Car rental in Ethiopia - Safety and Security

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Safety and Security

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 peacekeeping mission in the border area, but the border with Eritrea has not yet been finalized. 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.

Interethnic clashes are prevalent in the western-most tip of the Gambella Region in west Ethiopia. A flare-up of interethnic conflict from December 13-17, 2003 has claimed many lives. Travel to this region is not recommended.

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 website at http://travel.state.gov where the current Worldwide Caution Public Announcement, the East Africa Public Announcement, as well as consular information for other countries, such as Travel Warnings and Public Announcements can be found.