Due to civil unrest or high crime rates, many countries are unsafe to travel to in general. Unfortunately, some of these countries are especially dangerous for U.S. citizens.
Based on the United States Travel Advisory, this list details ten countries that U.S. citizens should avoid at all costs due to a risk of kidnapping, harm, or death. Please travel with caution and stay safe.
1. Burkina Faso
A country in West Africa, Burkina Faso is one of Africa’s largest cotton producers and contributes to a large portion of the country’s economy. Its wildlife preserves have made it a popular destination for traveling.
Unfortunately, it has been labeled a Level 4 on the U.S. Travel Advisory, making it unsafe for travel. Kidnapping, crime, and terrorism plague the country, with terrorist attacks marking schools, hotels, and restaurants with no mercy.
2. Afghanistan
Officially known as the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, this country is plagued with terrorism. A Level 4, Afghanistan is unsafe to travel to as the Taliban, an Islamist fundamentalist organization that seized the capital of Kabul in 1996, continues to ravage the country with its merciless ideals and policies on religious minorities, women, and political opponents.
Throughout Afghanistan is the continuous conflict of terrorism, kidnapping, armed conflict, crime, and civil unrest. And, as the United States was at war with the Taliban for twenty years, United States citizens are exceptionally at risk of harm and death.
3. Central African Republic
Previously known as Ubangi-Shari, the Central African Republic is rich in natural resources and yet is still the second-poorest country in the world by GDP per capita and the hungriest country in the world.
Though there have been no specific attacks on U.S. citizens in the Central African Republic, it is labeled a Level 4. The reason for this is the violent crime and abrupt closure of borders and roads frequently occurring across the country.
4. Belarus
Officially the Republic of Belarus, this country is located in Eastern Europe and bordered by Russia and Ukraine. Belarus gave Russia access to its land as part of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Due to the buildup of Russian military forces in Belarus and the continuous war between the bordering countries of Ukraine and Russia, Belarus is classified as a Level 4. The risk of detention, the potential of civil unrest, and the limited ability of the U.S. embassy to aid its citizens in Belarus are the causes.
5. Libya
Located in North Africa, the State of Libya is bordered by the Mediterranean Sea and Egypt. The country is mostly desert and is rich in oil, an important source of trade for the United States. Even with the trading relations between the two countries, Libya has been labeled a Level 4 on the U.S. Travel Advisory.
After its dictatorship ended over a decade ago, Libya has undergone internal conflict with armed groups in the West and East. United States citizens in Libya have been kidnapped and used for ransom by terrorists, resulting in the country being labeled unsafe for travel.
6. Lebanon
A country in the Middle East bordering the Mediterranean Sea, Israel, and Syria, Lebanon has been labeled a Level 4 on the U.S. Travel Advisory. U.S. citizens are not advised to travel to this country in the Middle East.
After the Israel-Hamas war broke out in October 2023, Lebanon escalated from a Level 3 to a Level 4. The unpredictability of military and armed conflict, including missile, rocket, and artillery exchanges, has resulted in all U.S. citizens being authorized to flee the country for safety.
7. Iraq
The Republic of Iraq has been labeled unsafe for U.S. citizens in the Middle East for years due to the United States’ involvement in the Iraq War. U.S. involvement aimed to end the dictatorial rule of Saddam Hussein and eliminate Iraqi weapons of mass destruction.
Iraq is a Level 4 on the Travel Advisory due to risks of armed conflict, kidnapping, terrorism, and civil unrest. Its borders with Syria and Israel make it more likely to undergo attack.
8. Iran
Once called Persia, Iran is bordered by Turkey and Iraq. It is not recommended for U.S. citizens to travel as a Level 4. Though kidnapping and wrongful detention are risk factors for all who travel to Iran, U.S. citizens are especially at risk and targeted.
9. Haiti
The third largest country in the Caribbean, Haiti, is a Level 4 in the U.S. Travel Advisory for its high risk of violent crime, armed conflict, gang attacks, and kidnapping. All U.S. citizens have been advised to leave Haiti immediately to avoid harm or death.
10. Mali
Mali is the eighth-largest country in Africa and is famous for its salt mines. It is a Level 4, and U.S. travelers must avoid this country.
Undergoing a military coup in 2020, Mali has been wrought with kidnapping, crime, armed conflict, and terrorism since. As of October 3, 2023, Mali is at risk of civil war as terror continues to spread through this country.
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