Ethiopia

Compliance/Financial Considerations

If you intend to do any of the following in Ethiopia, please contact Risk Services at risk@berkeley.edu(link sends e-mail) or 642-5141:

  • Hire a local to work for you as an employee
  • Purchase or lease office or research space
  • Purchase or lease an automobile
  • Establish a long-term (over 90 days) or ongoing project
  • Conduct a clinical trial 

U.S. GOVERNMENT COMPLIANCE CONSIDERATIONS 

Foreign activities may trigger many U.S. laws, including:

  • Import Controls
  • Export Controls
  • Tax Reporting
  • Foreign Bank Account Reporting
  • Country Embargoes and Targeted Sanctions
  • Foreign Corrupt Practices Act
  • Anti-Boycott Laws

Import Controls. UC employees must adhere to U.S. import requirements and may need to enlist the services of a customs broker, especially for shipments arriving by sea and subject to the Importer Security Filing 71730(link is external), also known as ISF 10+2. 

Export Controls. Export controls may apply to advanced software and technology, research data, and other sensitive assets. UC’s Export Compliance FAQ contains useful information and can be found here(link is external).  Go here(link is external)for the University of California plan for compliance with federal export controls. If you plan on taking or sending potentially export-controlled materials to Ethiopia, consult the campus Research Administration Compliance Office(link is external) at 642-0120. 

Tax Reporting. The University and its employees may be taxed in foreign countries. The United States does not have a tax treaty with Ethiopia. For more information about double taxation issues, contact the Controller’s Office at:

Foreign Bank Account Reporting. The U.S. Treasury Department requires U.S. citizens with a financial interest in or signatory authority over a financial account in a foreign country, where accounts exceed $10,000 at any point during a calendar year, to report such accounts on a Report of Foreign Bank and Financial Accounts(link is external)(FinCen Report 114(link is external)). Those needing to complete the form should contact the Controller’s Office at cashiers@berkeley.edu(link sends e-mail) or 643-9803 for assistance. An IRS 1040 Schedule B form (Part III–Foreign Accounts and Trusts) must be filed by the signatory for any foreign bank account, regardless of the account balance. 

Country Embargoes and Targeted Sanctions. In general, collaborations between University personnel and scholars at foreign institutions or organizations do not require export licenses unless they involve export-controlled or -restricted research or involve scholars in sanctioned countries. Before engaging in an international collaboration, the University needs to determine whether export licenses are required and to verify that the foreign collaborator is not blocked or sanctioned. The Office of Foreign Assets Control(link is external) (OFAC) is responsible for enforcing all U.S. embargoes and sanctions. Depending on each country’s embargo or sanction program, activities may be prohibited without specific authorization or license. UC’s International Collaborations(link is external) webpage contains additional information on this topic.   

The Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) is intended to stop bribery. It prohibits offering to pay, paying, promising to pay, or authorizing the payment of money or anything of value to a foreign official. The term “foreign official” generally includes any employee or contractor of a foreign government and may include individuals employed by foreign universities. It is also unlawful to make a payment to a third party knowing that all or part of the payment will go to a foreign official. For more information, review the federal government’s Resource Guide to the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act.(link is external) If you need further clarification, contact the UC Berkeley Office of Legal Affairs(link is external) at 642-7122. Transparency International’s 2018 survey of perceived public sector corruption rated Ethiopia at 34 out of 100 (114th out of 180 countries reviewed, i.e. corrupt). 

Anti-Boycott Laws.  The U.S. Department of Commerce(link is external) is responsible for oversight of laws prohibiting individuals and entities from participating in boycotts not approved or sanctioned by the U.S. government. The Export Administration Act(link is external) requires that requests to participate in such boycotts or to conduct activities in any of the boycotting countries be formally reported to the Department of Commerce and/or IRS.

For other compliance-related issues, refer to UC’s International Compliance(link is external) webpage.   

