Travel Insurance Direct

Summary

• We advise you to reconsider your need to travel to Mauritania at this time due to the high threat of terrorist attack including kidnapping and the unpredictable security situation.

• If you do decide to travel to Mauritania, you should exercise extreme caution. If you are in Mauritania, you should avoid unnecessary local travel. Travel beyond Nouakchott should be registered with the local police.

• There is a high threat of terrorist attack in Mauritania. We continue to receive reports that terrorists are planning attacks against a range of targets, including places frequented by foreigners (see Terrorist section below).

• There is an ongoing high threat of kidnapping against Westerners in the north and west regions of Africa, including places frequented by foreigners in Nouakchott and Atar. Credible information indicates that terrorists are planning to kidnap and possibly kill westerners in northern Mali and remote and desert areas of Mauritania, southern Algeria and Niger. A stream of credible reporting suggests that terrorists may be planning to kidnap Western tourists, mine workers, oil workers and aid workers in Mauritania. You should maintain a high level of vigilance at all times when travelling in Mauritania and avoid unnecessary travel in remote areas.

• The Mauritanian army continues to conduct military operations against al-Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) in northern Mali. There is a risk of retaliatory attacks against Western targets by AQIM.

• Australians should take increased security precautions when in their homes or cars and watch for any suspicious or unusual activity. Pay close attention to your personal security at all times and monitor the media for information about possible new safety or security risks.

• We strongly advise you not to travel to the border areas with Mali, Algeria and Western Sahara because of the risk of extremist groups, banditry and the activities of armed smugglers.

• You should avoid protests and demonstrations throughout Mauritania as they may turn violent.

• Australia does not have an Embassy or Consulate in Mauritania. The Australian Embassy in France provides consular assistance to Australians in Mauritania.

• Given the unpredictable security situation in Mauritania, we strongly recommend that you register your travel and contact details with us, so we can contact you in an emergency.

  • Be a smart traveller. Before heading overseas:

  • organise comprehensive travel insurance and check what circumstances and activities are not covered by your policy

  • subscribe to this travel advice to receive free email updates each time it's reissued.

Entry and exit

Visa and other entry and exit conditions (such as currency, customs and quarantine regulations) change regularly. Contact the nearest Embassy or Consulate of Mauritania for the most up to date information.

Depending on any recent prior travel to countries affected by Yellow Fever, and the length of your stay in Mauritania, you may be required to present a valid Yellow Fever Vaccination Certificate on entry into Mauritania. For further information contact the nearest Mauritanian Embassy or Consulate.

Mauritania is listed by the World Health Organisation (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 Mauritania 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.

Safety and security

Terrorism

Terrorism is a threat throughout the world. You can find more information about this threat in our General Advice to Australian Travellers.

We advise you to reconsider your need to travel to Mauritania due to the high threat of terrorist attack including kidnapping and the unpredictable security situation.

We continue to receive reports suggesting that terrorists are planning attacks against a range of targets in Mauritania. These attacks could occur at anytime, anywhere in Mauritania.

Al-Qaida is active in North Africa and has, in the past, claimed responsibility for terrorist acts in Mauritania.

Past terrorist and kidnapping incidents include:

• On 25 December 2011, Mauritania military police were attacked near the Mali Border, at Adel Bagrou. One officer kidnapped during the attack was released in March 2012 in Mali.

• On 2 February 2011, Mauritanian security forces prevented a bomb attack in Nouakchott.

• On 25 August 2010, three individuals were wounded in an attempted suicide bomb attack in the city of Nema, in eastern Mauritania.

• On 23 August 2010, two of three Spanish nationals kidnapped on 29 November 2009 while travelling from Nouakchott to the port of Nouadhibou were released in Mali. The third hostage was released in March 2010.

• On 26 July 2010, the French Government confirmed that a French national kidnapped in April 2010, had been executed in retaliation for a joint Mauritanian-French operation in Mali.

• On 18 December 2009 an Italian couple was kidnapped by an armed group in south eastern Mauritania, on the road to Mali near Kobonni.

• On 8 August 2009 a suicide bomb attack occurred outside the French Embassy in Nouakchott. AQIM claimed responsibility for the attack. Three people were wounded by the blast.

• A US citizen was killed on 23 June 2009 in Nouakchott. AQIM claimed responsibility for the murder.

