’s Worldwide Caution in effect.
U.S. Embassy Bujumbura strongly recommends that U.S. citizens traveling to or residing in Burundi enroll in the Department of State’s Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP). STEP enrollment gives you the latest security updates, and makes it easier for the U.S. Embassy to contact you in an emergency. If you donot have Internet access, enroll directly with the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate.
Regularly monitor the State Department’s Travel Website, where you can find current Travel Warnings, including the Travel Warning for Burundi and Travel Alerts. Read the Country Specific Information for Burundi.
For additional information, refer to the “Traveler’s Checklist” on the State Department’s website.
Contact the U.S. Embassy for up-to-date information on travel restrictions. You can also call 1-888-407-4747 toll-free from within the United States and Canada, or 1-202-501-4444 from other countries. These numbers are available from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays). Follow us on Twitter and Facebook, to have travel information at your fingertips.
The U.S. Embassy in Bujumbura is located on the corner of Avenue des Etats-Unis and Avenue du Cinquantenaire, and is open from 7:30 to 17:15 Monday through Thursday and 7:30 to 12:30 on Friday. The telephone number is +257-22-20-7000. If you are a U.S. citizen in need of urgent assistance, the emergency number for the U.S. Embassy is +257-22-20-7318, or +257-79-93-88-41.
