US Warns Citizens Against Traveling To 11 African Countries

The United States has placed 11 African countries under its highest travel warning, advising American citizens against visiting the countries because of security threats, health concerns and other risks.

The advisory, issued by the US Department of State, falls under Level 4, the most serious category in the country’s four-level travel warning system. It is used for destinations where the US government believes conditions pose serious dangers to American travellers.

According to the department’s travel advisory database, the 11 African countries on the list as of October 2026 are Burkina Faso, the Central African Republic, Chad, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Libya, Mali, Niger, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan and Uganda.

The reasons for the warnings differ from one country to another. They include terrorism, armed conflict, kidnapping, violent crime, civil unrest, poor access to healthcare and disease outbreaks.

The US government has also warned that providing emergency assistance to American citizens may be difficult or severely limited in some of the affected countries.

Burkina Faso is among the countries facing the highest travel warning because of terrorism, kidnapping, crime and health concerns. The country has experienced continued attacks by armed groups, creating security challenges in several areas and making movement dangerous for residents and visitors.

The Central African Republic is also on the list because of insecurity, crime, kidnapping, terrorism and health risks. The US government has cautioned that its ability to provide emergency assistance to American citizens in the country is limited.

Chad faces a Level 4 warning over terrorism, kidnapping, crime, civil unrest, landmines and weaknesses in its healthcare system. According to the US Department of State, emergency assistance for American citizens outside N’Djamena, the country’s capital, is extremely limited.

The Democratic Republic of the Congo is another African country under the highest warning. The US advisory identifies health concerns, criminal activities, unrest, terrorism and kidnapping as major risks. The security situation differs across the country, with armed conflict continuing to affect parts of the eastern region.

Libya is also considered dangerous for American travellers because of terrorism, armed conflict, kidnapping, crime and political instability. The US government says it cannot provide emergency services to its citizens in the country because of the security situation.

Mali remains on the list because of terrorism, kidnapping, criminal activities, civil unrest and health risks. The country has faced prolonged insecurity linked to militant groups and instability, exposing travellers to danger in several areas.

Niger is under the same Level 4 warning because of terrorism, kidnapping, crime, unrest and health concerns. The advisory reflects continued security challenges, including attacks by armed groups and instability across parts of the Sahel region.

Somalia is also on the list because of terrorism, kidnapping, crime, civil unrest and health risks. The US government considers the security threats in the country a major concern for American citizens planning to travel there.

South Sudan faces a similar warning over criminal activities, kidnapping, unrest, health concerns and other security threats. The US Department of State has cautioned that the conditions in the country could endanger travellers and make access to emergency services difficult.

Sudan remains under the highest travel warning amid the ongoing war and the resulting security and humanitarian crisis. The advisory identifies armed violence, civil unrest, kidnapping, terrorism and health risks as major concerns. The conflict has also created difficulties for people seeking medical care and emergency assistance.

Uganda is the final country on the list. The US government issued a Level 4 advisory because of crime, terrorism, civil unrest and health concerns. An advisory dated June 4, 2026, also referred to restrictions on emergency consular assistance connected to the Ebola outbreak in the region.