Announcements
Ethiopia Consular Information Sheet -Travel Warnings
By U.S.Department of State Travel Warnings [DOSTRAVEL@LISTS.STATE.GOV]
Apr 7, 2005, 14:04

April 06, 2005

COUNTRY DESCRIPTION:  The Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia is a developing country in East Africa comprised of 9 states and 2 city administrations (Addis Ababa and Dire Dawa).  The capital is Addis Ababa.  Tourism facilities can be found in the most populous regions of Ethiopia, but are basic.

A border dispute between Ethiopia and neighboring Eritrea erupted in May 1998 and escalated into full-scale conflict that continued until a cease-fire was reached in June 2000.  In December 2000, a peace agreement was signed between the two countries to delimit and demarcate the border.  The peace process is still ongoing, and the border between Ethiopia and Eritrea remains undemarcated.  Read the Department of State Background Notes on Ethiopia for additional information.

ENTRY/EXIT REQUIREMENTS:  Citizens of the United States may obtain tourist/visitors visas upon arrival in Ethiopia.  This service is only available at Bole International Airport, Ethiopia's main airport in Addis Ababa, and at the airport in Dire Dawa.  The fee of 390 birr (approximately US $45) is payable only in Ethiopian currency.  Travelers may exchange currency upon arrival.  However, because of possible confusion or delays, travelers should obtain a valid Ethiopian visa prior to arrival whenever possible.  If your entry visa has expired, you must obtain an extension by the time of departure.  In such circumstances, an extension can be obtained at the main immigration office in Addis Ababa only and not at Bole International Airport.  Ethiopia charges a US $20 departure tax, payable in US dollars.

Laptop computers must be declared upon arrival and departure.  Tape recorders require special customs permits.  Prior to travel, individuals intending prolonged stays should direct their questions to the Ethiopian Embassy, 3506 International Dr., N.W., Washington, D.C. 20008; telephone (202) 364-1200; fax (202) 587-0195; website http://www.ethiopianembassy.org.  Inquiries overseas may be made at the nearest Ethiopian embassy or consulate.

See our Foreign Entry Requirements brochure for more information on Ethiopia and other countries. 

Read our information on dual nationality and the prevention of international child abduction at http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_1469.html.  For Customs Information see http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_1468.html.

SAFETY AND SECURITY: Although Ethiopia and Eritrea signed a peace agreement in December 2000, American citizens should exercise caution if traveling to the northern Tigray and Afar regions (within 50km/30 miles of the Ethiopian/Eritrean border) because of land mines and unsettled conditions in the border area.  There is a UN peacekeeping mission in the border area, but the border with Eritrea has not yet been demarcated.  U.S. citizens should stay clear of security operations and should not try to intercede with police on behalf of Eritreans or anyone else.

Since the mid-1990's, various opposition elements and government forces have clashed around Harar and in the Somali regional state, particularly near the border with Somalia.  Cross-border travel by road from Ethiopia into Somalia is not advised.  Somali groups affiliated with terrorist organizations may occasionally operate within the Somali, Oromiya, and Afar regions.  The U.S. Embassy restricts travel of Embassy personnel to the Somali Region (Ogaden) to a case-by-case basis.

Sporadic inter-ethnic clashes remain a concern throughout the Gambella region of western Ethiopia following outbursts of violence there in December 2003 and January 2004.  There is an increased military and police presence in Gambella town.  While the security situation in Gambella town is calm, it remains unpredictable throughout the rest of the region, and violence could recur without warning.  Travel to this region is discouraged.

Travel in Ethiopia via rail is strongly discouraged due to episodes of derailment, sabotage, and bombings as recently as February 2003.

In southern Ethiopia along the Kenyan border, banditry and incidents involving ethnic conflicts are also common.  Travelers should exercise caution when traveling to any remote area of the country, including the borders with Eritrea, Somalia, Kenya and Sudan.  Ethiopian security forces do not have a widespread presence in those regions.

For the latest security information, Americans traveling abroad should regularly monitor the Department's Internet web site at http://travel.state.gov where the current Worldwide Caution Public Announcement, Travel Warnings and Public Announcements can be found.

Up-to-date information on safety and security can also be obtained by calling 1-888-407-4747 toll free in the U.S., or for callers outside the U.S. and Canada, a regular toll-line at 1-202-501-4444.  These numbers are available from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays).

The Department of State urges American citizens to take responsibility for their own personal security while traveling overseas.  For general information about appropriate measures travelers can take to protect themselves in an overseas environment, see the Department of State's pamphlet A Safe Trip Abroad at http://travel.state.gov/travel/tips/safety/safety_1747.html.

