May 16, 2015
The U.S. Department of State issued a Travel Warning on 14 May to announce the ordered departure of U.S. government family members and non-emergency staff, and recommends U.S. citizens currently in Burundi depart as soon as it is feasible because of the deteriorating security situation. U.S. citizens interested in departing Burundi are invited to contact us at BurundiEmergencyUSC@state.gov so we may assess potential options for assisting them. The means of departure, i.e., air or overland, have not yet been determined since airport and land borders are reportedly closed.
U.S. law 22 U.S.C. 2671(b) (2) (A) requires that any assisted departure be provided “on a reimbursable basis to the maximum extent practicable.”Please note that you will be asked to sign a form agreeing to reimburse the U.S. government for your evacuation costs. This is typically the equivalent of a full coach commercial fare. The government facilitated evacuation is open only to U.S. citizens and their immediate family members (no pets) with limited luggage (generally one piece per traveler). U.S. citizens and their accompanying immediate family members are taken to a nearby location (not the U.S.) from whence they can make their own onward travel arrangements.
Arranged departure plans can change depending on safety and security considerations or a resumption of commercial transportation options, such as scheduled commercial flights. See also “What the Dept. of State Can and Cannot Do for you in case of an emergency”.
You can alert us to U.S. citizens affected by the 2015 Burundi Unrest, including yourself, by visiting https://tfa.state.gov/ccd, selecting “2015 Burundi Unrest” and providing as much information as possible. You can also contact us at 1-888-407-4747 (From the United States and Canada), +1-202-501-4444 (From all other countries), and email BurundiEmergencyUSC@state.gov if you have additional questions or concerns. If you are currently in Burundi and do not have the ability to access the internet or send email, you may contact the Embassy’s consular section at +257-22-20-7000.
The U.S. Embassy 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.
Regularly monitor the State Department’s website where you can find the current Worldwide Caution, Travel Warnings, including the Travel Warning for Burundi, Travel Alerts, and Country Specific Information for Burundi.
Call 1-888-407-4747 toll-free from within the United States and Canada, or1-202-501-4444 from other countries for up-to-date information on travel restrictions. 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 also on Twitter and Facebook.
The U.S. Embassy in Bujumbura is located on the corner of Avenue des Etats-Unis and Avenue du Cinquantenaire. Given the current crisis, normal business hours may be temporarily suspended. We recommend you call to schedule a visit to ensure the office is able to receive you. 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.
