smartraveller.gov.au - Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
It's a must see destination.
It's a must see destination.
Central African Republic
| Central African Republic overall | This Advice is current for Monday, 13 October 2008. | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Be alert to own security | Exercise caution | High degree of caution | Reconsider your need to travel | Do not travel |
| Bangui | ||||
| Be alert to own security | Exercise caution | High degree of caution | Reconsider your need to travel | Do not travel |
This advice has been reviewed and reissued. The overall level of the advice has not changed.
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Terrorism is a threat throughout the world. You can find more information about this threat in our General Advice to Australian Travellers.
We strongly advise you not to travel to the Central African Republic at this time due to the activities of rebel groups and rogue security and military forces, and high levels of serious crime and lawlessness. Following a military coup against the government in March 2003, the security situation continues to be dangerous. If you are in the Central African Republic, you should consider leaving unless you have compelling reasons to stay.
The security situation is particularly dangerous in the border areas with Chad, Sudan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Cameroon. Violence has intensified in the northwestern provinces of Ouham and Ouham-Pende. Rebel groups remain active in the west, southeast, north and northeast of the country and many areas outside the capital are lawless. Foreigners, including aid workers, have been killed.
Bangui: We advise you to reconsider your need to travel to the capital Bangui at this time due to the tense and unstable security situation. Skirmishes between government forces and opposition groups have occurred in the capital. Tensions are high due to the Government's inability to pay its civil servants. If you do decide to travel to Bangui, you should exercise extreme caution.
You should avoid all large gatherings, protests and demonstrations as they may turn violent.
Banditry and crime are common throughout the Central African Republic, especially in the northern and eastern regions of the country. Theft and robbery occur regularly in Bangui and armed gangs operate in the outlying residential areas of the city.
Driving in the Central African Republic can be dangerous as roads are in poor condition and have insufficient lighting. Fuel shortages are common.
The rainy season is May to October when flooding may occur and some roads become impassable.
The border between the Central African Republic and Sudan was closed in April 2006.
Road travel between the Central African Republic and Cameroon is unsafe, even with a military or police escort. A convoy was attacked near Bouar in north-western Central African Republic in September 2006 and a number of civilians and their military escorts were killed.
Passengers on international flights to and from Australia are only allowed to carry a small amount of liquids (including aerosols and gels) in their carry-on baggage. You can find out more information at the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government website. Similar restrictions apply to flights in an increasing number of countries. Contact your airline for further information.
If you have concerns about the safety standards of a particular airline or aircraft, we recommend you research the airline or aircraft through organisations such as Australia's Civil Aviation Safety Authority and the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO). The Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government has published fact sheets on security for air travellers. When staff at Australia's overseas missions are advised not to use particular airlines due to safety concerns, this will be included in the travel advisory.
The European Union (EU) has published a list of airlines that are subject to operating bans or restrictions within the EU. The United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) through its foreign assessment program focuses on a country's ability, not the individual airline, to adhere to international standards and recommended practices for aircraft operations and maintenance established by ICAO.
Australians are advised to maintain a safe and legal distance when observing wildlife, including marine animals and birds. You should only use reputable and professional guides or tour operators and closely follow park regulations and wardens' advice.
Before you go, organise a variety of ways of accessing your money overseas, such as credit cards, travellers' cheques and US dollars cash. Check with your bank whether your ATM card will work overseas. Credit cards and travellers' cheques are accepted at major hotels in Bangui.
Make two photocopies of valuables such as your passport, tickets, visas and travellers' cheques. Keep one copy with you in a separate place to the original and leave another copy with someone at home.
While travelling, don't carry too much cash and remember that expensive watches, jewellery and cameras may be tempting targets for thieves.
As a sensible precaution against luggage tampering, including theft, lock your luggage. Information on luggage safety is available from Australia's Civil Aviation Safety Authority.
Your passport is a valuable document that is attractive to criminals who may try to use your identity to commit crimes. It should always be kept in a safe place. You are required by Australian law to report a lost or stolen passport. If your passport is lost or stolen overseas, report it online or contact the nearest Australian Embassy, High Commission or Consulate as soon as possible.
You are required to pay an additional fee to have a lost or stolen passport replaced. In some cases, the Government may also restrict the length of validity or type of replacement passports.
If you are planning on placing your children in schools or childcare facilities overseas we encourage you to research the standards of security, care and staff training within those establishments. You should exercise the same precautions you would take before placing children into schools or childcare facilities in Australia.
Ideas on how to select childcare providers are available from the smartraveller Children's Issues page, Child Wise and the National Childcare Accreditation Council.