ADDITIONAL CONSIDERATIONS FOR DOING BUSINESS INTERNATIONALLY

Foreign Bank Accounts. Employees wishing to open a foreign bank account should contact the Controller’s Office at cashiers@berkeley.edu(link sends e-mail) or 643-9803. Requests to open accounts must be made through the Office of the President’s Banking and Treasury Services Group(link is external) by the Chancellor or the Chancellor’s designee. 

Real Estate Agreements. Only employees with delegated authority to sign contracts on behalf of The Regents may enter into agreements, leases, or other contracts.  Foreign affiliates or operations must submit to the Real Estate Services Office(link sends e-mail) property management agreements, personal property leases, or contracts with a term longer than one year or in an amount greater than $25,000 per year. The campus then seeks approval from the University president or designee. For more information, consult the Guidelines for the Establishment and Operation of Foreign Affiliate Organizations and Foreign Operations.

Articles

The US State Department's page on ETHIOPIA may be found HERE.

Personal Safety

AS OF NOVEMBER 5, ETHIOPIAN AUTHORITIES MAINTAINED SOME RESTRICTIONS AS PART OF EFFORTS TO CURB THE SPREAD OF THE CORONAVIRUS DISEASE (COVID-19).  INTERNATIONAL PORTS OF ENTRY, INCLUDING ADDIS ABABA BOLE INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT (ADD) AND LAND BORDER CROSSINGS, ARE OPEN BUT AT MUCH-REDUCED LEVELS. HEIGHTENED SCREEINGS ARE IN EFFECT. ALL INTERNATIONAL AIRPORTS, INCLUDING ADD, HAVE ENFORCED MEASURES TO SCREEN PASSENGERS ARRIVING, DEPARTING, OR TRANSITING THROUGH ETHIOPIA.  ARRIVING PASSENGERS OVER THE AGE OF 10 YEARS OLD MSUT PROVIDE PROOF OF A NEGATIVE COVID-19 TEST RESULT ISSUED 120 HOURS BEFORE ARRIVAL AT ALL PORTS OF ENTRY.  ARRIVALS MUST THEN COMPLETE SEVEN (7) DAYS OF MANDATORY SELF-QUARANTINE. FOR TRANSIT WAITING PERIODS OF OVER 24 HOURS, PASSENGER WILL BE TAKEN TO A DESIGNATED TRANSIT HOTEL  AND CANNOT LEAVE THE AREA DURING THE TRANSIT PERIOD. THE CENTRAL GOVERNMENT AND REGIONAL GOVERNMENTS WILL LIKELY ANNOUNCE ADDITIONAL RESTRICTIONS IN THE COMING WEEKS, DEPENDING ON DISEASE ACTIVITY; AUTHORITIES COULD ANNOUNCE THESE MEASURES IN SHORT NOTICE.

EXERCISE INCREASED CAUTION WHEN TRAVELING IN ETHIOPIA DUE TO SPORADIC CIVIL UNREST AND COMMUNICATIONS DISRUPTIONS. SOME AREAS HAVE INCREASED RISK.

DO NOT TRAVEL TO:

  • Border area with Somalia due to potential for terrorism, kidnapping and landmines.
  • Border areas with Kenya, Sudan, South Sudan, Eritrea due to crime, armed conflict, and civil unrest.

Note: this page contains basic risk information. For more details, please contact the Risk Services Office at risk@berkeley.edu(link sends e-mail)(link sends e-mail)(link sends e-mail)(link sends e-mail)(link sends e-mail)(link sends e-mail).

If you are traveling to Ethiopia on University-related business, please sign up for the University’s travel insurance program by going here(link is external)(link is external)(link is external)(link is external)(link is external)(link is external). For more information on the travel insurance program, please go here.

Because everyone’s health is unique, we suggest seeking the advice of a medical professional before traveling internationally. Members of the campus community interested in protecting their health while abroad may schedule an appointment with the University Health Services International Travel Clinic(link is external)(link is external)(link is external)(link is external)(link is external)(link is external)

The quality of health care in Ethiopia is poor. In the event of a serious illness or injury, medical evacuation will likely be necessary. Individuals with serious health conditions should consider whether to travel to Ethiopia at all. Ambulance service is well below western standards and should be used only as a last resort. If you need medication, bring enough for the duration of your stay, as counterfeit medications are common and real medications are in short supply.

