National numbers are only the start
Save the national number, but also collect the direct number of your hotel, driver, nearest police station, insurer and embassy.
54-country emergency resource
Africa Police Contacts & Emergency Directory
Find reference police and ambulance numbers for every African country, then learn how to report theft, replace a lost passport, document a road accident, contact your embassy and prepare for emergencies before travelling.
Police contactsTourist assistanceLost passportsInsurance reports
Critical accuracy notice: emergency numbers, routing and language support can change. Some short codes work only on local mobile networks or in specific cities. Verify your destination’s numbers with an official authority, embassy, accommodation provider or licensed local operator immediately before travel.
Use this directory safely
Remote travel needs local contacts
Safari parks, islands, mountains and desert routes may depend on ranger, lodge, maritime or district-level services.
Get written evidence
For theft, passport loss, rental-car damage or insurance claims, request an incident reference and a signed or stamped police report where available.
Searchable continental directory
Police and emergency contacts for all 54 African countries
Numbers marked “Reference number” come from published government or official travel references, but still require a pre-trip check. “Verify locally” means a dependable current nationwide number was not safe to publish without destination-specific confirmation.
| Country | Police | Ambulance / general emergency | Status | Traveller note | Official advice |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Algeria | 17 | 14 | Reference number | Civil protection and police numbers should be reconfirmed locally. | Current travel advice |
| Angola | 110 | 118 | Reference number | Save direct hotel, driver and local precinct contacts after arrival. | Current travel advice |
| Benin | Local verification | Local verification | Verify locally | Ask the official police authority or accommodation provider for the current local number. | Current travel advice |
| Botswana | 999 | 997 / 911 | Reference number | Coverage may vary in remote wildlife areas. | Current travel advice |
| Burkina Faso | Local verification | Local verification | Verify locally | Current regional security conditions require official advice before travel. | Current travel advice |
| Burundi | Local verification | Local verification | Verify locally | Confirm numbers with your embassy and accommodation. | Current travel advice |
| Cabo Verde | 132 | 130 | Reference number | Island-specific contacts may be more useful than national routing. | Current travel advice |
| Cameroon | Local verification | Local verification | Verify locally | Confirm direct local police and gendarmerie contacts. | Current travel advice |
| Central African Republic | Local verification | Local verification | Verify locally | Use current embassy security advice and local professional support. | Current travel advice |
| Chad | 17 | Local verification | Verify locally | Confirm whether national numbers route correctly from your SIM. | Current travel advice |
| Comoros | Local verification | Local verification | Verify locally | Ask hotel or host for island-specific emergency contacts. | Current travel advice |
| Democratic Republic of the Congo | Local verification | Local verification | Verify locally | Keep province and city-specific contacts. | Current travel advice |
| Republic of the Congo | Local verification | Local verification | Verify locally | Confirm Brazzaville or regional numbers with local authorities. | Current travel advice |
| Côte d’Ivoire | 110 / 111 / 170 | Local verification | Verify locally | Use official local guidance for Abidjan and regional travel. | Current travel advice |
| Djibouti | 17 | 351351 | Reference number | Confirm availability of English-speaking operators. | Current travel advice |
| Egypt | 122; Tourist Police 126 | 123 | Reference number | Keep tourist police and hotel security contacts separately. | Current travel advice |
| Equatorial Guinea | Local verification | Local verification | Verify locally | Confirm local numbers before departure. | Current travel advice |
| Eritrea | Local verification | Local verification | Verify locally | Photography and movement controls may apply in sensitive areas. | Current travel advice |
| Eswatini | Local verification | Local verification | Verify locally | Request current local police contacts from accommodation. | Current travel advice |
| Ethiopia | 91 | 92 | Reference number | Regional conditions and routing can differ; reconfirm before travel. | Current travel advice |
| Gabon | 1730 | 1300–1399 | Reference number | Verify short codes with a local SIM. | Current travel advice |
| The Gambia | 17 | 16 | Reference number | Ask the hotel for the nearest station’s direct number. | Current travel advice |
| Ghana | 999 / 112 | 193 / local verification | Reference number | Use 112 where supported and confirm other services locally. | Current travel advice |
| Guinea | Local verification | Local verification | Verify locally | Keep embassy and accommodation contacts available offline. | Current travel advice |
| Guinea-Bissau | Local verification | Local verification | Verify locally | Direct city contacts may be more reliable. | Current travel advice |
