The U.S. Embassy informs U.S. citizens that the Government of Burkina Faso has announced several preventative security measures in advance of the presidential and legislative elections scheduled for November 29, 2015.
- Closure of land borders: Borders of Burkina Faso will be closed from Friday, November 27, 2015 at 6:00 p.m. until Tuesday, December 1, 2015 at 6:00 a.m. Airports will remain open. U.S. citizens should monitor local news stations for updates, plan travel accordingly, and re-confirm travel reservations with transport operators.
- Security checkpoints: U.S. citizens are urged to carry identification.
- Curfew remains in effect between 1:00 a.m. and 4:00 a.m.
There is potential for sporadic civil disruptions and demonstrations throughout the presidential and legislative elections period. Even demonstrations intended to be peaceful can quickly turn confrontational and escalate into violence without much advanced warning. Avoid political rallies, campaign events, polling stations, demonstrations, protests, and other large gatherings before, during, and after elections. Exercise caution if in the vicinity of any large gatherings, protests, or demonstrations. If you find yourself near such an event, leave the area. If it is not safe to do so immediately, maintain a low profile until you are able to relocate. Stay abreast of the situation through media outlets.
U.S. citizens who choose to remain in Burkina Faso should remain vigilant and utilize appropriate personal security practices. U.S. citizens should maintain adequate supplies of food, water, essential medicines, and other supplies to shelter in place for at least 72 hours should this become necessary. Additional recommendations on emergency preparedness are available on the Travel.State.gov web page “Emergencies Abroad.”
For further information:
- See the State Department’s travel website for the Worldwide Caution, Travel Warnings, Travel Alerts, and Burkina Faso Country Specific Information.
- Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive security messages and make it easier to locate you in an emergency.
- Contact the U.S. Embassy Ouagadougou, in Ouaga 2000, Sector 15, on Avenue Sembene Ousmane, southeast of the Monument aux Héros Nationaux, at (+226) 25-49-53-00, 7:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 7:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Friday. If you are a U.S. citizen in an emergency situation after normal Embassy operating hours, please contact the Embassy, dial “1,” and ask to be connected to the duty officer.
- Call 1-888-407-4747 toll-free in the United States and Canada or 1-202-501-4444 from other countries from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays).
- Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.
