Washington raises its travel warning to Algeria to highest level

The US State Department recently raised the level of its warning to US travelers wishing to travel to Algeria to Level 4, the highest level on its scale of insecurity, and attributed this to the risks of “terrorism and kidnapping.”

According to the travel warning posted on its website, the State Department advises Americans not to travel to Algeria, as terrorist groups continue to prepare for possible attacks in the North African country, noting that terrorists have recently identified the Algerian security forces as a target.

“Terrorist groups continue plotting possible attacks in Algeria. Terrorists may attack with little or no warning and have recently targeted the Algerian security forces,” the State Department warned, adding that “most attacks take place in rural areas, but attacks are possible in urban areas despite a heavy and active police presence.”

The US State Department recommended that American citizens “avoid traveling to rural areas located less than 50 kilometers from the border with Tunisia, and those located less than 250 kilometers from the borders with Libya, Niger, Mali and Mauritania, due to terrorist and criminal activities, including Kidnappings.”

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have also issued a Level 4 Travel Health Notice for Algeria due to COVID-19, saying that CDC compliant testing for COVID-19 is available, but results are not always available within 3 calendar days of testing. Travelers could experience delays returning to the US, CDC warned.