When you are in the Central African Republic, be aware that local laws and penalties, including ones that appear harsh by Australian standards, do apply to you. If you are arrested or jailed, the Australian Government will do what it can to help you but we can't get you out of trouble or out of jail.
Information on what Australian consular officers can and cannot do to help Australians in trouble overseas is available from the Consular Services Charter.
Homosexual acts between adults (of either sex) are illegal and penalties include the death sentence.
Police checks are common and failure to produce identity documents (or notarised copies) can lead to detention.
Photography around military zones, military assets, military personnel and government buildings is prohibited.
A licence is required to buy or sell precious gems and there are heavy penalties for illegally exporting precious gems.
Some Australian criminal laws, such as those relating to money laundering, bribery of foreign public officials, terrorism and child sex tourism, apply to Australians overseas. Australians who commit these offences while overseas may be prosecuted in Australia.
Australian authorities are committed to combating sexual exploitation of children by Australians overseas. Australians may be prosecuted at home under Australian child sex tourism laws. These laws provide severe penalties of up to 17 years imprisonment for Australians who engage in sexual activity with children under 16 while outside of Australia.
Our Travel Information for Dual Nationals brochure provides further information.
Visa and other entry and exit conditions (such as currency, customs and quarantine regulations) change regularly. Contact the nearest Embassy or Consulate of the Central African Republic for the most up to date information.
A valid Yellow Fever Vaccination Certificate is required for entry into the Central African Republic.
The Central African Republic is listed by the World Health Organisation (WHO) as endemic for yellow fever. Some airlines may require passengers to present a valid Yellow Fever Vaccination Certificate before being allowed to board flights out of the country. If in doubt, check with your airline.
We strongly recommend that you take out comprehensive travel insurance that will cover any overseas medical costs, before you depart. Confirm that your insurance covers you for the whole time you'll be away and check what circumstances and activities are not included in your policy. Remember, regardless of how healthy and fit you are, if you can't afford travel insurance, you can't afford to travel.
Your doctor or travel clinic is the best source of information about preventive measures, immunisations (including booster doses of childhood vaccinations) and disease outbreaks overseas. The World Health Organization (WHO) provides information for travellers and our 'Travelling Well' brochure also provides useful tips for travelling with medicines and staying healthy while overseas.
The standard of medical facilities throughout the Central African Republic is extremely limited. Pharmaceuticals are in short supply and hygiene standards are poor. Doctors and hospitals generally require up-front payment before commencing treatment. In the event of a serious illness or accident, medical evacuation to a destination with the appropriate facilities would be necessary. Medical evacuation could cost up to $A200,000 depending on circumstances.
Malaria occurs widely and throughout the year in the Central African Republic. Other insect-borne diseases (including yellow fever, filariasis and African sleeping sickness) also occur. We encourage you to take prophylaxis against malaria and take measures to avoid insect bites, including using insect repellent at all times.
Water-borne, food-borne and other infectious diseases (including HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, cholera, polio, typhoid, hepatitis and rabies) are prevalent with more serious outbreaks occurring from time to time. We encourage you to consider having vaccinations before travelling. We recommend you boil all drinking water or drink bottled water, avoid ice cubes and raw and undercooked food. Do not swim in fresh water to avoid exposure to certain water-borne diseases such as bilharzia (schistosomiasis). Seek medical advice if you have a fever or are suffering from diarrhoea.
The World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) has confirmed cases of avian influenza in birds in a number of countries throughout the world. For a list of these countries, visit the OIE website. For information on our advice to Australians on how to reduce the risk of infection and on Australian Government precautions see our travel bulletin on avian influenza.
Australia does not have an Embassy or Consulate in the Central African Republic. You can obtain consular assistance from the nearest Australian High Commission which is in Nigeria:
Australian High Commission
48 Aguiyi Ironsi Street
Maitama
Abuja, Nigeria
Telephone: (234 9) 461 2780
Facsimile: (234 9) 461 2782
Email: ahc.abuja@dfat.gov.au
Website: http://www.nigeria.highcommission.gov.au/
If you are travelling to the Central African Republic, whatever the reason and however long you'll be there, we strongly recommend that you register with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. You can register online or in person at any Australian Embassy, High Commission or Consulate. The information you provide will help us to contact you in an emergency - whether it is a natural disaster, civil disturbance or a family issue.
In a consular emergency if you are unable to contact the above mission, you can contact the 24-hour Consular Emergency Centre on +61 2 6261 3305 or 1300 555 135 within Australia.
In Australia, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade in Canberra may be contacted on (02) 6261 3305.
While every care has been taken in preparing this travel information for travellers, neither the Australian Government nor its agents or employees including any member of Australia's consular staff abroad, can accept liability for injury, loss or damage arising in respect of any statement contained therein.
