US Issues Highest Travel Warning for 23 Countries

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.