Security Travel Brief - 07 April 2018

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Today is 07 April 2018 and this is today’s Secure Travel Brief.

The governments of the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom have issued travel warnings and advisories for a number of locales around the world.

The United States Department of State issued a warning for the next 24 hours for US citizen travelers in Porto Alegre at the Equina Democratica at 1700 hours to be especially alert due to the potential for violence. Spontaneous demonstrations throughout the city are possible. #Brazil

To read the complete travel advisory from the US Department of State, click this link.

The Canadian Foreign Ministry issued a travel advisory for various areas of Cameroon, and urged citizens to exercise a high degree of caution due to the high level of violent crime in some regions. With emphasis on the tensions present in the Sahel region.

The advisory admonished all to avoid all travel to the Far North region and Mayo-Louti department; Areas within 30 kms of the borders with Nigeria, Chad, and the Central Africa Republic, due to the aforementioned risks, as well as the risk of kidnapping; North-West and South-West regions due to violence between armed groups and security forces, as well as the risk of kidnapping; and North and Adamaoua regions, and the Bakassi Peninsula. And finally, avoid all travel tot eh Gulf of Guinea due to piracy and kidnappings by rebel groups. The attacks have become increasingly frequent, targeting ever larger vessels and petroleum platforms #Cameroon To read the complete travel advisory from the Canadian Foreign Ministry click this link.

The United Kingdom’s Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) has also issued a security travel advisory for Cameroon. In the FCO’s advice piece they tell their constituents to avoid all travel to Far North region; within 40km of the border with Nigeria; within 40km of the border with Chad; within 40km of the border with the Central African Republic (CAR); the Bakassi Peninsula; and the Ndian division in South West Region. To read the complete travel advisory from the UK’s FCO, click this link.

The FCO goes on to share examples of very recent kidnappings which have occurred in Cameroon.

In April 2018 it was reported that a tourist group, including 7 Swiss, 6 Cameroonians and 5 Italians were kidnapped in the South West region. Military intervention secured their release and no one was injured. This follows the kidnap in March 2018 of 2 Tunisian and 2 Cameroonian road workers. One Tunisian was killed during a rescue operation. Kidnaps of Cameroon officials have been reported in the North West and South West regions. There have also been multiple exchanges of fire between the Cameroonian security forces and armed groups over the past few months in some towns and villages in the North West and South West regions.

The UK FCO also issued a security travel advisory for Ecuador following the home-made explosive which was detonated near the town of Viche in the Esmeraldas province. In addition, the FCO warns travelers against all travel within the 20km exclusion zone along the border with Colombia except for the official border crossing town of Tulcan in Carchi province; against all but essential travel to the areas of Tarapoa and the Cuyabeno reserve outside the 20km zone in Sucumbios; and advise against all but essential travel to the areas of El Angel Ecological Reserve inside the 20 km exclusion zone in the province of Carchi. #Ecuador To read the complete travel advisory from the UK FCO click this link.

The Canadian Foreign Ministry issued a travel advisory for Nepal. Citizens are urged to exercise a high degree of caution due to the fragile political and security situation. To read the complete travel advisory from the Canadian Foreign Ministry click this link.

Securely Travel - Philippines — Philippines

The United States Department of State admonished all travelers to Mindanao, Philippines to exercise increased caution due to crime, terrorism and civil unrest. The travel advisory specifically noted travelers should not travel to Sulu Archipelago (including southern Sulu Sea) and Marawi City in Mindanao #Philippines

To read the complete travel advisory from the US Department of State click this link.