Burkina Faso Travel Risk

Do not travel to Burkina Faso for any reason due to crime, kidnapping, terrorism, and health.

Do not travel to Burkina Faso for any reason.

U.S. government employee travel restrictions

U.S. government employees working in Burkina Faso are not allowed to travel outside of Ouagadougou due to safety risks. Personnel are discouraged from nighttime travel to the Balkiui and Rayongo (also known as Dayongo) neighborhoods of Ouagadougou’s Arrondissement 11.

Americans in Burkina Faso are strongly advised to take the same precautions.

Crime

State of Emergency

Violent crime is common throughout Burkina Faso. Crimes include kidnapping, assault, armed robbery, home invasion, and carjacking especially during local holidays and seasonal events.

Roadblocks, including those set up by armed groups, occur throughout the country. In urban areas, police checkpoints may also be present, particularly at night. In addition, highways across the country are frequently the scene of attacks on government, civilian, and commercial targets.

Your travel insurance could be invalidated if you travel against advice from the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO).

Areas where FCDO advises against travel

FCDO advises against all travel to Burkina Faso.

This is due to the threat of terrorist attacks and terrorist kidnap, and the unstable political situation in the country.

Find out more about why FCDO advises against travel.

Limited consular support

There is no British Embassy in Burkina Faso and all consular support is provided from the British Embassy in Accra, Ghana. They cannot provide in-person assistance.

If there is serious violence, unrest or a deterioration in the security situation, it could be difficult to leave safely. Do not rely on the British government to evacuate you as they may not be able to do so. Have your own plans on how you would leave the country, make sure you keep all travel documentation up to date and monitor the local situation.

Before you travel

No travel can be guaranteed safe. Read all the advice in this guide. You may also find it helpful to:

• see general advice for women travellers
• read our guide on disability and travel abroad
• see general advice for LGBT+ travellers
• read about safety for solo and independent travel
• see advice on volunteering and adventure travel abroad

Travel insurance

If you choose to travel despite FCDO advice, research your destinations and get appropriate travel insurance. Insurance should cover your itinerary, planned activities and expenses in an emergency.

Terrorism

There is a high threat of terrorist attack globally affecting UK interests and British nationals, including from groups and individuals who view the UK and British nationals as targets. Stay aware of your surroundings at all times.

UK Counter Terrorism Policing has information and advice on staying safe and what to do in the event of a terrorist attack. Find out how to reduce your risk from terrorism while abroad.

Terrorism in Burkina Faso

Terrorists are very likely to try to carry out attacks in Burkina Faso.

Several terrorist groups operate in Burkina Faso, including Jama’a Nusrat ul-Islam wa al-Muslimin (JNIM) and Islamic State.

There is a high threat from terrorism throughout the country, including increasingly in the capital, Ouagadougou. Terrorist attacks could be indiscriminate, including in places frequented by foreign nationals, such as:

• diplomatic premises
• conference centres
• tourist sites
• sporting and cultural events including music festivals
• shopping centres
• major roads and transport hubs
• religious sites and places of worship, particularly churches
• national parks and nature reserves
• foreign, national or local government buildings
• large crowds

There may be a heightened risk of attack during festivals, and religious and public holiday periods. Stay aware of your surroundings, keep up to date with local media reports and follow the advice of the local authorities.

There are frequent attacks across Burkina Faso, particularly close to the borders with Mali, Niger and Côte d’Ivoire and in the eastern region.

See also road safety

Examples of significant attacks include:

• in August 2024, at least 400 people were killed in a village attack in Barsalogho, Sanmatenga
• in July 2024, the office of Doctors Without Borders (MSF) was attacked by gunfire in Djibo, Sahel
• in February 2024, at least 15 people were killed in an attack on a church in Essakane, Oudalan
• in February 2024, at least 12 people were killed in an attack on a mosque in Natiaboani, Gourma
• in 2023, two foreign nationals were killed in an attack on a commercial truck convoy on the N3 (near Diori), Sahel
• in 2023, around 20 people were killed in attacks on 6 villages in the southwest of Seytenga including Foufou, Mira and Lipsi

Terrorist kidnap

There’s a very high threat of kidnapping by Al-Qaeda and regional Islamic State-affiliated groups in Burkina Faso. These include Jamaat Nusrat al-Islam wal Muslimeen (JNIM) and Islamic State Greater Sahara (ISGS ), who operate throughout Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso.

