Warden Messages

Crime in Maputo

June 5, 2008

Over the last several days, the U.S. Embassy's Regional Security Office has received multiple reports of violent crime in Maputo. While the information provided in this message is not all inclusive, it does provide a good overview of recent crime in Maputo:

Two expatriates were mugged across the street from the Polana Hotel.
Another expatriate was robbed at knifepoint by two armed assailants while walking along one of the access roads leading to the beach located near Avenida Friedrich Engels.
Three robbers armed with AK-47s entered the Shamwari restaurant located on Avenida Mateus Muthemba near the Talho Polana. The robbery occurred at 1930 and the assailants demanded that patrons relinquish their valuables. Additionally, the restaurant’s cash register was stolen and one of the patrons was slightly injured when he refused to hand over his vehicle keys to the robbers. The vehicle was stolen but later recovered.
Last night, at approximately 2230, a police officer was shot and killed by multiple assailants in front of the Libyan Embassy located on Rua Pereira Marinho.
The U.S. Embassy in Maputo strongly encourages American citizens to review your personal security practices. Remember, if you are confronted by a criminal demanding your vehicle or valuables, do not resist.

Americans living or traveling in Mozambique are encouraged to register with the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate through the State Department’s travel registration web site so that they can obtain updated information on travel and security within Mozambique. For the latest security information, Americans living and traveling abroad should regularly monitor the Department’s Bureau of Consular Affairs Internet web site at http://travel.state.gov, where current Worldwide Caution, Travel Alerts, and Travel Warnings can be found. Up-to-date information on security can also be obtained by calling 1-888-407-4747 toll free in the U.S., or, for callers outside the U.S. and Canada, a regular toll line at 1-202-501-4444. These numbers are available from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. EST, Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays).

The U.S. Embassy is located in Maputo at 193 Avenida Kenneth Kaunda, telephone (258) 21 49 2797. Non-emergency American Citizens Services are offered Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 9:00 to 11:00 AM, excluding U.S. and Mozambican holidays. Please schedule all visits for non-emergency American Citizens Services, including passports, extra passport pages, Consular Reports of Birth Abroad, notarial services and information requests, during these hours.

The after-hours telephone numbers for use in emergencies are (258) 21 49 0723 and 21 49 2797. The Consular Section's e-mail address is consularmaputo@state.gov. The Embassy's web site is http://maputo.usembassy.gov/.