Report DETAILS
Travel Alert: Ethiopia
Elections
Africa > Ethiopia > Addis Ababa
5/15/2015
The
State Department alerts U.S. citizens residing in or traveling to Ethiopia of
the upcoming elections scheduled for May 24, 2015.U.S. citizens are urged to
exercise caution and remain abreast of the security situation throughout the
electoral period. This Travel Alert expires on June 30, 2015.
The State Department recommends U.S. citizens maintain a high level of security
awareness during the electoral period and avoid political rallies, polling
centers, demonstrations, and crowds of any kind as instances of unrest can
occur. Review your personal security plans; remain aware of your surroundings,
including local events; and monitor local news stations for updates. Although
there have been no specific incidents of violence targeting U.S. citizens, U.S.
citizens are urged to exercise caution and stay current with media coverage of
local events. Election results are scheduled to be announced June 22, 2015.
During previous elections, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) required all
diplomats and international organization staff living in Addis Ababa to receive
an official pass from the MFA if they planned to travel outside of Addis Ababa
during the election season. While not in effect this election, the U.S. Embassy
continues to urge U.S. citizens to be aware of election sensitivities. We
especially recommend avoiding public polling stations on the day of the
election, including schools and other public buildings. In Addis Ababa alone
there will be nearly 1,600 polling stations - roughly one polling station for
every kilometer.
We strongly recommend that U.S. citizens traveling to or residing in Ethiopia
enroll in the Department of State's
Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) at travel.state.gov. STEP enrollment gives you
the latest security updates, and makes it easier for the U.S. Embassy or
nearest U.S. Consulate to contact you in an emergency. If you do not have
Internet access, contact the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate to enroll
directly.
Regularly monitor the State Department's
website , where you can find current Travel
Warnings ,
Travel Alerts , and the Worldwide
Caution . Read the Country Specific Information for Ethiopia
. For additional information, refer to the"Traveler's
Checklist"on the State Department's website.
The U.S. Embassy in Addis Ababa is
located at Entoto Street, P.O. Box 1014. The Consular Section of the Embassy
may be reached by telephone: +251-111-306000 or e-mail at consacs@state.gov , and is open
Monday-Thursday, 7:30 a.m.-5:00 p.m. For after-hours emergencies, U.S. citizens
should call +251-111-306911 or 011-130-6000 and ask to speak with the duty
officer.
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