24 Oct 2018 | 10:14 AM UTC
Niger: New travel advisory issued by the British Foreign Commonwealth Office
The British Foreign Commonwealth Office advices its nationals to avoid travel to W National Park and surrounding hunting areas due to terrorist risk
Event
On Tuesday, October 23, the British Foreign Commonwealth Office (FCO) updated its Niger travel advisory, advising its citizens to avoid travel to W National Park as well as the bordering Dosso and Tamou hunting zones due to the serious terrorist risk in the area.
Context
Despite its name, W National Park spans parts of three countries: Niger, Benin, and Burkina Faso. Increased militant activity, including attacks, has been reported in areas of the park located eastern Burkina Faso.
Niger faces a high threat from terrorism, including armed attacks and abductions. Militant Islamist cells from various Nigerian and Malian terrorist groups - including Boko Haram as well as Al-Qa'ida in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM), the Movement for Oneness and Jihad in West Africa (MUJAO), and Al-Mourabitoun - are all active in the country.
Advice
Individuals throughout Niger should exercise vigilance when visiting sites deemed particularly likely to be targeted by an attack (government buildings, prominent hotels, etc.) and report any suspicious objects or behavior to the authorities.
As a reminder, many Western governments advise their citizens against all travel to areas located in the north and west of the country, as well as areas along the Nigerian border to the south, due to the high risk of terrorist activity.
