Warden Message

November 4, 2010

This Warden Message is to remind all U.S. citizens living in Ethiopia of continuing security concerns in the region, particularly since the July 11 bombings in Kampala.  The latest Department of State Worldwide Travel Caution, issued August 12, 2010, updates information on the continuing threat of terrorist actions and violence against U.S. citizens and interests throughout the world.  In this caution, the Department references the bombings in the following manner:
  
"A number of al-Qaida operatives and other extremists are believed to be operating in and around Africa.  Since the July 11, 2010, terrorist bombings in Kampala, Uganda, for which the Somalia-based, US-designated Foreign Terrorist Organization al-Shabaab has claimed responsibility, there have been increased threats against public areas across East Africa."

Current information suggests that al-Qaeda and affiliated organizations continue to plan terrorist attacks against U.S. interests in multiple regions, including Africa.  Furthermore, recent information obtained from the investigation into the July 11 Kampala bombings indicates that U.S. citizens and westerners in general were intended targets of the bombings.  U.S. citizens should therefore be alert to the possibility of additional terrorist attacks in the region.  The U.S. Embassy continues to encourage U.S. citizens to strongly consider the risk of attending or being near large public gatherings, or venues where westerners gather on a routine or predictable basis, and which have no visible security presence.  Such gatherings or venues can provide vulnerable targets for extremist or terrorist groups.

The U.S. Embassy encourages you to be observant and share any suspicious activity, incident or criminal activity by calling 251-11-130-6000 or by email at consacs@state.gov.
 
The Embassy strongly urges U.S. citizens to review the Department of State's Country Specific Information for Ethiopia and the State Department's website.  Travelers should also review the Embassy's recent Warden Messages for Ethiopia. 

For the latest security information, U.S. citizens living and traveling abroad should regularly monitor the State Department's Bureau of Consular Affairs internet website, where the current Worldwide Caution, Travel Alerts, and Travel Warnings can be found.  Up-to-date information on security can also be obtained by calling 1-888-407-4747 toll-free in the United States and Canada, or for callers outside the United States and Canada, a regular toll-line at 1-202-501-4444.  These numbers are available from 8 AM to 8 PM Eastern Time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays.)

U.S. Embassy Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Telephone: +251- 11 130-6000
Emergency after-hours telephone: 011 517-4000
Facsimile: +251- 11 124-2435
Email:  consacs@state.gov