American citizens who have not registered with the Embassys Consular Section should do so as soon as possible. This Public Announcement supersedes the June 19 Public Announcement for Ethiopia, and expires October 28, 1998. Tourism facilities in Ethiopia are minimal. A passport and a valid Ethiopian visa are required to enter or transit Ethiopia. Laptop computers must be declared upon arrival and departure.
Tape recorders require special customs permits.
Inquiries overseas may be made at the nearest Ethiopian embassy or consulate. Americans throughout Ethiopia are advised to carefully consider security implications when visiting public places such as markets, restaurants, bars, nightclubs and hotel lobbies and to limit their presence in these places. It is advisable to lodge at larger hotels which offer better security. U.S. citizens should exercise particular caution in Harar and Dire Dawa, and to defer travel to the Somali Region and the Bale Zone of the Oromiya Region. In Addis Ababa, three coordinated grenade attacks against public places in April 1997 killed one Ethiopian and injured numerous people, including several foreigners.