• In September 2008, militants suspected of being linked to AQIM attacked a Mauritanian military patrol, some 70 kms east of the mining town of Zouerat, close to the border with the western Sahara region. The militants killed 12 of the 35-man strong military patrol. None of the militants were killed or captured.

• In February 2008, militants opened fire on the Israel embassy compound in the capital Nouakchott. Embassy guards returned fire. No one was injured. Three people were wounded when the same gunmen fired on a nearby nightclub which is known to be frequented by foreigners and is one of a few places in the capital to serve alcohol.

Terrorist attacks could be directed against any locations known to be frequented by foreigners, as well as premises and symbols associated with the Government of Mauritania. In planning your activities, consider the kinds of places known to be terrorist targets and the level of security provided. Possible targets include clubs, restaurants, embassies and high commissions, international schools, international hotels, expatriate housing compounds, churches and other places of worship, shopping centres, outdoor recreation events, tourist areas and transport hubs or identifiably western interests, including businesses.

There is an ongoing high threat of kidnapping against Westerners in the north and west regions of Africa, including Nouakchott and Atar in Mauritania. Credible information indicates that terrorists are planning to kidnap and possibly kill westerners in northern Mali and remote and desert areas of Mauritania, southern Algeria and Niger. A stream of credible reporting suggests that terrorists may be planning to kidnap Western tourists, mine workers, oil workers and aid workers in Mauritania. Past reports indicate that terrorists have planned to kidnap foreigners, including Australians, travelling between Mauritania and Morocco or who may be close to the Mauritania / Mali border, and to conduct attacks against oil facilities in Mauritania. You should maintain a high level of vigilance at all times when travelling in Mauritania and avoid unnecessary travel in remote areas. For more information about kidnapping, see our Kidnapping Threat travel bulletin.

The Australian Government's longstanding policy is that it does not make payments or concessions to kidnappers. The Australian Government considers that paying a ransom increases the risk of further kidnappings, including of other Australians. If you do decide to travel to an area where there is a particular threat of kidnapping, you should ensure you have personal security measures in place, seek professional security advice and take out kidnapping insurance.

Australians should take increased security precautions when in their homes and watch for any suspicious or unusual activity. In Nouakchott, Australians are advised to avoid sitting in the open terraces of cafes and to change frequently daily routines to avoid predictable behaviour.

Border areas with Mali, Algeria and Western Sahara: We strongly advise you not to travel to the border areas with Mali, Algeria and Western Sahara because of the risk of extremist groups, banditry and the activities of armed smugglers. There are continuing reports that AQIM, the terrorist group responsible for the kidnapping of foreign hostages in North Africa, is active throughout this region and poses a significant security threat.

The Mauritanian army continues to conduct military operations against AQIM in northern Mali. There is a risk of retaliatory attacks against Western targets by AQIM.

If after reading our advice you still decide to travel to these areas, you should ensure you have adequate and continuous close personal protection.

Civil unrest/Political tension

We advise you to reconsider your need to travel to Mauritania at this time due to the unpredictable security situation. If you do decide to travel to Mauritania, you should exercise extreme caution. If you are in Mauritania, avoid unnecessary local travel and monitor the media and other local information sources for information about possible new safety or security risks.

Legislative and municipal elections scheduled for October 2011 were postponed. No new election date has been set.

You should avoid protests and demonstrations as they may turn violent. Protests and demonstrations have turned violent in Mauritania in the past.

There was some civil/social unrest in Mauritania in March and April 2012. In April 2012, there was a peaceful demonstration, comprising opposition and dissident groups, in Nouakchott to demand social and political reforms.

Crime

Bandits are a risk across Mauritania. Bandit attacks have occurred at night in beach areas of Nouakchott (including the district of Le Cinquieme), and at deserted beach areas, even during daylight hours. Bandits have attacked vehicles travelling by road between Mali and Mauritania and in the north of Mauritania. Pickpocketing and other theft also occur. There are increasing reports of carjackings and theft associated with organised people smugglers who are using Mauritania as a transit point for illegal travel by sea to the Canary Islands. When travelling by car, you should keep the doors locked, the windows up and keep valuables out of sight.

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 information 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.

