U.S. Embassy Bujumbura encourages U.S. citizens to maintain a high level of vigilance on and around the Burundi public holidays of Christmas Day (December 25) and Independence Day (January 1). Incidents of crime and violence typically spike in Burundi during the holiday season.
You should expect an increased security presence throughout the country during the holidays and be particularly vigilant around
- locations where large crowds may gather;
- government facilities;
- areas frequented by foreigners.
You are also reminded to be vigilant in your home and when traveling.
Violent extremist organizations are active in the region. Extremists may use non-conventional weapons to target official government or private interests.
Review your personal security plans, remain aware of your surroundings, including local events, and monitor local news stations for updates. For information on current travel recommendations in country, please see the Travel Warning for Burundi.
For further information:
- See the State Department’s travel website for the Worldwide Caution, Travel Warnings, Travel Alerts, and Country Specific Information for Burundi.
- Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive security messages and make it easier to locate you in an emergency.
- Contact the U.S. Embassy in Burundi located on the corner of Avenue des Etats-Unis and Avenue du Cinquantenaire in Bujumbura, at +257-22-20-7000, 7:30 a.m. to 5:15 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 7:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Friday. After-hours emergency number for U.S. citizens is +257-22-20-7318, or +257-79-93-88-41.
- Call 1-888-407-4747 toll-free in the United States and Canada or +1-202-501-4444 from other countries from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays).
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