| Kenya | 999 / 112 | 999 / 112 | Reference number | Remote safari regions should also use lodge and ranger contacts. | Current travel advice |
| Lesotho | 123 / 124 | 121 | Reference number | Mountain and road incidents may require district-level contacts. | Current travel advice |
| Liberia | 911 on some mobile networks | 911 / local verification | Reference number | Confirm network compatibility immediately after arrival. | Current travel advice |
| Libya | 193 | Local verification | Verify locally | Follow current official travel advisories and movement guidance. | Current travel advice |
| Madagascar | Local verification | Local verification | Verify locally | Save city, guide and hotel contacts for long-distance travel. | Current travel advice |
| Malawi | 997 | 998 | Reference number | 999 is commonly associated with fire; reconfirm all numbers. | Current travel advice |
| Mali | 18 | 15 | Reference number | Travel conditions may change rapidly; use embassy advice. | Current travel advice |
| Mauritania | 117 | Local verification | Verify locally | Keep direct regional gendarmerie or police contacts. | Current travel advice |
| Mauritius | 999 / 112 | 114 / 999 | Reference number | Tourist police and hotel contacts can assist with non-life-threatening incidents. | Current travel advice |
| Morocco | 19; mobile 112; gendarmerie 177 | 15 | Reference number | Use police in cities and gendarmerie for many rural/highway incidents. | Current travel advice |
| Mozambique | 119 | 117 | Reference number | Confirm local maritime and provincial contacts for coastal travel. | Current travel advice |
| Namibia | 10111 / local verification | Local verification | Verify locally | Remote roads require insurer, rental company and lodge contacts. | Current travel advice |
| Niger | Local verification | Local verification | Verify locally | Use current official security guidance and professional support. | Current travel advice |
| Nigeria | 112 | 112 / local verification | Reference number | State-level emergency management contacts may supplement 112. | Current travel advice |
| Rwanda | 112 | 112 | Reference number | Traffic incidents may use a separate service; confirm locally. | Current travel advice |
| São Tomé and Príncipe | Local verification | Local verification | Verify locally | Save island-specific police and hospital contacts. | Current travel advice |
| Senegal | 17 | 15 / local verification | Reference number | Gendarmerie contacts may differ outside Dakar. | Current travel advice |
| Seychelles | 999 / 112 | 999 / 112 | Reference number | Keep marine rescue and island contacts for boat travel. | Current travel advice |
| Sierra Leone | 999 | 999 | Reference number | Fire may use 019 in some references; verify before travel. | Current travel advice |
| Somalia | Local verification | Local verification | Verify locally | Travel requires current professional security and official advice. | Current travel advice |
| South Africa | 10111; mobile 112 | 10177; mobile 112 | Reference number | Use 112 on mobile phones and keep private insurer/security contacts where applicable. | Current travel advice |
| South Sudan | Local verification | Local verification | Verify locally | Use current embassy and professional security guidance. | Current travel advice |
| Sudan | Local verification | Local verification | Verify locally | Emergency systems may be disrupted; follow current official advice. | Current travel advice |
| Tanzania | 112 / 999 | 112 / 999 | Reference number | Save lodge, guide and park-ranger contacts for safari travel. | Current travel advice |
| Togo | 101 / local verification | Local verification | Verify locally | Confirm police and medical numbers through current official sources. | Current travel advice |
| Tunisia | 197; National Guard 193 | 190 | Reference number | Use National Guard for many rural or highway incidents. | Current travel advice |
| Uganda | 999 / 112 | 999 / 112 | Reference number | Confirm direct district and tourism contacts for remote travel. | Current travel advice |
| Zambia | 999 / 112 | 999 / 112 | Reference number | Keep lodge and park contacts for remote or wildlife incidents. | Current travel advice |
| Zimbabwe | 995 / 999 | 994 / 999 | Reference number | Fire may use 993 / 999; reconfirm locally. | Current travel advice |
How to report a crime or security incident
Protect yourself first
Move away from the threat. Do not pursue thieves or confront armed people. Ask a trusted local person to help with communication.
Call the right service
Use the verified national number or the nearest station’s direct line. For parks, coasts or remote routes, contact rangers, lodge management or maritime services.
Preserve evidence
Save photographs, receipts, serial numbers, transaction logs, witness details and the time and location of the incident.
Request a written report
Ask for an incident or case number and, where available, a signed or stamped copy for insurance, passport replacement or vehicle claims.
Notify the right organisations
Contact your insurer, bank, phone provider, rental company, tour operator and embassy according to the type of incident.
Lost or stolen passport procedure
1. Report the loss
Attend the nearest competent police station and obtain a report or case reference. Note any language or translation requirements.
2. Contact your embassy
Ask about an emergency travel document, replacement passport, photographs, identity evidence, fees and appointment arrangements.
