5 African countries added to U.S. high-risk travel list amid growing instability

The latest travel advisories, issued between September and October 2025, place Mali and Niger at Level 4: Do Not Travel, Sudan also at Level 4, while Madagascar and Tanzania have both been raised to Level 3: Reconsider Travel.

The updated advisory, issued by the State Department, warns Americans against travel to regions plagued by violent unrest, terrorism, and weak governance.

The rankings reflect the U.S. government’s growing concern over escalating violence, governance breakdowns, and shifting geopolitical alliances across the continent.

Niger faces a similar threat landscape, with terrorism, crime, and political unrest making travel unsafe beyond the capital, Niamey. Sudan remains mired in conflict between the military and paramilitary forces, with the U.S. Embassy in Khartoum still closed since 2023.

In Madagascar, rising violent crime and political demonstrations have pushed the advisory to Level 3, while Tanzania joins the list due to unrest, terrorism threats, and the reported targeting of gay and lesbian individuals.

The new U.S. travel advisories reflect Africa’s deepening security and governance crises. While extremist groups linked to ISIS and al-Qaeda continue to exploit weak state control and porous borders across the Sahel, much of the instability is also rooted in political dysfunction.

Endemic corruption, power struggles, and flawed elections have weakened institutions and eroded public trust, creating fertile ground for violence and insurgency.

Despite years of military campaigns, attacks remain frequent, particularly in Mali and Niger, where civilians, security forces, and foreign interests face near-daily threats.

Behind the violence lies a broader crisis of leadership as entrenched elites cling to power, undermine reforms, and weaken the very state structures meant to protect citizens.

Ultimately, the advisories capture a sobering truth: Africa’s struggle is not only against terrorism but also against the political decay and poor governance that continue to fuel insecurity and hinder the continent’s path toward stability.

Washington insists its growing focus on Africa’s security crises stems from legitimate concerns, including the spread of extremist violence, humanitarian instability, and the fear that terrorism networks could expand unchecked.

However, critics across Africa question Washington’s motives. They argue that America’s renewed involvement is less about humanitarian aid and more about strategic resource control.

Nations like Niger hold vast uranium reserves, Mali and Sudan are major gold producers, and Madagascar and Tanzania boast lithium and graphite, key components for electric vehicles. For these skeptics, labeling such countries as “high risk” gives the U.S. a pretext to expand its security and intelligence presence, ensuring leverage over regions central to the next phase of industrial and energy competition.