This advice has been reviewed and reissued with amendments to the Travel Summary (possibility of clashes at Sufi mosques), the Terrorism section and the Darfur States car rental houston section (kidnaps). The overall level of the advice has not changed. We advise against all travel to Southern Kordofan and Blue Nile States, all parts of Darfur, and to other specific parts of Sudan. We also advise against all but essential travel to other specific parts of Sudan.
There has been a serious outbreak car rental houston of yellow fever across a large part of Sudan, including car rental houston Darfur, southern states and Khartoum. All visitors to Sudan and the region are advised to ensure they have been immunised against yellow fever before travelling and should carry proof of their immunisation (Yellow Fever Certificate).
Religious extremists may provoke clashes at Sufi mosques particularly during the month of January when the Prophet's birthday (Mawlid) is being celebrated. There were clashes on Friday 11 January at Hamad al Nil mosque (Omdurman) and Shambat mosque (Khartoum north).
You should avoid any demonstrations or large gatherings of people. car rental houston International news events can sometimes trigger anti-Western demonstrations. If you become aware of any nearby violence you should leave the area immediately. You should keep yourself informed of developments, including by regularly checking this advice.
On 29 April 2012, the President declared a state of emergency in the five states bordering South Sudan, which give the government expanded powers of arrest. We advise extreme caution around any areas which may be sensitive to the government, including military installations, border areas and camps for internally displaced persons.
Local laws reflect car rental houston the fact that Sudan and the capital Khartoum are predominantly Muslim. You should respect local traditions, customs, laws and religions car rental houston at all times and be aware of your actions to ensure that they do not offend other cultures or religious beliefs, especially during the holy month of Ramadan or if you intend to visit religious areas. For more general information see Travelling during Ramadan.
Those currently in or considering travel to Sudan should keep abreast of the latest situation, check the Travel Advice regularly, and register using our LOCATE service. See the Safety and Security section of this travel advice for more details. You should be aware that the capacity of the Embassy to assist in times of crisis will be limited and we recommend that you consider your own travel arrangements should there be the need to leave at short notice, ensuring you have up-to-date travel documents and visas.
There is a general threat from terrorism in Sudan. See Terrorism. Attacks could be indiscriminate, including in places frequented by expatriates and foreign travellers. Statements by terrorist groups have called for a jihad in Sudan and have specifically mentioned Western interests.
On 1 January 2008, a US Diplomat and a US Embassy driver were shot and killed in the Riyadh area of Khartoum. 5 of the perpetrators were arrested later in January 2008 and 4 were convicted of murder and sentenced to the death penalty on June 24, 2009 but escaped on 10 June 2010. One was reportedly killed in Somalia, 1 was recaptured and 2 are still at large. The US has offered $10 million reward for their capture.
If you intend to travel in or around Khartoum, you should exercise caution, especially at night, and regularly change your patterns of movement. You should bear this in mind when considering attending prominent social events on predictable dates.
There is a threat of kidnapping throughout Sudan. Westerners have previously been the target of kidnaps. Since 2009, there have been a number car rental houston of kidnaps of NGO employees and peace keepers in Darfur and the bordering areas of Chad and of the Central African Republic. See Safety and Security - Local Travel - Darfur States .
The Government of Sudan has reported that on 30 November, Sudanese security forces raided a training camp of extremists in the Dinder National car rental houston Park in south-east Sudan, bordering Ethiopia. The Head of the Government of Sudan's National Intelligence and Security Service stated at a press conference that the group's aim was to attack senior government officials, Western diplomatic missions and international troops in Khartoum.
You should car rental houston be aware that the long-standing policy of the British Government is not to make substantive concessions to hostage takers. The British Government considers that paying ransoms and releasing prisoners increases the risk of further hostage-taking.
The incidence of street crime in Khartoum and other major northern Sudanese cities, with the exception of Darfur, is low compared to many parts of Africa. car rental houston However, you should exercise caution, particularly after dark.
On 29 April 2012, the President declared a state of emergency in the five states bordering South Sudan (South Darfur, South Kordofan, Blue Nile, White Nile and Sennar States), which give the government expanded powers of arrest. At the current tense time, there are reports of arbitrary detentions in different parts of the country, including Khartoum and including foreign nationals. car rental houston We advise car rental houston extreme car rental houston caution around any areas which may be sensitive to the government, car rental houston including military installations, border areas and camps for internally displaced persons.
