Travel Warning: Liberia

Originally released March 03, 2005, this information is current as of Tuesday, May 31, 2005. Travel Warnings are issued when the State Department recommends that Americans avoid a certain country.This Travel Warning is being issued to update security information on Liberia. The Department of State urges American citizens to consider carefully the risks of travel to Liberia. This supersedes the Travel Warning of July 30, 2004.

Overall, the situation in Liberia is improving slowly, but the country has suffered from years of instability and conflict. Political and social tensions remain high and could result in renewed but sporadic violence and instability. By most measures, Liberia is one of the poorest countries in the world and the nationwide unemployment rate is very high. Foreigners, including Americans, are high-profile targets for theft and armed robbery.

Notwithstanding UNMIL's deployment of 15,000 peacekeepers and 1,100 police advisors nationwide, the security situation remains unpredictable. Sporadic demonstrations occur frequently and on one occasion developed into rioting, looting, and deaths of Liberians. Owing to the potential for violence, U.S. citizens should avoid crowds, political rallies, street demonstrations, and any gathering of security forces.

U.S. citizens in Liberia should be aware of their surroundings at all times and use caution when traveling. Traveling alone or after dark is strongly discouraged. Poor road conditions, especially during the rainy season, and limited telecommunications limit the U.S. Embassy's ability to provide assistance to U.S. citizens outside the Monrovia area. American employees at the U.S. Embassy have a strict midnight curfew, may not be in the Carey Street area after dark, may not use commercial lodging, and may travel outside Monrovia only under strict pre-approved conditions. Americans should report any threats or suspicious activity to our Embassy in Monrovia and monitor the local media for developments that may affect their safety and security.

Americans should consider carefully the risks of travel to Liberia at this time. Americans who remain in or travel to Liberia despite this Warning should consider their personal safety while in Liberia; register with the Embassy's Consular Section through the State Department's travel registration website, https://travelregistration.state.gov; and obtain updated information on travel and security within Liberia. Americans without Internet access may register directly with the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate. The U.S. Embassy is located at 111 United Nations Drive, Mamba Point, Monrovia, Liberia; tel. (231) 226-370; fax (231) 226-148. U.S. citizens who wish to write to the U.S. Embassy may address letters to the Consular Section, 8800 Monrovia Place, U.S. Department of State, Washington, DC 20521-8800. For additional information, consult the Department of State's Consular Information Sheet for Liberia , on the Internet at http://travel.state.gov.

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