smartraveller.gov.au - Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
It's a must see destination.
It's a must see destination.
Niger
| Niger overall | This Advice is current for Sunday, 14 March 2010. | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Be alert to own security | Exercise caution | High degree of caution | Reconsider your need to travel | Do not travel |
| Niamey | ||||
| Be alert to own security | Exercise caution | High degree of caution | Reconsider your need to travel | Do not travel |
This advice has been reviewed and reissued. It contains new information in the Summary and under Safety and Security: Terrorism (kidnap incidents) and Civil Unrest/Political Tension (reported coup, unpredictable political/security situation). The level of the advice for Niger overall and the level for Niamey have both increased.
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Terrorism is a threat throughout the world. You can find more information about this threat in our General Advice to Australian Travellers.
We strongly advise you not to travel to Niger outside the capital Niamey because of very high threat of kidnapping, the unpredictable political and security situation, the risk of armed banditry and clashes between Niger’s security forces and rebel groups. If you are in Niger, you should consider leaving. Australians who decide to remain in Niger should take responsibility for their safety and security and ensure they have personal security measures and contingency plans in place. You should monitor local information sources for details about the safety and security environment.
Extremist groups are active in countries neighbouring Niger including Algeria, Libya, Mali, Mauritania and Chad.
Kidnapping: There is an ongoing high threat of kidnapping against Westerners in the north and west regions of Africa, including Niger, particularly outside Niamey. If you do decide to travel outside Niamey, you should travel in daylight, in convoy and with a local guide. Foreigners have been kidnapped from their vehicles.
Credible information indicates that terrorists are planning to kidnap and possibly kill Westerners in Niger, northern Mali and the remote and desert areas of Mauritania and southern Algeria. In Niger, foreign workers, tourists and expatriates have been targeted.
Incidents include:
Foreigners have also been kidnapped in the north and east of the country.
Niamey: We advise you to reconsider your need to travel to the capital Niamey due to the unpredictable security and political situation.
The political and security situation in Niger is unpredictable following unconfirmed reports of an attempted coup on 18 February 2010. There have also been reports of gunfire and military forces setting up roadblocks in Niamey.
Clashes between security forces and rebel groups can occur in the departments of Agadez, Diffa, Zinder,and Maradi, and north of the city of Abalack in the department of Tahoua. Armed groups operate in the north and west.
There is a state of alert in Agadez. This means permission is required to travel in this department. Those who chose to go may be stopped and held for questioning.
You should avoid protests and demonstrations throughout Niger as they may become violent. International events and political developments may prompt demonstrations in Niger.
Pay close attention to your personal security at all times and monitor the media for information about possible new safety or security risks.
Foreigners are frequently targeted by criminals. Armed home invasions, kidnapping, carjackings and muggings occur and four-wheel-drive vehicles are a particular target for thieves. When travelling by road, you should keep the doors locked, the windows up and valuables out of sight.
Petty crime is high in the capital city, Niamey, and muggings are common around the Gaweye Hotel, the National Museum, Kennedy Bridge and Petit Marche. Criminal activity throughout Niger increases at night.
Armed banditry also occurs in the northern and eastern regions including the departments of Agadez, Diffa, Zinder and Maradi, and north of the city of Abalack in the department of Tahoua. If you do decide to travel outside Niamey, you should take particular care on roads between major cities such as Agadez, Arlit and Tahoua, and on the Agadez-Timia road. Several roads in the north are closed to tourists except with special authorisation. If travelling from Niger to Mali via Burkina Faso, travellers are advised to avoid the Ayorou Gao Road as banditry is a problem. It is also a problem on the road between the Burkina Faso border and the town of Torodi in the Department of Niamey.
Fraud: Commercial and internet fraud is prevalent and often originates in West African countries. Victims have been defrauded and those who travel to the originating country have had their lives endangered. Some victims have been killed. Criminals have been known to seek details of 'safe' bank accounts overseas in which to transfer large sums of money (as a donation or for a percentage of the amount involved). They may also provide fake cashier cheques for 'urgent' shipments of large quantities of goods, request sizeable fees for a fake government contract and extort money from individuals they have convinced to travel to Africa for a business opportunity. If you are a victim of a financial scam, we advise you to obtain legal advice and not to travel to Africa to seek restitution as there is a risk of physical assault from the perpetrators. Our travel bulletin on International Financial Scams provides more detail on these types of scams.
Some Australian citizens have also been defrauded or had their lives endangered by bogus internet friendship, dating and marriage schemes operating from West African countries. These scams typically result from connections made through internet dating schemes or chat rooms. Once a virtual relationship develops, the Australian citizen is asked by their friend or prospective marriage partner to send money to enable travel to Australia. Once the money has been received, the relationship is usually terminated and any chance of recovering the funds is highly unlikely. In some instances, foreigners who have travelled to Africa to meet their friend or prospective marriage partner have been kidnapped and held to ransom.