A number of foreign nationals have been kidnapped and killed in Burkina Faso in recent years, especially in the northeast of the country.

British nationals are seen as legitimate targets, including tourists, humanitarian aid workers, journalists and business travellers. If you are kidnapped, the reason for your presence is unlikely to protect you or secure your safe release.

If you’re working or travelling in Burkina Faso, you should be aware of the risk of terrorist kidnapping. You should maintain a high level of vigilance at all times, including when travelling. You should be particularly vigilant when walking in crowded public places, including camps for displaced people, religious gatherings and insecure spaces like places of worship, markets, shopping malls, hotels, bars, night clubs, restaurants, nature reserves and national parks, and transport hubs. You should avoid regular patterns of travel and aim to only travel during daylight hours.

The long-standing policy of the British government is to not make substantive concessions to hostage takers. The British government considers that paying ransoms and releasing prisoners builds the capability of terrorist groups and finances their activities. This can, in turn, increase the risk of further hostage-taking. The Terrorism Act (2000) makes payments to terrorists illegal.

Risk level

BURKINA FASO - AVOID ALL TRAVEL

Avoid all travel to Burkina Faso due to the threat of terrorism, the risk of kidnapping, and the unstable political situation.

Political situation

Two coups occurred in Burkina Faso in 2022. The country is ruled by a transitional government led by the military. In September 2023, the authorities announced a postponement of the presidential elections scheduled for July 2024. The situation remains unstable and could deteriorate rapidly.

If you are in Burkina Faso:

• remain vigilant
• monitor local media regularly to stay informed of the situation
• follow the instructions of local authorities

Terrorism

There is a threat of terrorism throughout Burkina Faso, particularly in areas bordering Niger, Mali, Togo, and Côte d'Ivoire, and in the following administrative regions:

• North
• Sahel
• East
• Southwest
• Boucle du Mouhoun
• Centre-Nord
• Center, where Ouagadougou is located

The Burkinabe armed forces are unable to ensure security throughout the country. Counterterrorism operations carried out by the army and various armed militias regularly cause numerous civilian casualties.

Attacks occur frequently throughout the country and regularly target security forces and civilians. In the past, attacks have targeted Western interests in Burkina Faso.

Further attacks are highly likely, particularly in areas controlled by terrorist groups.

The following locations could be targeted:

• government buildings, including police stations
• schools
• places of worship
• airports and other transportation hubs or networks
• extraction sites and companies
• public places such as tourist attractions, restaurants, bars, cafes, shopping centers, markets, hotels, and other places frequented by foreigners

Always be aware of your surroundings when in public places.

Be particularly vigilant during:

• sporting events
• religious holidays
• public celebrations
• major political events, such as elections

Terrorists may take advantage of these occasions to carry out attacks.

布基纳法索现有红色（极高风险）地区22个，其他地区均为橙色（高风险）。具体如下：

一、红色地区：巴姆省、巴瓦省、科莫埃省、尼亚尼亚省、古尔马省、柯内多古省、科蒙加里省、孔皮恩加省、科西省、库尔贝洛戈省、洛鲁姆省、纳门腾加省、纳亚拉省、乌达兰省、桑马腾加省、塞诺省、苏姆省、苏鲁省、塔波阿省、图伊省、亚加省、雅腾加省。外交部提醒中国公民近期暂勿前往布基纳法索上述地区，已在当地的人员和机构尽快撤离或转移至安全地区。如遇紧急情况，请及时报警并与中国驻当地使领馆取得联系。

二、橙色地区：其他地区。外交部提醒中国公民近期谨慎前往布基纳法索其他地区，已在当地的人员和机构密切关注局势发展，保持高度警惕，加强安全防范和应急准备，确保人身和财产安全。如遇紧急情况，请及时报警并与中国驻当地使领馆取得联系。

外交部和驻外使领馆将继续密切关注海外安全形势变化，动态调整有关风险评估，并实时在中国领事服务网等平台发布、更新相应安全提醒，请持续关注。