U.S. State Department Travel Warning - Niger

Bureau of Consular Affairs
May 11, 2010

The Department of State warns U.S. citizens of the risks of travel to Niger and recommends against all travel to the north of the country due to kidnapping threats against Westerners.

Al-Qaida in the Lands of the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM), a terrorist group, continues its attempts to kidnap Westerners, including U.S. citizens in Niger, and has been successful in kidnapping Europeans in the region. On April 20, a French citizen was kidnapped by a group affiliated with AQIM in a location west of Agadez. In November 2009, heavily armed individuals attempted to kidnap U.S. embassy officials in Tahoua.

Due to these ongoing security threats, Embassy Niamey continues to restrict the travel of U.S. government employees and official visitors in areas north of Niamey, and warns U.S. citizens to exercise extreme caution and remain vigilant.

Although the U.S. government places the highest priority on the safe recovery of kidnapped U.S. citizens, it is U.S. policy not to make concessions to kidnappers.

All U.S. citizens residing or traveling in Niger are urged to register with the Department of State or the U.S. Embassy in Niamey through the State Department's travel registration website.

The U.S. Embassy is located on Rue des Ambassades, Niamey, Niger. The U.S. Embassy's mailing address is B.P. 11201, Niamey, Niger. The telephone number is (227)-20-72-26-61 through 64. Emergency after-hours telephone number is (227)-20-72-31-41. The consular fax number is (227) - 20-73-31-67 or 20-72-31-46. The Embassy webpage is http://niamey.usembassy.gov/

Updated information on travel and security in Niger may be obtained from the Department of State by calling 1-888-407-4747 toll-free in the United States or outside the United States and Canada on a regular toll line at 1-202-501-4444. For information on general crime and security issues, U.S. citizens should also consult the Department of State's Country Specific Information for Niger as well as The Worldwide Caution, located on the Bureau of Consular Affairs website.