Money and valuables

Before you go, organise a variety of ways of accessing your money overseas, such as credit cards, travellers' cheques and Euros or US dollars cash. Australian currency and travellers' cheques are not accepted in many countries. Consult with your bank to find out the most appropriate currency to carry and whether your ATM card will work overseas. There are ATMs available in several banks in Nouakchott.

Credit cards are not widely used and only local currency is accepted payment in restaurants and stores.

Make two photocopies of valuables 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 and 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, dry 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.

Australians are required to pay an additional fee to have their passport replaced. In some cases, the Government may also restrict the length of validity or type of replacement passports.

Local travel

Travel within Mauritania should be carefully prepared and organised with a competent local company. Any travel beyond Nouakchott should be registered in advance with the local police/gendarmes.

Taxis are a shared transport, due to the risk of crime and kidnapping in Mauritania it is strongly recommend you do not use taxis.

There are reports of unexploded landmines in the area of Mauritania bordering the western Sahara region. Mines have been known to shift in sandstorms. You should not stray from well-travelled roads.

If you decide to travel to the western Sahara you should be aware that travel from Morocco is restricted by the Moroccan Government and you will need to obtain permission from Moroccan authorities.

Driving can be dangerous. Poor road conditions, lack of vehicle maintenance and poor local driving standards increase the risk of accidents. Because of the risk of shifting sand dunes and accidents with other vehicles and animals, you are advised to avoid driving at night. Travel to the desert is dangerous for travellers not familiar with the area and who do not have a roadworthy vehicle and adequate supplies of food, water and fuel. Travellers should check the credentials and references of desert guides.

For further advice on road safety, see our bulletin on Overseas Road Safety.

Airline safety

Please refer to our travel bulletin for information about Aviation Safety and Security.

Laws

When you are in Mauritania, 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.

Drug penalties are severe and possession of even small amounts of 'soft drugs' can lead to prison sentences.

Penalties for treason and murder include the death sentence.

Homosexual activity between men is illegal in Mauritania and is punishable by prison sentences of up to three years.

Importation of non-Islamic religious materials is prohibited. Non-Islamic preaching is also banned.

Importation of alcohol, firearms and pork products is prohibited. The transportation of any form of alcohol by private citizens is prohibited by law, and alcoholic drinks are not available in restaurants and bars, including in major hotels.

Some Australian criminal laws, such as those relating to money laundering, bribery of foreign public officials, terrorism, child pornography, 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 and child pornography laws. These laws provide severe penalties for up to 25 years imprisonment for Australians who engage in child sexual exploitation while outside of Australia.

Local customs

There are conservative standards of dress and behaviour in Mauritania, particularly for women, and you should take care not to offend.

Physical contact between men and women in public should be avoided. Public displays of affection can cause offence, particularly in rural and traditional areas and near mosques, religious shrines and religious educational institutions.

Information for dual nationals

Our Dual Nationals brochure provides further information.

Health

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 Mauritania are limited, particularly outside Nouakchott. Most doctors and private hospitals will require up-front payment regardless of whether you have travel health insurance. In the event of a serious accident or illness, medical evacuation to a destination with appropriate facilities may be necessary. Medical evacuation could cost up to $A50,000 depending on circumstances.

Malaria is a risk throughout the year in most areas except in the northern regions of Dakhlet-Nouadhibou and Tiris-Zemmour. Other mosquito-borne diseases (including dengue fever, rift valley fever, and yellow fever) also occur in the region. We recommend that you take prophylaxis against malaria, take precautions against being bitten by mosquitoes, including using insect repellent at all times, wear long, loose fitting, light coloured clothing and ensure your accommodation is mosquito proof.

Water-borne, food-borne, parasitic and other infectious diseases (including HIV/AIDS, cholera, typhoid, hepatitis, bilharzia, leptospirosis, meningitis, tuberculosis and rabies) are prevalent with more serious outbreaks occurring from time to time. We encourage you to consider having vaccinations before travelling. We advise you to boil all drinking water or drink bottled water and avoid ice cubes and raw and undercooked food. 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 more information see our travel bulletin on avian influenza.

Where to get help

Australia does not have an Embassy or Consulate in Mauritania. You can obtain consular assistance from the Australian Embassy in France:

Australian Embassy, Paris

If you are travelling to Mauritania, 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 Australian Embassy 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.

Additional information

Wildlife

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.

For parents

For general information and tips on travelling with children see our Travelling with Children 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.