The United States has issued a travel advisory warning American citizens against traveling to Niger due to heightened risks of crime, civil unrest, terrorism, kidnapping, and limited healthcare infrastructure.
The advisory comes after the kidnapping of an American missionary in the capital city of Niamey last week.
The US Department of State urges Americans to avoid traveling to Niger for any reason, citing safety risks, and notes that government assistance will be limited outside of Niamey.
Government staff in Niger are required to travel in armored vehicles, observe a mandatory curfew, and avoid restaurants and open-air markets.
Unfortunately, kidnappings have increased in West Africa, with several incidents reported in Niger this year, including the abduction of an Austrian woman in January and a Swiss citizen in April.
A similar Level 4 travel advisory has been issued for neighboring Mali, where the government faces pressure from al-Qaeda-linked insurgents.
