U.S. Embassy, Nouakchott
Warden Message
05 May 2006

The Embassy has recently received reports that foreign tourists, including Americans, might be targeted for kidnapping in Mauritania.  The Embassy therefore urges all U.S. citizens to exercise caution while traveling in Mauritania.  As a reminder, following last year's terrorist attack on a remote military outpost, the Embassy discouraged travel in areas along Mauritania’s border with Algeria, and its northern border with Mali.  We stand by that recommendation and must continue to discourage travel to this remote area. 

American citizens are advised to be watchful and report any unusual activity to the Embassy.  The U.S. Embassy in Nouakchott will continue to monitor the situation in Mauritania and provide updates as appropriate. The Department of State will also continue to monitor security conditions in Mauritania, as it does elsewhere overseas,  and will, as always, promptly disseminate information affecting the safety of Americans abroad through its Consular Information Program. 

American citizens are encouraged to take responsibility for their own safety and periodically assess their personal security.  For further information, the Embassy urges all American citizens to visit the Department of State's travel website on emergencies and crises at http://travel.state.gov/travel/tips/emergencies/emergencies_1212.html.

U.S. citizens in Mauritania are also encouraged to register and obtain updated information on travel and security in Mauritania at the Consular Section of the U.S. Embassy at rue Abdallaye, Nouakchott, telephone (222) 525-2660/2663, 525-1141/45 or 525-3038 (ext. 5441/5443); fax 525-1592; or email ConsularNkc@state.gov.

For the latest security information, Americans living and traveling abroad should regularly monitor the Department of State's Bureau of Consular Affairs Internet site at http://travel.state.gov, where the current Worldwide Cautions, Public Announcements and Travel Warnings can be found.  Americans in Mauritania who have not registered their presence with the U.S. Embassy in Nouakchott are urged to register via the Internet through the State Department's travel registration website, https://travelregistration.state.gov.  

The Embassy is located at rue Abdallaye, Nouakchott, and remains open for all American citizen services and visa services.  In case of an emergency, you may call the Embassy Duty Officer at 662-8163, or the Embassy guard post at 525-3288.