3. Update travel providers
Notify your airline, hotel, visa service and insurer. Entry stamps or visas may need to be reissued or documented by immigration.
Emergency preparation checklist
Before departure
- Verify police, ambulance and fire numbers.
- Review official travel advice.
- Buy suitable travel insurance.
- Save embassy and insurer contacts.
- Share your itinerary with someone trusted.
Documents and money
- Keep encrypted passport and visa copies.
- Carry emergency cash separately.
- Record card cancellation numbers.
- Save device serial numbers.
- Keep prescriptions and medical details.
Communications
- Use a working local SIM or eSIM.
- Download offline maps.
- Carry a charged power bank.
- Save hotel, driver and guide contacts.
- Learn key emergency phrases.
Traveller-specific safety planning
Solo travellers
Use scheduled check-ins, avoid sharing room details publicly and pre-arrange trusted transport for late arrivals.
Women travellers
Research local laws and norms, choose verified transport, and ask accommodation providers about safe routes and emergency assistance.
LGBTQ+ travellers
Laws and enforcement vary significantly. Review current official advice and local law before discussing identity publicly or using location-based apps.
Families
Give children a hotel card and emergency contact, agree on a meeting point and keep guardianship and medical documents accessible.
Drivers
Carry licence, permit, rental agreement, insurance and vehicle papers. At checkpoints, stay calm and follow lawful instructions.
Safari and remote travel
Follow ranger instructions, never leave vehicles without permission, and save lodge, air-evacuation and park emergency contacts.
Frequently asked questions
What number should I call first in an emergency?
Use the verified national number for your destination. If it does not connect, call your hotel, tour operator, local host, embassy emergency line or the nearest police station directly.
Does 112 work everywhere in Africa?
No. Some countries support 112 nationally or on mobile networks, but routing and coverage vary. Do not assume it works without checking your destination.
Can tourists report a crime at any police station?
Usually, yes. For theft, assault, fraud or a lost passport, go to the nearest competent police station and request a written incident reference or report.
How do I replace a lost passport?
Report the loss to local police, obtain a report or reference number, then contact your embassy or consulate for an emergency travel document or replacement instructions.
Do I need a police report for insurance?
Many insurers require prompt notification and a police report for theft, burglary, vehicle damage or lost property. Follow the time limits in your policy.
What should I do after a road accident?
Move only if safe and legally permitted, call emergency services, photograph the scene, exchange details, contact the rental company or insurer and obtain a police record.
Will emergency operators speak English?
Not always. Save the local-language words for police, ambulance, fire, help, hospital and your location. Ask a hotel employee or host to assist if needed.
Should I rely on private security apps?
Treat private services as supplementary, not a replacement for public emergency services. Check licensing, coverage, fees and insurer recognition before relying on them.
How can my embassy help after a crime?
An embassy may explain local procedures, provide lists of lawyers or doctors, contact family with consent, and help with emergency travel documents. It cannot normally investigate crimes or cancel local law.
What documents should I carry at checkpoints?
Carry the documents required by local law, commonly a passport or certified copy, visa or entry authorization, driving permit and vehicle papers. Avoid handing over your only original unless required.
How should I report phone or card theft?
Contact police, block the device and SIM, notify your bank, change critical passwords and preserve tracking or transaction records without confronting a suspected thief.
What if the national number does not connect?
Try from a local SIM, call the nearest station directly, contact your hotel or driver, and use your embassy emergency contact if you face a serious threat.
Are tourist police available in every country?
No. Some destinations have dedicated tourist police or tourism units, while others route visitors through ordinary police or gendarmerie services.
Should I save emergency contacts offline?
Yes. Store them in your phone, on paper and in a shared trip document. Include your hotel, driver, insurer, embassy and an emergency contact at home.
How often should I verify these numbers?
Check immediately before departure and again after arrival, especially when using roaming, travelling to remote areas or moving between provinces or islands.
Sources and editorial method
This guide prioritizes official government travel advice, national authorities and international policing references. Where published sources conflict or appear old, the table uses a verification warning instead of presenting a number as guaranteed current.
- Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office country travel advice and “Getting help” sections.
- U.S. Department of State international travel and emergency resources.
- INTERPOL member-country and local-police guidance.
- AfricaTourVisa destination and travel-support pages for internal trip-planning links.
Editorial disclosure: Prepared by the AfricaTourVisa travel research team. Last reviewed . AfricaTourVisa is not a police force, emergency dispatcher, embassy or government authority.
Prepare the rest of your Africa trip
Use the emergency directory alongside current visa rules, insurance, verified airport transfers, accommodation and embassy details.
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