A recent anonymous posting on a Jihadist website encouraged attacks against American and other Western schools and teachers in Muslim-majority countries, specifically mentioning Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, and Maadi, Egypt, as locations with high concentrations of potential targets. While the Embassy is unaware of any specific, credible threat against any American school or individual in Mauritania, we are working with local schools identified with the United States, as well as with those that have high concentrations of U.S teachers or students, to review and enhance their security posture. U.S. citizens residing in or visiting Mauritania should remain vigilant with regard to their personal security and stay alert to local security developments. Be sure to review your personal security plans; remain aware of your surroundings and local events; monitor local news stations for updates; and follow instructions of local authorities.
We strongly recommend that U.S. citizens traveling to or residing in Mauritania enroll in the Department of State’s Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP). STEP enrollment gives you the latest security updates, and makes it easier for the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate to contact you in an emergency. If you don’t have Internet access, enroll directly with the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate.
U.S. citizens traveling abroad should regularly monitor the U.S. Department of State’s, Bureau of Consular Affairs website, where the current Worldwide Caution, Travel Warnings, Travel Alerts, and Country Specific Information can be found. The Embassy also encourages U.S. citizens to review the “Traveler’s Checklist,” which includes valuable security information for those both living and traveling abroad, and enroll with the Department of State or the Embassy through the State Department’s Smart Traveler Enrollment Program. Follow us on Twitter and the Bureau of Consular Affairs page on Facebook as well. In addition to information on the Internet, travelers may obtain up-to-date information on security conditions by calling 1-888-407-4747 toll-free in the United States and Canada, or outside the United States and Canada on a regular toll line at 1-202-501-4444. These numbers are available from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays).
The U.S. Embassy in Nouakchott is located between the Presidency building and the Spanish Embassy on Rue Abdallaye and is open Sunday-Thursday from 8:00-5:00. The phone number is 45 25 26 60. If you are a U.S. citizen in need of urgent assistance, the emergency number for the U.S. Embassy is 36 62 81 63. In the event of an emergency that interrupts mobile phone (SMS) or Internet communication in Mauritania, U.S. citizens may call the Embassy’s dedicated Consular emergency recording at 45 25 37 07 to receive the most up-to-date instructions.
