U.S. State Department Counsular info below.BEFORE YOU READ THIS:
Today I had lunch with a young man who has travel extensively throughout South America, but never to Colombia beacuse of the information in the State Department report on Colombia. I on the other hand have traveled and lived in Colombia and woudl encourage anyone to visit.
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SAFETY AND SECURITY: Security in Sierra Leone has improved significantly since the end of the civil war in 2001. Government forces have taken over responsibility for security throughout the country from United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone (UNAMSIL). The UNAMSIL peacekeeping mission, that once had a peak staffing of 17,000, is scheduled to end in December 2005 and be replaced by UNIOSIL, a peace-building mission. As UNAMSIL has drawn down, Sierra Leone police and army forces have filled in behind, but without the capacity for equivalent performance. Security incidents are increasing as a result. The Sierra Leonean police are working to improve the professionalism, capabilities, and training of their modest force, but fall short of American standards in response time, communications, and specialty skills.
Areas outside of Freetown lack most basic services. Travelers are urged to exercise caution, especially when traveling beyond the capital. Road conditions are hazardous and serious vehicle accidents are common. Emergency response to vehicular and other accidents ranges from slow to nonexistent. There are occasional unauthorized roadblocks outside Freetown, where travelers might be asked to pay a small amount of money to the personnel manning the roadblock. Because many Sierra Leoneans do not speak English, especially outside of Freetown, it can be difficult for foreigners to communicate their identity. Embassy employees are free to travel throughout Sierra Leone, except in the Eastern Province near Liberia. Travel to this area is reviewed on a case-by-case basis
In the past year, there have been security incidents related to public demonstrations. Widespread discontent with high prices for basic commodities, lack of basic services, and fuel shortages can potentially spawn public demonstrations that may turn violent. U.S. citizens should avoid large crowds, political rallies, and street demonstrations, and maintain security awareness at all times. There are no known terrorist groups officially operating in the country.
CRIME: The continued poor state of the economy and the lack of opportunity for most people in Sierra Leone have led many individuals or small groups to turn to crime. There has been an increase in homicide, armed robberies, and residential burglaries. Petty crime and pick pocketing of wallets, cell phones, and passports are very common. Law enforcement authorities usually respond to crimes slowly, if at all. Police investigative response rarely provides substantive support to victims. U.S. citizens and other expatriates have experienced harassment, blackmail, and shakedowns when dealing with Sierra Leonean officials. Corruption and incompetence remain serious problems at all levels within the government of Sierra Leone. Americans traveling to or residing in Sierra Leone should maintain a heightened sense of awareness of their surroundings to help avoid being the victims of crime.
Business fraud is rampant and the perpetrators often target foreigners, including Americans. Schemes previously associated with Nigeria are now prevalent throughout West Africa, including Sierra Leone, and pose a danger of grave financial loss. Typically these scams begin with unsolicited communication (usually e-mails) from strangers who promise quick financial gain, often by transferring large sums of money or valuables out of the country, but then require a series of "advance fees" to be paid, such as fees for legal documents or taxes. Of course, the final payoff does not exist; the purpose of the scam is simply to collect the advance fees. A common variation is the scammer’s claim to be a refugee or émigré of a prominent West African family, or a relative of a present or former political leader who needs assistance in transferring large sums of cash. Still other variations appear to be legitimate business deals that require advance payments on contracts. Sometimes victims are convinced to provide bank account and credit card information and financial authorization that drains their accounts, incurs large debts against their credit, and takes their life savings.
The best way to avoid becoming a victim of advance-fee fraud is common sense – if a proposition looks too good to be true, it probably is. You should carefully check and research any unsolicited business proposal before committing any funds, providing any goods or services, or undertaking any travel. One possible clue to a scam is the telephone number: legitimate businesses provide fixed line numbers, while scams typically use only cell phones.
SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES: Sierra Leone is a cash economy; however, a new anti-money laundering law passed in July 2005 prohibits importing more than $10,000 in cash except through a financial institution. Travelers are advised not to use credit cards in Sierra Leone because very few facilities accept them and there is a serious risk that using a card will lead to the number being stolen for use in fraudulent transactions. There are no ATMs connected to international networks. Travelers' checks are not easy to cash and are not usually accepted as payment; however, there is an American Express travel office in Freetown. Currency exchanges should be handled through a bank or established foreign exchange bureau. Exchanging money with street vendors is dangerous because criminals may "mark" such people for future attack and there is the risk of receiving counterfeit currency.
Sierra Leone's customs authorities may enforce strict regulations concerning the export of gems and precious minerals, such as diamonds and gold. American travelers have encountered serious difficulties when trying to depart Sierra Leone with such items, even if the traveler initially brought them into the country. All mineral resources, including gold and diamonds, belong to the State and only the government of Sierra Leone can issue mining licenses. The legal authority for the issuance of licenses is vested in the Ministry of Mines and Mineral Resources. Failure to comply with relevant legislation can lead to serious criminal penalties. For further information on mining activities in Sierra Leone, contact the Ministry of Mines and Mineral Resources: The Director of Mines, Ministry of Mines and Mineral Resources, Fifth Floor, Youyi Building, Brookfields, Freetown, Sierra Leone; tel. (232-22) 240-420 or 240-176; fax (232-22) 240-574.
Corruption is widespread in Sierra Leone, including among government officials. Although the Anti-Corruption commission has stepped up efforts to combat official corruption, travelers requesting service from government officials at any level may be asked for bribes. You should report corrupt government officials to the Anti-Corruption Commission at one of the following locations: The Sierra Leone Anti-Corruption Commission, 3 Gloucester Street, Freetown; 14a Lightfoot Boston Street, Freetown; 37 Kissy Town Road, Bo, Southern Province; Independence Square, Rogbaneh Road, Makeni; tel. (232- 22) 229-984 or 227-100 or 221-701; fax (232-22) 221-900; email: acc@sierratel.sl and info@anticorruption.sl; www.anticorruptionsl.org/anonymous.html and www.anticorruptionsl.org.
You must obtain official permission to photograph government buildings, airports, bridges, or official facilities. Areas where photography is prohibited may not be clearly marked or defined. People sometimes do not want to be photographed for religious reasons or may want to be paid for posing. Photographers should ask permission before taking someone’s picture.
Sierra Leone’s judiciary is under-funded and overburdened, and offenders often must endure lengthy pre-trial or pre-hearing delays and detention. Arbitrary arrests can occur and sometimes U.S. citizens have been arrested at the request of business partners who alleged the citizen owed them money. There have also been cases of U.S. citizens falsely accused and arrested for crimes just before their scheduled departure. This is often done in the hope of extorting money from the American citizen who wants to “clear” the charges so that s/he will be allowed to depart the country.
