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12 African countries on U.S. high-risk travel advisory as of July 2025
The United States has continued to emphasize its focus on internal security and the protection of its citizens by issuing travel advisory to Americans planning to visit several countries—many of them in Africa. The United States has issued travel advisories for certain countries focusing on citiz...
Business Insider Africa
published: Jul 21, 2025
The United States has continued to emphasize its focus on internal security and the protection of its citizens by issuing travel advisory to Americans planning to visit several countries—many of them in Africa.
- The United States has issued travel advisories for certain countries focusing on citizens' safety.
- As of July 2025, 12 African nations have been flagged under high-risk travel categories.
- This demonstrates a protective strategy due to increased geopolitical and security concerns.
As of July 2025, 12 African nations were listed under the official U.S. high-risk travel warning at Level 4: Do Not Travel and Level 3: Reconsider Travel, reflecting a complex mix of regional instability, weak governance, rising crime, and broader geopolitical tensions.
By contrast, the other two advisory levels which are Level 1: Exercise Normal Precautions and Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution, indicate relatively minimal risks.
These levels are typically reserved for countries with isolated security concerns or low-level threats that do not significantly disrupt travel or daily activity.
African nations on level 3 & 4 travel warning
The table below shows the list of African countries currently on the U.S. Department of State’s travel warning list as of July 2025.
| S/N | Country | Advisory Level | Date Updated |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Libya | Level 4: Do Not Travel | July 16, 2025 |
| 2 | Somalia | Level 4: Do Not Travel | May 14, 2025 |
| 3 | Burkina Faso | Level 4: Do Not Travel | April 16, 2025 |
| 4 | South Sudan | Level 4: Do Not Travel | March 8, 2025 |
| 5 | DRC | Level 4: Do Not Travel | January 29, 2025 |
| 6 | Nigeria | Level 3: Reconsider Travel | July 15, 2025 |
| 7 | Mauritania | Level 3: Reconsider Travel | July 15, 2025 |
| 8 | Burundi | Level 3: Reconsider Travel | April 29, 2025 |
| 9 | Uganda | Level 3: Reconsider Travel | April 23, 2025 |
| 10 | Guinea-Bissau | Level 3: Reconsider Travel | March 24, 2025 |
| 11 | Niger | Level 3: Reconsider Travel | March 21, 2025 |
| 12 | Chad | Level 3: Reconsider Travel | March 18, 2025 |
African nations top list
While the U.S. Department of State routinely issues travel advisories to safeguard its nationals abroad, the growing number of African nations under elevated warnings indicates a renewed strategic caution toward the continent.
The increasing prevalence of armed conflict, political unrest, and transnational threats has prompted Washington to tighten its stance, citing deteriorating security environments and limited consular access as major concerns.
From the table, 12 African countries are currently under high-risk U.S. travel advisories. Libya, Burkina Faso, and Somalia top the Level 4: Do Not Travel list, while Nigeria, Mauritania, and Burundi appear under the Level 3: Reconsider Travel category—mainly due to ongoing conflict, insecurity, and governance-related challenges.
These advisories reflect not just the risks to travelers, but also the deepening fragility of state institutions across parts of the continent.
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