Acting on the latest security updates in Nigeria and some other African countries, the Canadian government, has dropped what is considered one of its biggest travel‑risk updates in recent years, warning citizens to steer clear of 17 African countries, because of spiralling insecurity, political turmoil and extremist violence.
Global Affairs Canada rolled out the advisories between Nov 13‑15, 2025 as part of a wider review that now covers 34 nations worldwide.
Canadian officials pointed to a perfect storm of threats: expanding extremist networks in the Sahel and Horn of Africa, a wave of military coups, communal clashes, mass protests, cross‑border crime, and fragile governance that leaves many states barely holding together.
According to the updates, countries to “Avoid All Travel” include South Sudan, Burkina Faso, Central African Republic, Libya Mali, Niger, Somalia and Sudan.
A local journal, Prime Business Africa, reported that these nations were battling active insurgencies, militant attacks and a near‑collapse of political order.
Canadian officials stated that these made them “extremely risky” for any Canadian traveler.
However, the “Avoid Non‑Essential Travel” countries are Democratic Republic of Congo (Kinshasa), Madagascar, Chad, Ethiopia, Burundi, Eritrea, Mauritania, and Nigeria
Tanzania.
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For these, Canadians have been urged to weigh the purpose of any trip carefully and keep a close eye on local developments.
The advisory cited ongoing unrest, communal violence and volatile politics as the main concerns.
“The revised advisories were informed by worsening armed conflicts, fragile political transitions, and unpredictable security conditions across several regions in Africa,” a statement from Global Affairs Canada read.
For the “Avoid All Travel” list, the warning was stark, meaning, citizens could face extreme danger, limited consular support and a tough time securing evacuation if a crisis hits.
