6 Travel warnings – Terrorism in Africa

Since the terrorist attack on tourists in Tunisa, we have received many enquiries about any travel insurance warning for South Africans  travelling in Africa. The British Foreign and Commonwealth Office have issued the following warnings where terrorism has occurred in Africa:

Burundi Travel warning

Travel warnings are issued for all areas in Burundi within 1 km of the border with the Democratic Republic of Congo. There is also a warning against travel in the Cibitoke and Bubanza provinces and the Ruvubu National Park, the road north of Bujumbura airport towards Cibitoke, the main road running west from Kayanza through the Kibira National Park have also been issued. The FCO  also advise against all but essential travel to the rest of Burundi.

Airside transit through Bujumbura International Airport has not been included in the warning  . The airport is open and commercial airlines are currently in operation and it is advised if you are not in Burundi for essential reasons, to leave via this route.

Parliamentary elections that were held on 29 June and the future Presidential elections planned for 21 July are thought to be responsible for violent related deaths and incidents.

In Bujumbura in the areas of Kanyosha and Kamenge, foreigners  are at risk of opportunistic crime.  Street crime is high, particularly while withdrawing money and incidents of armed burglary have been reported. Al Shabaab has  also made public threats against Burundi because of its support to the African Union peacekeeping mission in Somalia.

Tunisia Travel warning

Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) advise against all travel to the Chaambi Mountain National Park area, the Tunisia-Algeria border crossing points at Ghardimaou, Hazoua and Sakiet Sidi Youssef, the militarized zone south of, but not including the towns of El Borma and Dhehiba within 5km of the Libya border area from north of Dhehiba. The FCO also advises against all but essential travel to the rest of Tunisia. Despite good co-operation from Tunisian authorities with the British Government, it is believed that the threat of further terrorist attacks are still significant. Read more here for the latest information updated on 16 October 2023.

Cameroon travel warning

On the night of 12-13 July two suicide bombs exploded in a night market in Fotokol in the Far North province killing numerous people

Chad

A suicide bomb attack took place in the main market in N’Djamena on 11 July 2015 killing 15 people. Take extra care and monitor the local news

Egypt

On 11 July, there was an explosion at the Italian Consulate in Cairo. There is a high threat from terrorism.

Nigeria

High threat from terrorism particularly in the period up to the end of Ramadan and Eid Al-Fitr (culminating around the date of 19th July 2015).

Important information for clients and travel agents

It is important to note that you will be not be covered for kidnap and wrongful detention if you travel to a country when a travel insurance warning to a country has been issued by the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office. Kidnap and wrongful detention is also not provided if you travel to Angola, Brazil, Colombia, Mexico, Nigeria, Philippines, Somalia and Venezuela. Consider our Africa, Asia travel insurance if you are traveling in Africa.