CRIME:  Pick-pocketing, "snatch and run," and other petty crimes are common in Addis Ababa.  Travelers should exercise caution in crowded areas such as the Mercato in Addis Ababa, Africa's largest open-air market.  Visitors should limit the amount of cash they carry and leave valuables, such as passports, jewelry, and airline tickets in a hotel safe or other secure place.  Keep wallets and other valuables where they will be less susceptible to pick pockets.

Travelers should be cautious at all times when traveling on roads in Ethiopia.  There have been reports of highway robberies, including carjackings, by armed bandits outside urban areas.  Some incidents have been accompanied by violence.  Travelers are cautioned to limit road travel outside major towns or cities to daylight hours and travel in convoys, if possible.

INFORMATION FOR VICTIMS OF CRIME:  The loss or theft abroad of a U.S. passport should be reported immediately to the local police and the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate.  If you are the victim of a crime while overseas, in addition to reporting to local police, please contact the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate for assistance.  The Embassy/Consulate staff can, for example, assist you to find appropriate medical care, contact family members or friends and explain how funds could be transferred.  Although the investigation and prosecution of the crime is solely the responsibility of local authorities, consular officers can help you to understand the local criminal justice process and to find an attorney if needed. 

See our information on Victims of Crime at http://travel.state.gov/travel/tips/emergencies/emergencies_1748.html.

MEDICAL FACILITIES AND OTHER HEALTH INFORMATION:  Health facilities are limited in Addis Ababa and completely inadequate outside the capital.  Although physicians are generally well trained, even the best hospitals in Addis Ababa suffer from inadequate facilities, antiquated equipment, and shortages of supplies (particularly medicine). Emergency assistance is limited.  Travelers must carry their own supplies of prescription drugs and preventive medicines, as well as a doctor's note describing the medication.  If the quantity of drugs exceeds that which would be expected for personal use, a permit from the Ministry of Health is required.

Ethiopia is a mountainous country in which the high altitude may cause health problems even for healthy travelers.  Addis Ababa is located at an altitude of 8,300 feet.  Individuals may experience shortness of breath, fatigue, nausea, headaches, and inability to sleep.  Ethiopia has a high incidence of HIV/AIDS.

Malaria is prevalent in Ethiopia outside of Addis Ababa.  Travelers outside of Addis Ababa should take malaria prophylaxis. P. falciparum malaria, the serious and sometimes fatal strain in Ethiopia, is resistant to the anti-malarial drug chloroquine. Because travelers to Ethiopia are at high risk for contracting malaria, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) advises that travelers should take one of the following antimalarial drugs: mefloquine (Lariam(tm)), doxycycline, or atovaquone/proguanil (Malarone(tm)).  The CDC has determined that a traveler who is on an appropriate antimalarial drug has a greatly reduced chance of contracting the disease.  In addition, other personal protective measures, such as the use of insect repellents, help to reduce malaria risk.  Travelers who become ill with a fever or flu-like illness while traveling in a malaria-risk area and up to one year after returning home should seek prompt medical attention and tell the physician their travel history and what antimalarials they have been taking.  For additional information on malaria, protection from insect bites, and antimalarial drugs, please visit the CDC Travelers'' Health website at http://www.cdc.gov/travel/malinfo.htm.

Information on vaccinations and other health precautions, such as safe food and water precautions and insect bite protection, may be obtained from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's hotline for international travelers at 1-877-FYI-TRIP (1-877-394-8747); fax 1-888-CDC-FAXX (1-888-232-3299), or via the CDC's Internet site at http://www.cdc.gov/travel.  For information about outbreaks of infectious diseases abroad consult the World Health Organization's (WHO) website at http://www.who.int/en.  Further health information for travelers is available at http://www.who.int/ith.

MEDICAL INSURANCE:  The Department of State strongly urges Americans to consult with their medical insurance company prior to traveling abroad to confirm whether their policy applies overseas and whether it will cover emergency expenses such as a medical evacuation.  Please see our information on medical insurance overseas at http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_1470.html.

TRAFFIC SAFETY AND ROAD CONDITIONS:  While in a foreign country, U.S. citizens may encounter road conditions that differ significantly from those in the United States.  The information below concerning Ethiopia is provided for general reference only and may not be totally accurate in a particular location or circumstance.

While travel on both paved and unpaved roads is generally considered safe, land mines and other anti-personnel devices can be encountered on isolated dirt roads that were targeted during various conflicts.  Before undertaking any off-road travel, it is advisable to inquire of local authorities to ensure that the area has been cleared of mines.  Excessive speed, unpredictable local driving habits, pedestrians and livestock in the roadway, and the lack of basic safety equipment on many vehicles are daily hazards on Ethiopian roads.  In addition, road travel after dark outside Addis Ababa and other cities is dangerous and discouraged due to broken-down vehicles left on the roads, pedestrians using the roads, stray animals, and the possibility of armed robbery.  Road lighting in cities is inadequate at best and nonexistent outside of cities.

