The United States Department of State has placed 23 countries under its highest travel advisory, Level 4: Do Not Travel, urging American citizens to avoid visiting the listed destinations due to serious security risks and the limited ability of the U.S. government to provide assistance.

In an updated advisory published on its TravelGov X handle, the State Department said Level 4 is reserved for countries where local conditions are considered extremely dangerous.

“We issue Travel Advisories with Levels 1–4. Level 4 means DO NOT TRAVEL. We assign Level 4 based on local conditions and/or our limited ability to help Americans there,” the department said.

It added, “These places are dangerous. Do not go for ANY reason.”

The 23 countries on the Level 4 advisory are:

Afghanistan

Belarus

Burkina Faso

Myanmar (Burma)

Central African Republic

Chad

Democratic Republic of the Congo

Haiti

Iran

Iraq

Lebanon

Libya

Mali

Niger

North Korea

Russia

Somalia

South Sudan

Sudan

Syria

Uganda

Ukraine

Yemen

The advisory includes 11 African countries: Burkina Faso, Central African Republic, Chad, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Libya, Mali, Niger, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan and Uganda.

Meanwhile, Nigeria remains at Level 3: Reconsider Travel, with the U.S. advising its citizens to reconsider travel due to crime, terrorism, kidnapping, civil unrest and inconsistent healthcare services.

However, the U.S. designated several Nigerian states as Level 4: Do Not Travel, including Borno, Jigawa, Kogi, Kwara, Niger, Plateau, Taraba, Yobe, northern Adamawa, Abia, Anambra, Bayelsa, Delta, Enugu, Imo and Rivers State (excluding Port Harcourt).

Reacting to the advisory, the Federal Government described the U.S. decision as a routine precaution based on its internal protocols, maintaining that Nigeria remains stable despite isolated security challenges.