Current state/safety of Sierra Leone, Liberia and Ivory Coast
 

Hi folks

2 months until departure, and current route is Morocco, Mauritania, Senegal, Gambia, Mali, Burkina Faso, Ghana, and continuing down the west coast to South Africa. (Here's hoping Mauritania is ok by the time we leave!!)

I've had the sudden urge to alter my route, and from the Gambia continue down through Guinea Bissau, Guinea, Sierra Leone, Liberia and Ivory Coast.

Having looked through the Travel Safety and Sub-Saharan Travel forums, I haven't been able to find much recent relevant information regarding the current political and social state of Sierra Leone, Liberia and the Ivory Coast.

• Has anyone gone through recently?
• Is it safe to go through these countries at the moment?
• Are there any areas we should avoid?

Any and all information is greatly appreciated!

Many thanks
Steve

I think the question you need to be asking is the level of safety of Guinea Bissau & Guinea which are both a little unstable at present but changes on a day to day basis almost ... Guineans are wonderful people; the military are not!

As for Sierra Leone & Liberia, my friend went through about 6 weeks ago, I'm planning to return to Cote d'Ivoire later this year (10 days after the planned elections) and will head up to Guinea & back to Abidjan via the Liberian coast which apparently is a dreadful piste (I'll be doing this by bush taxi)

Cote d'Ivoire is fine, very stable right now - there were demonstrations & strikes a fortnight ago over the rising cost of fuel but PM Sorro has ordered all ministers salaries to be cut to help subsidise fuel. The elections are due on 30th November this year but friends are wondering if they will be voting then .. might get delayed. Like Guinea it's a wonderful country. If you need somewhere cheap & clean to stay on the beach PM me!

Kira