Canada Warns Citizens Against Travel to 17 African Countries Including Nigeria

The Canadian government has issued sweeping new travel advisories for 17 African countries, warning its citizens to avoid travel to regions facing escalating insecurity, political instability, and extremist violence.

Global Affairs Canada released the updates between November 13 and 15, 2025, as part of a broader review affecting 34 countries worldwide. Officials said the warnings were prompted by a surge in threats across parts of the continent, including expanding extremist networks in the Sahel and the Horn of Africa, a wave of military coups, communal clashes, mass protests, cross-border crime and deteriorating governance.

Countries placed on Canada’s “Avoid All Travel” list include South Sudan, Burkina Faso, Central African Republic, Libya, Mali, Niger, Somalia and Sudan. According to Prime Business Africa, these nations are grappling with active insurgencies, militant attacks and severe political instability, making them “extremely risky” for Canadian travellers.

Another group of countries, Democratic Republic of Congo (Kinshasa), Madagascar, Chad, Ethiopia, Burundi, Eritrea, Mauritania, Tanzania and Nigeria, were designated “Avoid Non-Essential Travel.” For these destinations, Canadians are advised to reconsider the need for travel and closely monitor unfolding local developments due to ongoing unrest, communal violence and unpredictable political conditions.

“The revised advisories were informed by worsening armed conflicts, fragile political transitions, and unpredictable security conditions across several regions in Africa,” Global Affairs Canada said in a statement.

For nations under the “Avoid All Travel” classification, the government warned that citizens could face extreme danger, minimal consular support and significant challenges in securing evacuation if a crisis occurs.