- Travel Advice
DFAT advice for Burundi
When travelling to Burundi, 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 Burundi.
| Burundi overall | This Advice is current for Friday, 19 March 2010. | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Be alert to own security | Exercise caution | High degree of caution | Reconsider your need to travel | Do not travel |
| Bujumbura | ||||
| 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 (2010 Elections), Crime (assaults near Lake Tanganyika) and Where to Get Help (High Commission contact numbers). The overall level of the advice has not changed.
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Summary
- We strongly advise you not to travel to Burundi at this time, with the exception of the capital Bujumbura, because of high levels of serious crime and possible civil unrest. While the security situation has stabilised across the country, the risk of armed violence, banditry, kidnapping and cross-border attacks by rebels remains high.
- If you are in Burundi you should consider leaving unless you have compelling reasons to stay.
- If you do decide to travel outside of the capital, we advise you to contact the United Nations office in Burundi for the latest security advice prior to travel.
- We advise you to reconsider your need to travel to the capital Bujumbura at this time due to the unpredictable security situation. If you do decide to travel to Bujumbura, you should exercise extreme caution.
- Presidential, parliamentary and local elections are scheduled to occur between May and September 2010. Demonstrations and protests may occur at short notice in the period surrounding the elctions. You should avoid all demonstrations and large public gatherings as they may turn violent.
- Pandemic (H1N1) 2009 has spread throughout the world. The World Health Organisation (WHO) provides useful information for individuals and travellers on its website. For further information and advice to Australians, including on possible quarantine measures overseas, see our travel bulletin on Pandemic (H1N1) 2009.
- Australia does not have an Embassy or Consulate in Burundi. The Australian High Commission in Kenya provides consular assistance to Australians in Burundi.
- Because of the unpredictable security situation we strongly recommend that you register your travel and contact details with us, so we can contact you in an emergency. If you intend to travel to, or are a resident in, Burundi you should also register your presence with the Belgian Embassy, which is in charge of an evacuation plan for Australians. See Where to Get Help for further information.
- Be a smart traveller. Before heading overseas:
- organise comprehensive travel insurance and check what circumstances and activities are not covered by your policy
- subscribe to this travel advice to receive free email updates each time it's reissued.
