NAIROBI (Kaab TV) – The United States has elevated its travel advisory for Somalia to Level 4 – Do Not Travel, the highest warning level issued by the U.S. State Department.
This change on 14 May, reflects the growing security threats across the country and underscores the serious limitations in the U.S. government’s ability to assist its citizens in Somalia.
A Level 4 travel advisory means that the U.S. government strongly advises all U.S. citizens to avoid travel to Somalia under any circumstances due to life-threatening risks.
This classification is reserved for countries facing extreme danger, including widespread violence, terrorism, civil unrest, or a breakdown of government control.
In Somalia’s case, the advisory cites terrorism, armed conflict, kidnapping, and limited consular access as key reasons.
U.S. government personnel in the country are restricted to the Mogadishu International Airport complex, where the U.S. Embassy is located, and are not permitted to travel elsewhere in the country.
“Due to security risks, U.S. government employees working in Somalia are prohibited from traveling outside the Mogadishu International Airport complex,” the State Department said.
Although the U.S. Embassy staff stay in Nairobi, the U.S. government has extremely limited capacity to assist citizens in emergencies, particularly outside of Mogadishu.
The advisory warns that terrorist groups, including Al-Shabaab, continue to carry out frequent and deadly attacks using methods such as car bombs, suicide bombers, armed gunmen, and mortar and rocket attacks.
On March 18, Al-Shabaab bombed Mogadishu city centre, killing several people including Somali journalist. Around the same time, the group escalated attacks on Mogadishu’s airport, including mortar fire.
The U.S Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has also issued a Special Federal Aviation Regulation, banning certain U.S. flights over Somali airspace due to risks from extremist and military activity.
Political Tensions and Deepening Crisis
The U.S. warning comes at a time when Somalia’s political environment is increasingly unstable.
The country faces unresolved disputes over the constitution, federal power-sharing, and the role of the federal member states.
Tensions between the central government in Mogadishu and regional states such as Puntland and Jubbaland have worsened, hindering national reconciliation and state-building efforts.
In recent months, there has been a notable increase in reports of militia recruitment and arming by rival political factions and clans, raising fears of a return to large-scale factional fighting.
In several regions, clan rivalries have intensified, leading to local clashes and displacement further threatening the fragile stability in key parts of the country, including Mogadishu.