NEW TRAVEL INFO -- Togo (fwd)

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From owner-travel-advisories@stolaf.edu Wed Nov 26 03:44:15 1997 Date: Mon, 24 Nov 1997 11:27:10 -0500 From: owner-travel-advisories Subject: NEW TRAVEL INFO -- Togo Sender: Wally Doerge <76702.1202@compuserve.com> To: travel-advisories@stolaf.edu Message-ID: <199711241131_MC2-2974-E60C@compuserve.com> MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Disposition: inline Precedence: bulk

STATE DEPARTMENT TRAVEL INFORMATION - Togo ============================================================ Togo - Consular Information Sheet June 20, 1997 Country Description: Togo is a small west African nation with a developing economy. Tourism facilities are limited, especially outside Lome, the capital city. Entry Requirements: A passport and visa are required. Proof of yellow fever immunization is required. Travelers should obtain the latest information and details from the Embassy of the Republic of Togo, 2208 Massachusetts Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20008. The telephone number is (202) 234-4212. Overseas inquiries should be made at the nearest Togo embassy or consulate. Areas of Instability: Togo has experienced periodic violence and strikes over the past five years. Although the situation has been calm since 1994, the potential exists for unsettled political conditions. Medical Facilities: Medical facilities in Togo are limited. Some medicines are available through local pharmacies. Doctors and hospitals often expect immediate cash payment for health care services. U.S. medical insurance is not always valid outside the United States. The Medicare/ Medicaid program does not provide for payment of medical services outside the United States. Travelers have found supplemental medical insurance with specific overseas and medical evacuation coverage to be useful. For additional health information, travelers can contact the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's international travelers hotline at (404) 332-4559. Internet: http://www.cdc.gov. Information on Crime: Pickpocketing and theft is common, especially along the beach and in the market areas of Lome. There has been an increase in the reports of carjacking. Business fraud stemming from Nigerian scam operations target Americans and pose dangers of financial loss and physical harm. Persons contemplating business deals in Togo with individuals promoting investment in Nigeria, especially the Central Bank of Nigeria or the Nigerian National Petroleum Company, are strongly urged to check with the U.S. Department of Commerce or the U.S. Department of State before providing any information, making financial commitments, or traveling to Togo. The loss or theft abroad of a U.S. passport should be reported immediately to local police and to the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate. The pamphlets "A Safe Trip Abroad" and "Tips for Travelers to Sub-Saharan Africa" provide useful information on protecting personal security while traveling abroad and on travel in the region in general. Both are available from the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C. 20402. Drug Penalties: U.S. citizens are subject to the laws of the country in which they are traveling. In Togo, the penalties for possession, use or trafficking in illegal drugs are strictly enforced. Convicted offenders can expect jail sentences and fines. Road Safety/Automobile Travel: Intercity roads are generally paved; however, conditions are poor and dangerous. Overland travel off the main network of roads generally requires a four-wheel drive vehicle. Poorly-marked armed checkpoints, often manned by undisciplined soldiers, exist throughout the country. Nighttime travel on unfamiliar roads is dangerous. Banditry, ranging from extortion by security forces to armed robbery, has been reported on all major intercity highways, including the Lome-Cotonou coastal highway. Credit Card Usage: Not all major credit cards are accepted in Togo. Travelers planning to use credit cards should be aware which cards are accepted before they commit to any transaction. Embassy Location/Registration: U.S. citizens are encouraged to register with the Consular Section of the U.S. Embassy at the intersection of Rue Polisher Caventou and Rue Vauban, Lome, telephone (228) 21-29-91, and to obtain updated information on travel and security in Togo. The Embassy's fax is (228) 21-79-52 and the mailing address is B.P. 852, Lome. No. 97-106 This replaces the Consular Information Sheet dated May 3, 1996, to update information on entry requirements and provide information on credit card usage. ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- The "travel-advisories@stolaf.edu" mailing list is the official Internet and BITNET distribution point for the U.S. State Department Travel Warnings and Consular Information Sheets. To unsubscribe, send a message containing the word "unsubscribe" to: travel-advisories-request@stolaf.edu Archives of past "travel-advisories" postings are available at the URL: "http://www.stolaf.edu/network/travel-advisories.html" or via Gopher: gopher.stolaf.edu, Internet Resources/US-State-Department-Travel-Advisories