Reissued with obsolete COVID-19 page links removed.
Reconsider travel to Ethiopia due tosporadic violent conflict, civil unrest, crime, communications disruptions, terrorism and kidnapping in border areas.
Do Not Travel To:
- Tigray Region and border with Eritrea due tosporadic violent conflict, civil unrest, and crime.
- Afar-Tigrayborder areasduetosporadic violent conflict, civil unrest, and crime.
- Amhara Region due tosporadic violent conflict and civil unrest.
- Gambella and Benishangul Gumuz Regions due tocrime, kidnapping, ethnically motivated violence, and sporadic violent conflict
- Oromia Region – Specific areas due to sporadic violent conflict, civil unrest, and ethnically motivated violence.
- Southern Nations and National People (SNNP) Region due tosporadic violent conflict, civil unrest, and ethnically motivated violence.
- Border area with Somalia due toterrorism, kidnapping, and landmines.
- Border areas with Sudan, and South Sudan due tocrime, kidnapping, civil unrest, and sporadic violent conflict.
- Border areas with Kenya due to the potential forterrorism and ethnically motivated violence.
The security situation in Addis Ababa is stable. However, there is sporadic violent conflict and civil unrest in other areas of Ethiopia, and the security situation may deteriorate without warning. The U.S. Embassy is unlikely to be able to assist with departure from the country if the security situation deteriorates. Due to sporadic violent conflict and civil unrest throughout parts of Ethiopia, travel by U.S. government personnel is routinely assessed for additional restrictions. Please see information onWhat the Department of State Can and Can't Do in a Crisis.
U.S. officials have limited ability to provide services to U.S. citizens outside of Addis Ababa and have very limited consular access to U.S. citizens detained by Ethiopian authorities. The government of Ethiopia haspreviously restricted or shut down internet, cellular data, and phone services before, during, and after civil unrest. These restrictions impede the U.S. Embassy’s ability to communicate with and provide consular services to U.S. citizens in Ethiopia.
Please contact the Embassy’s American Citizen Services Unit atAddisACS@state.govfor further assistance.
Read thecountry information pagefor additional information about travel to Ethiopia.
If you decide to travel to Ethiopia:
- Monitor local media for breaking events and be prepared to adjust your plans.
- Be aware of your surroundings.
- Stay alert in locations frequented by U.S. citizens/Westerners/foreign travelers.
- Carry a copy of your passport and visa and leave originals in your hotel safe.
- Have evacuation plans that do not rely on U.S. government assistance.
- Enroll in theSmart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP)to receive Alerts and make it easier to locate you in an emergency.
- Alerts and make it easier to locate you in an emergency.
- Follow the Department of State onFacebookandTwitter.
- Review theCountry Security Report for Ethiopia.
- U.S. citizens who travel abroad should always have a contingency plan for emergency situations. Review theTraveler’s Checklist.
- Visit the CDC page for the latestTravel Health Informationrelated to your travel.
Tigray Region and Border with Eritrea – Do Not Travel
Due to sporadic violent conflict, civil unrest, and crime, the Tigray Region and the border with Eritrea are restricted for travel by U.S. government personnel, with limited exceptions to support humanitarian capacity and priority diplomatic engagement efforts. Border roads with Eritrea are closed and conditions at the border may change with no warning.
Afar-Tigray Border Area– Do Not Travel
Due to sporadic violent conflict, civil unrest, and crime, the Afar-Tigray border area is restricted for travel by U.S. government personnel, with limited exceptions to support humanitarian capacity and priority diplomatic engagement efforts.
Amhara Region–Do Not Travel
Due to sporadic violent conflict and civil unrest, the Amhara Region is currently off-limits for U.S. government personnel, with limited exceptions to support humanitarian capacity and priority diplomatic engagement efforts.
Gambella Region – Do Not Travel
Due to crime, kidnapping, the potential for ethnically motivated violence, and sporadic violent conflict, the Gambella Region is restricted for travel by U.S. government personnel, with limited exceptions to support humanitarian capacity and priority diplomatic engagement efforts.
Benishangul Gumuz Region – Do Not Travel
Due to crime, kidnapping, the potential for ethnically motivated violence and sporadic violent conflict, the Benishangul Gumuz Regionis restricted for travel by U.S. government personnel, with limited exceptions to support humanitarian capacity and priority diplomatic engagement efforts.
Oromia Region – Specific Areas – Do Not Travel
Due to sporadic violent conflict, civil unrest, and ethnically motivated violence, the following zones in Oromia are restricted for travel by U.S. government personnel, with limited exceptions to support humanitarian capacity and priority diplomatic engagement efforts: the entirety of Horro-GuduruWollega, EastWollega, West Wollega, Kelem Wollega, Illubabor, and Bale. Other areas in Oromia include portions of North, West, and Southwest Shewa to the immediate north and west of Addis Ababa; the Boset and Fentale woredas of East Shewa zone between Welenchiti and Awash; portions of the Borena zone surrounding Bule Hora; and portions of Guji zone to the east of Bule Hora.
Southern Nations and National People (SNNP) Region – Specific Areas – Do Not Travel
Due to sporadic violent conflict, civil unrest, and ethnically motivated violence the following towns and areas in SNNP are restricted for travel by U.S. government personnel, with limited exceptions to support humanitarian capacity and priority diplomatic engagement efforts: Gedeo, Konso zones and the Amaro and Derashe special woredas.
Border Area with Somalia – Do Not Travel
Terrorists maintain a presence in Somali towns near the Ethiopian border, presenting a risk of cross-border attacks and kidnappings. Landmines are present in this region. U.S. government personnel are not permitted to travel to the border areas with Somalia, with limited exceptions to support humanitarian capacity efforts.
Border Areas with Sudan and South Sudan – Do Not Travel
Crime, kidnapping, the potential for ethnically motivated violence, and sporadic violent conflict exist near the Ethiopian borders with Sudan and South Sudan. This includes but is not limited to the Nuer Zone and the Jore Woreda of the Agnuak Zone in the Gambela region, and the Pawe, Guba, Dangur, Dibati, and Bulen woredas, and the Metekel zone in the Benishangul Gumuz Region. U.S. government personnel are not permitted to travel to the border areas of Sudan and South Sudan, with limited exceptions to support humanitarian capacity efforts.
Border Areas with Kenya – Do Not Travel
Terrorists, particularly Al-Shabaab, maintain a presence in this area, and ethnically motivated violence has been reported. This includes but is not limited to the Borena zone and surrounding areas. U.S. government personnel are not permitted to travel to the border areas with Kenya, with limited exceptions to support humanitarian capacity efforts.
Visit our website for advice if you decide toTravel to High-Risk Areas.
