Travel Warnings - Burkina Faso
Travel Warning U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE Bureau of Consular Affairs
Burkina Faso
April 19, 2011
The U.S. Department of State warns U.S. citizens of the risks of traveling to Burkina Faso and recommends U.S. citizens defer traveling to the country due to increasing security concerns relating to incidents of violence and lawlessness in numerous cities throughout the country since February 22, 2011. The government of Burkina Faso has not yet been able to restore complete control. The overall situation remains tense and unpredictable.
In Ouagadougou, and several other cities throughout the country, including Fada N'Gourma, and Tenkodogo, mutineering soldiers have protested violently, looted, and committed carjackings. There also have been violent protests by other groups. For example, in Ouagadougou from April 14-16, heavily armed individuals in military and civilian clothing were shooting, and attacked several residences of government officials, robbed a number of private homes, raided numerous hotels, and forcibly seized government and private vehicles (most of which were recovered with minimal damage). On April 16, protesting civilians destroyed some government and private buildings and property. From April 16-18, there was renewed violence from mutineering soldiers in a few other cities.
U.S. citizens in Burkina Faso are encouraged to maintain good situational and security awareness and to remain informed of current events. Instances may arise where the best course of action may be to temporarily shelter in place if it is otherwise generally safe to do so. Authorities have periodically imposed curfews, and citizens are advised to abide by these curfews and stay tuned to local developments. Be sure to consult the Embassy's website for further information and warden messages which may suggest additional safety and security measures, including curfews for Embassy employees, and consider abiding by these same measures.
U.S. citizens should also be aware of the security risks in Burkina Faso due to kidnapping threats against Westerners by Al-Qaida in the Lands of the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM). Please consult the Department of State's Worldwide Caution dated January 31, 2011, which addresses the threat AQIM poses to Westerners throughout the Sahel Region.