Warden Message

U.S. Embassy, Nouakchott
Warden Message
14 March 2006

The U.S. Embassy in Nouakchott wants the American community in Mauritania to know that the Embassy has received two reports in the past month of sexual assaults on female American citizens.  While these cases are not linked, the Embassy strongly advises that U.S. citizens not only in Nouakchott, but throughout Mauritania maintain caution in their daily activities.  The Department of State has recently updated its Consular Information Sheet for Mauritania.  The complete text can be found at http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_966.html.

Victims of a crime should immediately contact the local authorities, request a copy of the police report, and notify the U.S. Embassy.  The Embassy has noted that Mauritanian police have responded quickly and well to attacks on Americans, but that the justice system generally has not sentenced the perpetrators to the same degree as in the United States.

Consular officers can help American crime victims with issues such as: contacting family, friends, or employers, obtaining appropriate medical care, addressing emergency needs that arise as a result of the crime, obtaining general information about the local criminal justice process and information about a case, obtaining information about local resources to assist victims, including foreign crime victim compensation programs where available, and obtaining a list of local attorneys who speak English.
Consular officers cannot, however, investigate crimes, provide legal advice or represent you in court, serve as official interpreters or translators, or pay legal, medical, or other fees for you.

U.S. citizens are advised to assess their personal security and 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 to 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. 4551/4553); fax 525-1592; or email ConsularNKC@state.gov.

For the latest security information, citizens 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.