Ressano Garcia Border Crossing Now Open
The Ressano Garcia crossing is open and operating normally. The border violence seen over the previous weekend has subsided. However, U.S. citizens in Mozambique should continue to exercise caution.
March Against Xenophobia
A march on protesting the xenophobic attacks occurring in South Africa is scheduled to take place on April 25. The participants will gather at the Eduardo Mondlane Statue (at the intersection of Avenida Eduardo Mondlane and Avenida da Tanzania) around 7.00 a.m. and march due east on Eduardo Mondlane Avenue to the South African High Commission on the corner with Avenida Julius Nyerere.
All U.S. citizens in Mozambique should be aware of this event. Although it is scheduled to be a peaceful event, large crowds and/or traffic associated with the march could become unmanageable. The U.S. Embassy therefore advises citizens to avoid the area and roads where the march will take place. Remember even demonstrations intended to be peaceful can turn confrontational and escalate into violence without advance warning. You should avoid areas of demonstrations, and exercise caution if in the vicinity of any large gatherings, protests, or demonstrations.
Given recent events, travelers to South Africa may wish to consult the U.S. Embassy website, which includes security and other information.
As with any travel, the U.S. Embassy reminds travelers of good security practices to follow:
- Always travel with windows up and doors locked.
- Be aware of your surrounding at all times and avoid large crowds.
- If possible, avoid travelling outside major metropolitan areas after dark.
- Keep a fully charged cell phone on your person at all times and maintain important contact numbers.
- Tune into local radio or TV stations for news updates.
We strongly recommend that U.S. citizens traveling to or residing in Mozambique enroll in the Department of State’s Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) at travel.state.gov. STEP enrollment gives you the latest security updates, and makes it easier for the U.S. embassy or nearest U.S. consulate to contact you in an emergency. If you don’t have Internet access, enroll directly with the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate.
Regularly monitor the State Department’s website, where you can find current Travel Warnings, Travel Alerts, and the Worldwide Caution. Read the Country Specific Information for Mozambique. For additional information, refer to the Traveler’s Checklist on the State Department’s website.
Contact the U.S. embassy for up-to-date information on travel restrictions. You can also call 1-888-407-4747 toll-free in the United States and Canada or 1-202-501-4444 from other countries. These numbers are available from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays). Follow us on Twitter and Facebook to have travel information at your fingertips.
The U.S. Embassy in Maputo is located at 193, Avenida Kenneth Kaunda, and is open from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. M-Th, and from 7:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Friday, Tel: 21-49-2797. If you are a U.S. citizen in need of urgent assistance outside of business hours, call the embassy’s emergency after-hours number: 84-306-6480.
