This Travel Warning is being issued to update information on safety and security in Burundi, including attacks on vehicles throughout the country and gunfire and mortar attacks in the region of the capital, Bujumbura, as well as other areas of the country. It supersedes the Travel Warning issued August 9, 2002.

The Department of State warns U.S. citizens against travel to Burundi due to the uncertain security situation within Burundi, and among the several states in the surrounding Great Lakes region.

Burundi has been plagued by civil war since 1993. As the result of a peace process undertaken by many of Burundi's political parties, a three-year transition government was installed on November 1, 2001. One major rebel faction, however, has yet to sign a cease-fire agreement with the government. Fighting between rebel forces and government troops can be intense, and often involves non-government, non-combatant targets.

Throughout the second half of 2002, vehicles on the nation's major roads were attacked regularly. In addition, there is frequently gunfire in the suburban areas of the capital, Bujumbura. On April 17, 2003, rebels launched rocket and mortar attacks on Bujumbura and other major cities that continued sporadically for three days. Approximately 40 persons were injured, and perhaps 12 killed in those attacks. The Embassy assesses that further attacks are possible. Prior to the recent attacks, rebels had since March 2003 fired mortar rounds at night on several occasions in the outer suburbs of Bujumbura. The United Nations compilation of violent incidents enumerates more than 40 such incidents throughout the country, most involving one or more fatalities, in the month of February 2003 alone.

The U.S. Embassy in Burundi operates with a reduced staff and restricts the travel of U.S. Government personnel within the capital, while travel outside the capital is limited to travel by air only. Family members are prohibited from accompanying U.S. Government employees assigned to Burundi, and personnel assigned to Burundi on a temporary basis may have their visits cancelled or curtailed. U.S. Government personnel are strictly prohibited from flying to, from, or within Burundi during the hours of darkness.

The Government of Burundi maintains a curfew for Bujumbura, which is currently from midnight to 5:00 a.m. The U.S. Embassy maintains a curfew for its staff, which is currently from 9:00 p.m. to 6:30 a.m. Please note that these curfews change from time to time due to changing security conditions. Please contact the U.S. Embassy for the most up-to-date curfew information.

U.S. citizens who travel to or remain in Burundi despite this Travel Warning should establish and maintain contact with the U.S. Embassy and consider their own personal safety in determining whether to remain in the country. American citizens needing updated travel and security information should contact the Consular Section of the U.S. Embassy at Avenue Etats-Unis, telephone (257) 223-454, fax (257) 222-926.

For further information on travel to Burundi, please consult the Department of State's latest Consular Information Sheet for Burundi and the Worldwide Caution Public Announcement, which are available at http://travel.state.gov.