We advise against all travel outside Niamey. If despite our advice you choose to travel outside Niamey, all road travel should be in daylight, in a convoy and with a local guide. Travelling at night is especially dangerous.
Unexploded munitions, including landmines, are found throughout the country, including in Niamey and other major cities but particularly in the sparsely inhabited regions of the Djado Plateau, the Talak Plains, the Mangueni Plateau, and Air Massif.
In January 2008, a car was blown up by a landmine in the capital Niamey, killing one person and seriously injuring another.
Roads in Niger are in poor condition, vehicles are poorly maintained and there is a lack of sufficient street lighting. For further advice on road safety, see our bulletin on Overseas Road Safety.
You may be asked for vehicle registration and ownership papers by authorities at any time, especially on journeys outside of the main towns.
Passengers on international flights to and from Australia are only allowed to carry a small amount of liquids (including aerosols and gels) in their carry-on baggage. You can find out more information at the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government website. Similar restrictions apply to flights in an increasing number of countries. Contact your airline for further information.
If you have concerns about the safety standards of a particular airline or aircraft, we recommend you research the airline or aircraft through organisations such as Australia's Civil Aviation Safety Authority and the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO). The Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government has published fact sheets on security for air travellers. When staff at Australia's overseas missions are advised not to use particular airlines due to safety concerns, this will be included in the travel advisory.
The European Union (EU) has published a list of airlines that are subject to operating bans or restrictions within the EU. The United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) through its foreign assessment program focuses on a country's ability, not the individual airline, to adhere to international standards and recommended practices for aircraft operations and maintenance established by ICAO.
The rainy season is from June to October when flooding may occur and some roads may become impassable.
If a natural disaster occurs, follow the advice of local authorities.
Australians are advised to respect wildlife laws and to maintain a safe and legal distance when observing wildlife, including marine animals and birds. You should only use reputable and professional guides or tour operators and closely follow park regulations and wardens' advice.
Before you go, organise a variety of ways to access your money overseas, such as credit cards, travellers' cheques, cash, debit cards or cash cards. Niger is a cash-based society. There are no ATMs. Travellers' cheques can be cashed at banks on production of the original purchase receipt and passport.
Make two photocopies of valuable documents such as your passport, tickets, visas and travellers' cheques. Keep one copy with you in a separate place to the original and leave another copy with someone at home.
While travelling, don't carry too much cash and remember that expensive watches, jewellery and cameras may be tempting targets for thieves.
As a sensible precaution against luggage tampering, including theft, lock your luggage. Information on luggage safety is available from Australia's Civil Aviation Safety Authority.
Your passport is a valuable document that is attractive to criminals who may try to use your identity to commit crimes. It should always be kept in a safe place. You are required by Australian law to report a lost or stolen passport. If your passport is lost or stolen overseas, report it online or contact the nearest Australian Embassy, High Commission or Consulate as soon as possible.
You are required to pay an additional fee to have a lost or stolen passport replaced. In some cases, the Government may also restrict the length of validity or type of replacement passports.
For general information and tips on travelling with children see our Travelling Parents brochure.
If you are planning on placing your children in schools or childcare facilities overseas we encourage you to research the standards of security, care and staff training within those establishments. You should exercise the same precautions you would take before placing children into schools or childcare facilities in Australia.
Ideas on how to select childcare providers are available from the smartraveller Children's Issues page, Child Wise and the National Childcare Accreditation Council.
When you are in Niger, be aware that local laws and penalties, including ones that appear harsh by Australian standards, do apply to you. If you are arrested or jailed, the Australian Government will do what it can to help you but we can't get you out of trouble or out of jail.
Information on what Australian consular officers can and cannot do to help Australians in trouble overseas is available from the Consular Services Charter.
Penalties for possession, use or trafficking of illegal drugs may include heavy fines and lengthy imprisonment.
The death penalty exists in Niger for serious crimes such as murder.
Homosexual acts are illegal in Niger.
It is illegal to photograph around military zones, military assets and/or military personnel, the Presidency Building and Kennedy Bridge in Niamey, radio and television stations and the airport.
Some Australian criminal laws, such as those relating to money laundering, bribery of foreign public officials, terrorism and child sex tourism, apply to Australians overseas. Australians who commit these offences while overseas may be prosecuted in Australia.
Australian authorities are committed to combating sexual exploitation of children by Australians overseas. Australians may be prosecuted at home under Australian child sex tourism laws. These laws provide severe penalties of up to 17 years imprisonment for Australians who engage in sexual activity with children under 16 while outside of Australia.
Niger is a conservative, Islamic, society and you should dress and behave so as not to offend. You should take care not to offend. If in doubt, seek local advice.
During Ramadan, Muslims are not permitted to eat, drink or smoke in public between sunrise and sunset.
