The United States has raised its travel advisory for Niger to the highest risk level, warning citizens against visiting the West African country due to escalating crime, terrorism, and kidnapping threats.
In a statement released Friday, the U.S. State Department classified Niger as a Level 4 “Do Not Travel” destination, citing growing insecurity under the military junta that seized power in July 2023.
“Do not travel for any reason due to crime, unrest, terrorism, health, and kidnapping,” the department said on X, adding that it had authorized the departure of all family members of U.S. government employees in the country.
The move follows the kidnapping of an American missionary last week in Niamey, Niger’s capital — the latest in a series of abductions targeting Westerners in the region.
Earlier this year, several citizens of Western countries were reportedly abducted in northern Niger, where jihadist groups linked to al-Qaeda and the Islamic State have intensified attacks.
The advisory underscores Washington’s growing concern over instability in the Sahel region, where military coups and insurgent violence have upended democratic governance and strained Western counterterrorism efforts.
