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SUMMARY:
- Mexico - Nuevo Laredo gas crisis
- Tunisia - State of emergency
- South Africa - Xenophobia riots in Johannesburg/Pretoria
Securely Travel Brief – 11 September 2019
Today’s travel brief is culled from global travel warnings and alerts.
Mexico - Nuevo Laredo gas crisis
The northern Mexico border city of Nuevo Laredo is experiencing an administratively induced gas crisis. According to Mexican media, less than 20 of the city’s fifty gas stations are open for business. Apparently the Procuraduría Federal del Consumidor (Federal Consumer Agency) ordered the closure of a number of stations because the proprietors refused to sell gasoline to federal and state authorities.
Why would the gas stations decline to sell gas to the state or federal government, a customer whose money would seem to be always good? According to social networks postings the logic lays within the criminal groups threatening those gas stations which provide gasoline to the armed forces and state police.
Thus the proprietors are caught between the rock (the government) and the hard spot (the criminals).
Travelers to the border city should keep in mind as they head to the city and fill their tanks before the city, regardless if they are heading north or south.
Tunisia - State of Emergency
The British Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) has issued a travel alert concerning the Tunisia state of emergency which has been extended, again, until 31 December 2019.
The United States Department of State carries the Tunisia at advisory level: Level 2 - Exercise Increased Caution
Exercise increased caution in Tunisia due to terrorism. Some areas have increased risk.
Do not travel to:
- Within 30 km of southeastern Tunisia along the border with Libya due to terrorism.
- Mountainous areas in the country’s west, including the Chaambi Mountain National Park area, due to terrorism.
- The desert south of Remada due to the military zone.
- Jendouba south of Ain Drahem and west of RN15, El Kef, and Kasserine, next to the Algerian border due to terrorism.
- Sidi Bou Zid in central Tunisia due to terrorism.
Terrorist groups continue plotting possible attacks in Tunisia. Terrorists may attack with little or no warning, targeting tourist locations, transportation hubs, museums, resorts, hotels, festivals, nightclubs, restaurants, religious sites, markets/shopping malls, government facilities and security forces. A country-wide state of emergency, which grants security forces more authority to maintain civil order and enables the government to focus on combating terrorism, is in effect.
South Africa - Xenophobia riots in Johannesburg & Pretoria
The government of Nigeria has begun repatriation of citizens from South Africa following the riots in Johannesburg and Pretoria. According to South Africa media, the violence spread to Boksburg and Thokoza on the East rand where cars and buildings were set ablaze. Additionally, freight trucks were attacked an set on fire in parts of KwaZulu-Natal.
Police are condemning all acts of violence directed at the businesses and the looting of shops described as those of foreign nationals by criminal opportunists in areas that include Ekurhuleni, Tshwane and Johannesburg Central,” said Gauteng provincial police spokesperson, colonel Lungelo Dlamini.
