US Issues New Travel Advisories, Warns Against Visiting Several Countries
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The United States government has issued updated travel advisories warning its citizens against visiting several countries around the world, including key regional neighbours and trading partners. This comes amid heightened security risks in various parts of the globe, especially in multiple African nations.
In a statement released on Wednesday, February 11, the US Department of State’s Bureau of Consular Affairs reaffirmed its fourâtier travel advisory system. At the top of the scale is Level 4 — “Do Not Travel”, the strongest warning category, issued for destinations considered dangerous due to risks such as armed conflict, terrorism, crime, kidnapping and limited ability of the US government to assist its citizens on the ground.
Under the Level 4 advisory, Americans are urged not to travel to the listed countries for any reason, and those already in such places are advised to leave as soon as it is safe to do so.
Several African countries are currently on the Level 4 “Do Not Travel” list, including Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Burkina Faso, Mali and the Central African Republic. These nations have faced ongoing insecurity due to conflicts, terrorist activities and political instability, leading US officials to advise against travel there.
The US travel advisory system also continues to warn against visiting other highârisk countries outside Africa, such as Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq, Libya, Yemen, North Korea, Russia, Syria and Venezuela, among others.
According to the Department of State, travel advisories are regularly reviewed and updated based on evolving security conditions, including threats from civil unrest, kidnapping, wrongful detention and limited emergency support options for US citizens.
In addition to Level 4 warnings, the US has previously issued regional travel alerts within Kenya, advising Americans to exercise caution in specific border and highârisk areas due to threats of terrorism and crime.