The United States Department of State has added Niger to its Level 4 “Do Not Travel” advisory, citing sharply deteriorating security marked by terrorism, kidnapping, violent crime, civil unrest, and limited access to emergency and healthcare services.
Issued January 30, 2026, the advisory warns Americans against all travel to Niger and says US authorities cannot provide routine or emergency consular services outside the capital, Niamey. A state of emergency and movement restrictions remain in effect across large parts of the country.
Officials pointed to recent militant activity, including a gunfight involving Islamic State–affiliated fighters at Diori Hamani International Airport, as evidence of escalating risks for foreigners.
Under current security rules, foreigners traveling beyond Niamey must use Nigerien military escorts. US government personnel face strict measures such as armored transport, curfews, and bans on visiting restaurants and open-air markets. Americans who remain in Niger are urged to adopt similar precautions.
With Niger’s addition, eight African countries now fall under Washington’s highest alert. Others on Level 4 include Libya, Mali, Burkina Faso, Central African Republic, South Sudan, Sudan, and Somalia, along with parts of the Sahel where insurgency and weak state control persist.
Level 4 is reserved for environments facing extreme threats such as armed conflict, terrorism, or widespread violence. Beyond travel risks, such designations typically trigger sharp drops in tourism, deter foreign investment, and lead to scaled-back diplomatic operations.