Air pollution can be a problem in urban areas. If you have a chronic respiratory condition such as asthma, please consult a medical professional prior to your trip and carry appropriate medications.

Travelers should assume the drinking water in Ethiopia is contaminated and may transmit cholera or typhoid. To reduce the risk of gastrointestinal discomfort or illness, drink only bottled, boiled, or purified water. Travelers should use sealed, well-recognized brands of bottled water whenever possible.

All food should be eaten well-cooked and hot. Street vendors and other unregulated food distributors often maintain substandard hygiene regimens and should be avoided. Travelers should also avoid raw or undercooked meat dishes and unpasteurized dairy products, which frequently harbor bacterial and parasitic pathogens.

Travelers risk contracting a number of serious illnesses in Ethiopia, including:

  • Cholera and typhoid, transmitted via contaminated food or water.
  • Malaria, transmitted via mosquito bites, year-round throughout the country, although the risk is lower in Addis Ababa and at altitudes higher than 8,000 feet.
  • Yellow fever and dengue fever, transmitted by mosquito bites, year-round and throughout the country.
  • Leishmaniasis and sand fly fever, transmitted by sand flies, year-round and throughout the country.
  • Tuberculosis. The World Health Organization considers Ethiopia a high-risk country. Travelers staying for an extended time should get a pre-departure PPD skin test. Avoid crowded public spaces and mass transportation whenever possible.
  • African sleeping sickness (trypanosomiasis), transmitted by tsetse flies, year-round and throughout the country, but most widespread in remote areas and game parks.
  • HIV/AIDS: spread by drug use and sexual behavior. Occurrence is most widespread in Addis Ababa. 

Generally, Addis Ababa is safe for travelers, especially during daytime, although petty theft, often committed by gangs of young men, is common in transport hubs, markets, and on public transportation. Avoid traveling alone on foot at night. In October 2016, UC Davis postdoctoral researcher Sharon Gray(link is external)was killed near Addis Ababa during a demonstration.

Outside Addis Ababa, Ethiopia suffers from periodic outbreaks of political violence, as the government is engaged in hostilities with the Ogaden National Liberation Front (ONLF) in the southeast near Somalia and with the Oromo Liberation Front (OLF) in the southern part of the country. The border with Eritrea should also be avoided.

The competence of the Ethiopian police force varies, with the most effective law enforcement around Addis Ababa’s hotel district, national monuments, and airport.

Legal/Political

Criminal Penalties: You are subject to local laws. If you violate local laws, even unknowingly, you may be expelled, arrested, or imprisoned. Convictions for possessing, using, or trafficking in illegal drugs result in long jail sentences and heavy fines. Furthermore, some laws are also prosecutable in the United States, regardless of local law. 

Photography: It is illegal to take pictures of government buildings, military installations, police/military personnel and key infrastructure such as roads, bridges, dams, and airfields. If you are caught photographing prohibited sites, you could be fined, your photographic equipment could be confiscated, and you could be detained and/or arrested. As a general practice, you should avoid taking pictures of individuals without their clear consent.

U.S.-Somali Dual Nationals: U.S.-Somali dual citizens have been detained by Ethiopian security services in Addis Ababa without charges. You should prepare for this contingency by carrying copies of all important documents and contact information for the U.S. Embassy.

Arrest Notification: If you are arrested or detained, ask police or prison officials to notify the U.S. Embassy immediately.

LGBTI Travelers: Consensual same-sex sexual activity between adults is illegal and punishable by imprisonment under the law. There have been periodic detentions and interrogations of some LGBTI persons, and alleged physical abuse. Ethiopians do not generally identify themselves as LGBTI due to severe societal stigma. There are some reports of violence against LGBTI individuals; reporting is limited due to fear of retribution, discrimination, or stigmatization. There is no law prohibiting discrimination against LGBTI persons and some LGBTI activists have reported being followed and at times fearing for their safety.

Outside the major international hotels, same-sex couples may be unable to share a room.