For additional general information about road safety, including links to foreign government sites, see the Department of State, Bureau of Consular Affairs website at http://travel.state.gov/travel/tips/safety/safety_1179.html.

AVIATION SAFETY OVERSIGHT:  The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has assessed the government of Ethiopia as being in compliance with ICAO international aviation safety standards for oversight of Ethiopia's air carrier operations.  For more information, travelers may visit the FAA's internet web site at www.faa.gov/avr/iasa/index.cfm.

The Ethiopian government has closed air routes near the border with Eritrea and has referred to the airspace as a "no-fly zone."  The FAA currently prohibits U.S. aircraft and U.S. pilots from flying in Ethiopian airspace north of 12 degrees north latitude, the area along the country's northern border with Eritrea.  For complete information on this flight prohibition, travelers may visit the FAA's website at www.faa.gov/avr/iasa/index.cfm.

SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES:   Ethiopia does not recognize dual nationality.   The government of Ethiopia considers Ethiopians who have become naturalized U.S. citizens to be Americans.  Such individuals are not subject to Ethiopian military service.  The Ethiopian government has stated that Ethiopian-Americans are given the same opportunity to invest in Ethiopia as Ethiopians.  Although several years ago the government of Ethiopia arrested people of Eritrean origin who initially failed to disclose their U.S. citizenship, this has not occurred in recent years.  Ethiopian officials have recently stated that Eritrean-Americans are treated as U.S. citizens and are not subject to arrest simply because of their ties to Eritrea.  For additional information, see the Bureau of Consular Affairs' website at http://travel.state.gov for our Dual Nationality flyer.

Permits are required before either antiques or animal skins can be exported from Ethiopia.  Antique religious artifacts, including "Ethiopian" crosses, require documentation from the National Museum in Addis Ababa for export.

Visitors must declare foreign currency upon arrival and may be required to present this declaration when applying for an exit visa or exchanging currency.  Official and black market exchange rates are nearly the same.  Foreign currency should be exchanged in authorized banks, hotels and other outlets and proper receipts should be obtained for the transactions.  Penalties for exchanging money on the black market range from fines to imprisonment.  Credit cards are not accepted at most hotels, restaurants, shops, or other local facilities, although they are accepted at the Hilton and Sheraton Hotels in Addis Ababa.  foreign currency.

Ethiopian law strictly prohibits the photographing of military installations, police/military personnel, industrial facilities, government buildings, and infrastructure (roads, bridges, dams, airfields, etc.).  Such sites are rarely marked clearly.  Travel guides, police, and Ethiopian officials can advise if a particular site may be photographed.  Photographing prohibited sites may result in the confiscation of film and camera.

There is a risk of earthquakes in Ethiopia.  Buildings may collapse due to strong tremors.  General information about natural disaster preparedness is available via the Internet from the U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) at http://www.fema.gov/.

CRIMINAL PENALTIES:  While in a foreign country, a U.S. citizen is subject to that country's laws and regulations, which sometimes differ significantly from those in the United States and may not afford the protections available to the individual under U.S. law.  Penalties for breaking the law can be more severe than in the United States for similar offenses.  Persons violating Ethiopia laws, even unknowingly, may be expelled, arrested or imprisoned.  Penalties for possession, use, or trafficking in illegal drugs in Ethiopia are severe, and convicted offenders can expect long jail sentences and heavy fines.  Engaging in illicit sexual conduct with children or using or disseminating child pornography in a foreign country is a crime, prosecutable in the United States.  For more information visit http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_1467.html.

CHILDREN'S ISSUES:  For information on international adoption of children and international parental child abduction, see the Office of Children's Issues website at http://travel.state.gov/family/family_1732.html.

REGISTRATION / EMBASSY LOCATION:   Americans living or traveling in Ethiopia are encouraged to register with the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate through the State Department's travel registration website, https://travelregistration.state.gov, and to obtain updated information on travel and security within Ethiopia.  Americans without Internet access may register directly with the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate.  By registering, American citizens make it easier for the Embassy or Consulate to contact them in case of emergency. 

The U.S. Embassy is located at Entoto Avenue, P.O. Box 1014, in Addis Ababa, telephone: 251-1-24-24-24 emergency after-hours telephone: 251-1-24-24-00; consular fax: 251-1-24-24-35; website: http://addisababa.usembassy.gov/.

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This replaces the Consular Information Sheet dated August 11, 2004, to update the sections on Country Description, Entry/Exit Requirements, Safety and Security, Crime, Information for Victims of Crime, Medical Facilities and Other Health Information, Medical Insurance, Traffic Safety and Road Conditions, Aviation Safety Oversight, Special Circumstances, Criminal Penalties, Children's Issues, and Registration/Embassy Location.