- Travel Advice
DFAT advice for Mauritania
When travelling to Mauritania, you should always get travel insurance in case the worst happens. To help you ensure you travel safely, we have included the travel advice from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade for Mauritania.
| Mauritania overall | This Advice is current for Friday, 22 August 2008. | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Be alert to own security | Exercise caution | High degree of caution | Reconsider your need to travel | Do not travel |
| Border areas with Mali and Algeria | ||||
| 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. It contains new information in the Summary and under Safety and Security: Civil Unrest/Political Tension (military coup). The overall level of the advice has increased.
[top]Summary
- We advise you to reconsider your need to travel to Mauritania at this time due to the unpredictable security situation. Following a coup against the President on 6 August 2008, there is a heavy police and military presence on the streets of the capital, Nouakchott (see Civil Unrest/Political Tension).
- If you do decide to travel to Mauritania, you should exercise extreme caution. If you are in Mauritania, avoid unnecessary local travel and monitor the media and other local sources for information about possible new safety or security risks.
- You should avoid protests and demonstrations throughout Mauritania as they may turn violent.
- There is a high threat of terrorist attack in Mauritania. We continue to receive reports that terrorists are planning attacks against a range of targets, including places frequented by foreigners.
- Recent credible reports indicate that terrorists may be planning to kidnap foreigners, including Australians travelling between Mauritania and Morocco or who may be close to the Mauritania / Mali border, and to conduct attacks against oil facilities in Mauritania.
- Australians should take increased security precautions when in their homes or cars and watch for any suspicious or unusual activity. Pay close attention to your personal security at all times and monitor the media for information about possible new safety or security risks.
- Armed men fired on the Israel embassy compound in the capital Nouakchott on 1 February 2008. Three people were wounded when the same gunmen fired on a nearby nightclub frequented by foreigners.
- In December 2007, four French tourists were murdered in the Aleg region, close to the border with Senegal and three Mauritanian military personnel were killed in a clash with gunmen believed to be linked to al-Qa'ida in the Islamic Magreb (AQIM). Security considerations led the organisers of the Paris-Dakar Rally 2008 to cancel this year's event.
- We strongly advise you not to travel to the border areas with Mali and Algeria because of the risk of banditry and the activities of armed smugglers and extremist groups.
- Australia does not have an Embassy or Consulate in Mauritania. The Australian Embassy in France provides consular assistance to Australians in Mauritania. The United States Embassy in Nouakchott can also provide consular assistance to Australians.
- Be a smart traveller. Before heading overseas:
- organise comprehensive travel insurance and check what circumstances and activities are not covered by your policy
- register your travel and contact details, so we can contact you in an emergency
- subscribe to this travel advice to receive free email updates each time it's reissued.
