Security Advice N°1 for UN Visitors to Côte d’Ivoire 2005
SECURITY IN COTE D’IVOIRE Security Phase has been downgraded from Four (6/11/04) to Three since January 24, 2005. Official UN visitors to Côte d’Ivoire need a security clearance to enter the country and a further security clearance to go to any of the phase 4 areas. Demonstrations by University students and other entities such as Young Patriots occur at fairly regular intervals and can turn into violent clashes with the Police. ONUCI and LICORNE (French military forces) as well as the French community are the most targeted by demonstrators, particularly in Abidjan and the western region. UN agencies staff, operations and equipment may suffer of collateral damages by being at the wrong place at the wrong time, or directly targeted. PERSONAL SECURITY Street muggings can occur at any time of the day and night in Abidjan. Be alert and follow these simple rules: Keep to the main parts of Abidjan and don’t be tempted to go to places that you are not sure of. Keep to the main roads and avoid short cuts down back alleys etc. Be particularly wary of people hanging around outside hotels; it is a favourite place to catch tourists and mug them. Ignore the street children and people coming up to you in the streets with hard luck tales. Street children can become violent and the latter may be part of an elaborate scam or they might just simply be pick pockets. The best thing to do is just to walk on and ignore them, or call Zulu Base. Do not carry large sums of money when shopping and do not wear expensive jewellery etc. Do not accept food and drink from strangers; visitors have known to be drugged and then robbed. CREDIT CARD FRAUD Credit card fraud is common in Abidjan as in many other large cities so follow commonsense rules. Try and ensure that credit card slips are endorsed in your presence and if you have to use a slip as a deposit, always fill the amount in and check that you get the slip back. ATMs are available, but avoid using your credit card in hotels. ROAD TRAVEL Taxis. Try and take only red private metered taxis. The local collective taxis (woro-woro) are often unreliable, unroadworty and should be avoided. Never take a lift from a stranger. Hire Cars. Only hire cars from a reputable car hire firm; you can ask your hotel or FSCO then be certain that you The following hotels are recommended and there is a range to cater for most tastes and pockets. NOVOTEL Tél : 225 20 31 80 00 Fax : 225 20 31 80 20 TIAMA Standard : 225 20 31 33 33 Réservation: 225 20 31 30 00 have the right insurance cover, the vehicle has been maintained and it will be in reasonably good condition. Gbakas and Buses. You are strongly advised not to travel in these at all, however exciting they might look. In the case of gbakas, they are often unroadworthy, are usually badly driven and their accident record is appalling, particularly on up country routes. Pickpockets are known to frequent both buses and gbakas, which adds to the hazards of traveling on them DRIVING The roads both in Abidjan and up country are in a very good state for African standards Always drive defensively, expecting the worst and from the most unlikely sources. Keep doors locked and valuables out of sight when driving. Only open car windows 10 to 12 cms particularly when stopped at traffic lights etc. Necklaces and bags can easily be snatched. If you travel outside Abidjan, go well prepared and never drive at night. Tell someone where you are going and when you expect to be back. If you hire or borrow a vehicle make sure that it is in good condition. Take essential spares and some food and water. Be very reluctant to stop for people apparently looking for help on the road side. Frequently they wait for people to stop and either rob you or steal your car. ARMED VEHICLE HIJACKING This is a fairly common crime in IVC. If you become the victim of a car hijacking do as you are told and do not resist the hijackers. Do not attempt to escape them by driving fast. If you comply, there is every chance that you will be released unharmed. THEFTS When checking out of a hotel ensure that you keep briefcases, handbags and small luggage with you as these items are extremely attractive and have been stolen from inside hotel lobbies whilst guests are busy checking out. HOTELS
Fax : IVOIRE
225 20 31 31 31 225 20 31 32 32 Tél : 225 22 40 80 00 fax: 225 22 40 88 88
Coordonnateurs régionaux de Sécurité/Area Security Coordinators M.Toko Alphonse (Bouaké) 05 74 28 69/31 65 82 30 M. Sonon François (Korhogo) OCHA 05 44 43 76 M.Jacques Seurt (Guiglo) HCR 33 70 54 87 / 07 46 85 78 M. Wilfrid Kumakinga (Man) PAM 05 52 25 94 M. Lanciné Soumahoro (Yamoussoukro) 07 48 85 72 /30 64 75 31 Dr Touré Mahmadou (Tabou) 07 69 18 93/ 34 72 43 46 Hospitals: PISAM Clinique de l’indénié Emergency : SAMU Sapeurs Pompiers Car Hire: Budget Hertz Air Company: Air France *Agence 20 20 24 24/ 20 33 71 35 *Aéroport 21 27 85 35/ 21 27 89 11 Air Sénégal International 21 75 70 15/16 Royal Air Maroc 20 21 28 11 Air Mauritanie 20 22 93 49 Renseignements Aéroport AERIA 21 75 79 01 / 02 UN Inter-Agency Security Office Abidjan: Address: 01 BP 1747 Abidjan 01 Tel: 20 30 39 59 Fax: 20 30 39 62 Email: abidjan.secu@undp.org Private Security Companies: Salle d’opérations: - Securicor:21 25 64 64 - Lavegarde: 21 75 08 09 - Vigassistance: 150 Personnes à contacter - Securicor: M.Carcassonne 07 00 15 24 - Lavegarde: M.Gerald Kassi 07 56 31 98 - Viga-Assistance: M.Bouriez Jean-Luc 05 06 88 78 21 75 16 15/21 75 16 17 21 75 11 05 22 44 51 22 20 21 56 19 185/ 22 44 34 45 180/ 20 38 19 02
IBIS PLATEAU Tél : 225 20 30 16 16/225 20 30 16 00 Fax: 225 20 21 78 75 IBIS MARCORY Tél : 225 21 75 63 00 Fax : 225 21 35 89 10/ 225 21 24 35 16 SOFITEL Tél : Fax : Tél : Fax : 225 20 22 11 22 225 20 21 11 98 225 20 21 24 19 Rés. 225 20 21 20 28 Rés.
HOTEL PRESIDENT YAMOUSSOKRO Tel: 225 30 64 01 58/ 30 64 64 64 Fax : 225 30 64 05 77 HOTEL DE LA PAIX DAOUKRO Tel : 225 31 97 81 33 Fax : 225 31 97 81 92 HELP If you are involved in an incident, report it immediately to the UN Control Room (Zulu Base), which is at the FSCO’s office on the Plateau district. Tell the Officer on duty that you are a UN visitor to Côte d’Ivoire. He will then be able to contact the Police and provide some assistance for you. The telephone numbers are listed below. If you become involved with the police as a result of an incident, always make clear to them your UN status and make sure you carry some form of official identification, not necessarily with your wallet, which you might have lost. USEFUL TELEPHONE NUMBERS UN Emergency Numbers: UN-Zulu Base 20 30 39 63 / 64 UN FSCO 05 83 47 88 / 07 85 81 66 Deputy FSCO Bouaké 05 87 79 93 / 31 64 50 52 Assistant Operations 05 83 48 57 CSO-ONUCI 07 01 69 75 Sécurité RCI Centre des Opérations Sécurité 20 21 83 97/20 21 21 10 Commissariat de Cocody 22 44 15 16/ 22 44 59 99 Commissariat du Plateau 20 21 58 33 Police Secours 111/ 170
January, 2005