Travel advice for Burkina Faso

Australia advises avoiding all travel for Burkina Faso.

Canada advises avoiding all travel to Burkina Faso because terrorism, kidnapping and political instability create risks. Terrorist danger is particularly high along the Niger, Mali, Togo and Côte d'Ivoire borders and in northern, eastern and southwestern regions, while kidnapping risk is especially high near Niger and Mali. State of emergency rules apply in eight regions, demonstrations can turn violent, and petty crime is common in Ouagadougou, especially after dark.

Hungary advises avoiding all travel for Burkina Faso.

Avoid all travel to Burkina Faso because the political and security situation is unstable and volatile, with possible unrest at short notice and threats of terrorist attacks and kidnappings. If already there, consider leaving if safe, be prepared to leave quickly, stay indoors, avoid unnecessary journeys, demonstrations and large gatherings, and observe curfews. Attacks are frequent near borders and in the east, and consular assistance is extremely limited.

Japan advises against all travel to Burkina Faso. In the specified level 4 provinces and the Ghana border area, it advises residents to evacuate immediately and travellers to stop travel because extremist attacks, killings, ambushes and fighting create an extreme security threat. Elsewhere, including Ouagadougou, it also advises against travel because terrorism, demonstrations and unrest remain possible amid worsening security and economic conditions.

Avoid all travel to Burkina Faso due to insecurity, terrorism, possible further coups, kidnapping and armed robbery. Avoid all travel north of Boulsa, especially near the Mali and Niger borders; terror attacks threaten nationwide, including Ouagadougou. Avoid night driving on the Bobo Dioulasso-coast, Fada-Benin/Togo and Ouagadougou-Pô roads, and use extra care or fly between Ouagadougou and Bobo Dioulasso. Malaria, other tropical diseases and limited health services also pose risks.

Avoid all travel to Burkina Faso because terrorist attacks are very likely and frequent throughout the country, particularly near the borders with Mali, Niger and Côte d’Ivoire and in the east. Attacks may target crowded places, public sites, transport hubs and government facilities. Medical facilities are very limited, emergency services outside Ouagadougou are unlikely to respond, and serious treatment may require evacuation to Europe.

Avoid all travel to Burkina Faso because crime, kidnapping, terrorism and limited medical care pose serious risks. Violent crime, armed roadblocks and attacks occur nationwide, while kidnapping is especially high in Ouagadougou and the Sahel and East regions. A state of emergency covers several specified provinces and regions. U.S. employees may not travel outside Ouagadougou, and nighttime travel to the Balkiui and Rayongo neighborhoods is discouraged.

Avoid travel outside Ouagadougou, where a regional travel warning applies, and also avoid travel to the capital. Stay at your accommodation in the evenings and at night, and avoid the city centre from 21:00 to 05:00 because of checkpoint incidents. Abductions, robberies and terrorist attacks are possible; avoid the N1 to Bobo-Dioulasso, demonstrations, crowds, exposed places and places often visited by foreigners, as well as overland and night travel.

Avoid non-essential travel to Ouagadougou and Bobo-Dioulasso and avoid all travel to the rest of Burkina Faso. The government warns that some areas are outside government control and at high risk of terrorist attacks and kidnappings. Travellers may face curfews, checkpoints, spontaneous house searches, arbitrary detention or arrest, including on suspicion of espionage, and consular assistance may be limited.

Avoid non-essential travel to Burkina Faso. Most of the country is red, meaning do not travel, because armed groups, fighting, terrorist attacks and kidnappings create danger, and consular assistance is limited. Ouagadougou and Bobo-Dioulasso are orange, essential travel only; travel between them must be by air because of road robberies. Other risks include arbitrary arrests, strict controls, curfew, crime, demonstrations, floods, landslides, and discrimination or imprisonment for LGBTQ+ people.