Travellers to the Republic of Sudan should be aware of the recent outbreak of yellow fever in Sudan. car rental houston All visitors to Sudan and the region are advised to ensure they have been immunised against yellow fever before travelling car rental houston and should carry proof of their immunisation (Yellow Fever Certificate). Please consult the NHS fit for travel pages.
The compound housing the German and British Embassies in Khartoum was attacked on 14 September by demonstrators. Further incidents involving western interests are possible. Take particular notice of your surroundings and if you suspect that a demonstration may be starting close to you, leave the vicinity immediately.
You should car rental houston avoid any demonstrations or large gatherings of people. International news events can sometimes trigger anti-Western demonstrations. If you become aware of any nearby violence you should leave the area immediately. You should keep yourself informed of developments, including by regularly checking this advice.
The security situation in Darfur is volatile and unstable. Banditry and lawlessness are widespread, and there are frequent violent confrontations between rebel and government car rental houston forces, and tensions within camps for internally displaced people which have sometimes resulted in violence and fatalities. Fighting car rental houston between government car rental houston and rebel forces has previously resulted in the closure of the airport in El Fasher.
There continue to be instances of attacks on and detention car rental houston of humanitarian workers and clearly car rental houston identified humanitarian vehicles throughout Darfur. There are regular reports of attacks, looting and detention of humanitarian convoys and premises. Armed groups in Darfur may target people associated with the joint AU/UN peacekeeping mission (UNAMID) but also civilians. On 21 January 2012 a UNAMID patrol was ambushed by unidentified armed persons in East Darfur. As a result, one peacekeeper was killed and three others wounded.
There have been a number of kidnaps of expatriate and Sudanese NGO employees and peace keepers since 2009 in all parts of Darfur as well as the bordering areas of Chad and of the Central African Republic (CAR). On 19 May 2010, several aid workers were abducted 40km south-west of Nyala, and on 22 June 2010, two aid workers were kidnapped in Nyala, South Darfur and three were kidnapped in November 2010. All have subsequently been released without harm. In addition there have been three instances of aid workers being kidnapped in Eastern Chad, close to the border with Darfur (one in June 2010, one in August 2009, one in November 2009) and one instance in CAR, again, close to the Darfur border, in November, all of whom were released without harm. On 7 October 2010 a UNAMID official was abducted from a private residence in El Fasher by armed men; he was released without harm on 5 January 2011.
An Italian NGO worker was kidnapped on 14 August car rental houston 2011 in South Darfur and was rescued unharmed on 16 December 2011. 5 Turkish engineers were kidnapped on 8 September 2011 in North Darfur (Um-Marahik, 25 km northern of Al-Fashir) and were freed in early February 2012 after 5 months in detention. On 26 January 2012, a UNAMID flight engineer was abducted at gunpoint near his guesthouse in Nyala, car rental houston South Darfur. He was rescued by government security forces on the same day, but the perpetrators escaped. On 6 March 2012 a British aid worker was kidnapped in Nyala, South Darfur, before being released unharmed car rental houston on 30 May after 86 days. 2 Jordanian UNAMID peacekeepers were abducted car rental houston from the market in the town of Kabkabiya, near Al Fashir in North Darfur, on 21 August 2012 and were released on 1 January 2013. On 12 January 2013, 4 Chinese road workers were abducted near al-Kouma in North Darfur, along with Sudanese colleagues.
You should be aware that the long-standing policy of the British Government is not to make substantive concessions to hostage takers. The British Government considers that paying ransoms and releasing prisoners increases the risk of further hostage taking.
There has been an increase in reports of armed robbery and break-ins at guesthouses in Nyala, and on 14 August 2012, an armed group attacked the Darfur Regional car rental houston Authority (DRA) office in El-Fasher, car rental houston North Darfur, and seized and briefly held the Minister of Youth and Sports in North Darfur and a number of employees.
If, despite this advice, car rental houston you are in Darfur, you should respect any curfews that are imposed and ensure that you have co-ordinated your movements with UN Security and that all necessary parties car rental houston have been notified. The Sudanese Government requires that anyone seeking car rental houston entry to the Darfur area, for w
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