Security Message for U.S. Citizens

February 20, 2013

Security Concerns and Worldwide Travel Caution

The United States Embassy in Yaounde alerts U.S. citizens that an expatriate French family of three adults and four children was kidnapped on Tuesday, February 19, while traveling in Cameroon’s Far North Region, en route from Waza National Park to the city of Kousseri.  While no U.S. citizens were taken, we strongly advise U.S. citizens in Cameroon to defer all travel to the Far North and to exercise extreme caution when traveling in the North region.  In light of this event, U.S. government personnel stationed in the Far North Region are being relocated from locations along the Nigerian border.

On February 19, 2013, the Department of State issued a Worldwide Caution to update information on the continuing threat of terrorist actions and violence directed against U.S. citizens and interests throughout the world.  Current information suggests that al-Qaida, its affiliated organizations, and other terrorist organizations continue to plan terrorist attacks against U.S. interests in multiple regions, including Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Middle East.  These attacks may employ a wide variety of tactics including suicide operations, assassinations, kidnappings, hijackings, and bombings.

You can stay in touch and get Embassy updates by checking the U.S. Embassy Yaoundé website.  You can also get global updates at the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Consular Affairs website where you can find the current Worldwide Caution, Travel Warnings, Travel Alerts, and Country Specific Information.  If you don't have Internet access, you may obtain up-to-date information on security conditions by calling 1-888-407-4747 toll free in the United States and Canada, or from other countries on a regular toll-line at 1-202-501-4444.  These numbers are available from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays).  You may also follow U.S. Embassy Yaounde’s Twitter feed for information for U.S. citizens at twitter.com/USEmbCameroon.

The U.S. Embassy in Yaoundé encourages U.S. citizens to enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) for the most up-to-date security information.  Keep all of your information in STEP up to date by maintaining your current phone numbers and email addresses where you can be reached in case of an emergency.  Follow us on Twitter and the Bureau of Consular Affairs page on Facebook as well, or you can download our free Smart Traveler App, available through iTunes and the Android marketplace, to have travel information at your fingertips.

The U.S. Embassy in Yaoundé is located at Avenue Rosa Parks close to the Mont Febe Golf Club. The telephone number is +237 2220-1500 ext. 4341/4023.  The number for after-hours emergencies is +237 2220-1500 ext. 4531.  The fax number is +237 2220-1572.

The Embassy’s e-mail address is yaoundeacs@state.gov.

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