US Elevates Niger to Do-Not-Travel Amid Growing Security Risks in 2026
The U.S. State Department added Niger to its Level 4 'Do Not Travel' advisory in January 2026 due to terrorism, kidnapping, violent crime, civil unrest, and limited emergency/healthcare capacity. Non-Niamey travel requires military escorts, and consular services are limited outside Niamey. Niger joins eight African countries under the highest travel alert (Libya, Mali, Burkina Faso, Central African Republic, South Sudan, Sudan, Somalia, and parts of the Sahel), reflecting ongoing regional insecurity.