U.S. Citizen Services

What is a Consular Warden system?

The Department of State has no more important responsibility than the protection of Americans overseas. This responsibility includes the dissemination to the public of information on matters of safety and security of Americans traveling or residing abroad. In fulfilling this obligation, the Department of State issues Consular Information Sheets, Public Announcements and Travel Warnings to the public. American Embassies and Consulates around the world rely primarily on their Consular Warden Systems to disseminate this information as well as other safety and security information to the American community.

A Consular Warden System is the Embassy’s system for maintaining communications with its American community -- for both routine information as well as in times of increased threat or actual emergency. This information is distributed in the form of a Consular Warden Notice.

The Embassy has developed a pyramid system to distribute Consular Warden Notices in Rwanda. All Americans registered at the Embassy are assigned to a Warden Zone, which are either functional (by organization) or regional (by prefecture). A Primary and sometimes a Deputy Warden are assigned to each Warden Zone. The Embassy sends Consular Warden Notices to these Wardens who then distribute the information by fax or phone to the other Americans in their zones.

Please feel free to stop by the Embassy if you have questions about the Warden System. We welcome any suggestions you have to improve the communication between the Embassy and the American community.