Cheap car rentals Guinea-Bissau - Safety and Security

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Safety and Security

SAFETY AND SECURITY: There is no U.S. diplomatic or consular presence in Guinea-Bissau. The U.S. Embassy in Bissau suspended operations on June 14, 1998. While U.S. officials from the U.S. Embassy in Dakar, Senegal make periodic visits to Guinea-Bissau, their ability to provide consular services, including emergency assistance, is very limited. The U.S. Embassy in Dakar maintains an Office in Bissau, staffed by two local employees (tel: 245-25-2273). The nearest U.S. Embassies are located in Banjul, The Gambia; Conakry, Guinea; and Dakar, Senegal.

Although the civil war that led to the closure of the U.S. Embassy ended in 1999, travelers should be aware that the political situation, though gaining stability, is still in a period of transition since the coup of September 14, 2003. Elections are scheduled for March 28, 2004. The United Nations currently has restrictions on travel to the northwest regions of the country, which border on Senegal's Casamance region. It is recommended that travelers crossing the Senegalese frontier utilize crossing points east of Cambaju. Landmines remain scattered throughout the country. The UN office in Bissau is responsible for demining operations and maintains lists of known minefields. There is also an NGO active in successfully removing mines. There have been periodic incidents of bandits accosting travelers in rural areas.