The Government of Niger does not recognise dual nationality. Australian travellers entering Niger with a Nigerien passport will be treated as Nigerien citizens by local authorities. This may limit our ability to provide consular assistance to Australian/Nigerien dual nationals who are arrested or detained. We recommend that you travel on your Australian passport at all times.
Our Travel Information for Dual Nationals brochure provides further information.
Visa and other entry and exit conditions (such as currency, customs and quarantine regulations) change regularly. Contact the nearest Embassy or Consulate of Niger for the most up to date information.
A valid Yellow Fever Vaccination Certificate is required for entry into Niger.
Niger is listed by the World Health Organization (WHO) as endemic for yellow fever. Some airlines may require passengers to present a valid Yellow Fever Vaccination Certificate before being allowed to board flights out of the country. If in doubt, check with your airline.
If you have visited Niger in the last six days prior to your date of return to Australia, Australian Customs officials will ask you to present a valid Yellow Fever Vaccination Certificate on entry into Australia.
Make sure your passport has at least six months' validity from your planned date of return to Australia. You should carry copies of a recent passport photo with you in case you need a replacement passport while overseas.
Pandemic (H1N1) 2009 has spread throughout the world. The World Health Organization (WHO) provides useful information for individuals and travellers on its website. For further information and advice to Australians, including on possible quarantine measures overseas, see our travel bulletin on Pandemic (H1N1) 2009.
We strongly recommend that you take out comprehensive travel insurance that will cover any overseas medical costs, including medical evacuation, before you depart. Confirm that your insurance covers you for the whole time you'll be away and check what circumstances and activities are not included in your policy. Remember, regardless of how healthy and fit you are, if you can't afford travel insurance, you can't afford to travel. The Australian Government will not pay for a traveller's medical expenses overseas or medical evacuation costs.
Your doctor or travel clinic is the best source of information about preventive measures, immunisations (including booster doses of childhood vaccinations) and disease outbreaks overseas. The World Health Organization (WHO) provides information for travellers and our Travelling Well brochure also provides useful tips for travelling with medicines and staying healthy while overseas.
Medical facilities in the capital Niamey are very limited and even more basic in rural areas. Up-front payment is usually required and the inability to pay will often delay treatment. In the event of a serious illness or accident, medical evacuation to a destination with appropriate facilities would be necessary. Medical evacuation could cost between $A15,000 to $A200,000 depending on the circumstances.
Malaria and other tropical diseases are common in West African countries, including Niger. We encourage you to consider having vaccinations before travelling, taking prophylaxis against malaria and using an insect repellent at all times. Water-borne, food-borne and other infectious diseases (including HIV/AIDS, cholera, yellow fever, hepatitis, meningitis, polio and, tuberculosis) are prevalent with more serious outbreaks occurring from time to time. We advise you to boil all drinking water or drink bottled water, and avoid ice cubes and raw and undercooked food. Do not swim in fresh water to avoid exposure to certain water-borne diseases such as bilharzia (schistosomiasis). Seek medical advice if you have a fever or are suffering from diarrhoea.
The World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) has confirmed cases of avian influenza in birds in a number of countries throughout the world. For a list of these countries, visit the OIE website. For information on our advice to Australians on how to reduce the risk of infection and on Australian Government precautions see our travel bulletin on avian influenza.
Australia does not have an Embassy or Consulate in Niger. By agreement between the Canadian and Australian governments, the Canadian Embassy in Niamey provides consular assistance to Australians in Niger. This service does not include the issue of Australian passports. The address is:
Canadian Embassy
Boulevard Mali Bero
Niamey, Niger
Telephone: (227) 753 686-87
Facsimile: (227) 753 107
Email: niamy@international.gc.ca
You can also obtain consular assistance from the nearest Australian High Commission which is in Nigeria:
Australian High Commission
48 Aguiyi Ironsi Street
Maitama
Abuja, Nigeria
Telephone: (234 9) 461 2780
Facsimile: (234 9) 461 2782
Email: ahc.abuja@dfat.gov.au
Web: www.nigeria.highcommission.gov.au
If you are travelling to Niger, whatever the reason and however long you'll be there, we encourage you to register with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. You can register online or in person at any Australian Embassy, High Commission or Consulate. The information you provide will help us to contact you in an emergency - whether it is a natural disaster, civil disturbance or a family issue.
In a consular emergency if you are unable to contact the above Embassy or High Commission you can contact the 24-hour Consular Emergency Centre on +61 2 6261 3305 or 1300 555 135 within Australia.
In Australia, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade in Canberra may be contacted on (02) 6261 3305.
While every care has been taken in preparing this travel information for travellers, neither the Australian Government nor its agents or employees including any member of Australia's consular staff abroad, can accept liability for injury, loss or damage arising in respect of any statement contained therein.
