July 04, 2025
Travelling in Africa
Travel to Africa should be well prepared as there are huge variation in the overall safety situation. At a high level, the risk from disease, especaily malaria in West Africa and parts of Southern Africa should be researched and road traffic accidents remain a constant thrreat.
The Sahel is highly unstable, particulary Mali, Chad, Burkina Fasa, Niger, Northern Nigeria. Parts of Somalia and Ethiopia are also in a flux of conflict. In mid April 23 Sudan descended into open civil war between the government/Army and the Rapid Suppoert Forces (RSF). A coup in early August 23 disposed the elected goverment in Niger but the region into further crisis. The risk from terrorism is significant in Kenya, parts of Egypt (Sinai).However, many parts of West Africa and Southern Africa are stable - The key is research. Check out the FCDO and also major global risk management companies such as Sibylline, ISOS/CRG, Salamanca & Worldaware.
South Africa will continue to have extensive power cuts for months if not years to come as the energy supply sector is broken. The state of the Zimbabwean economy is desperate with inflation running at about 250%, daily power cuts and mass unemployment, An election is due and Zanu-PF will do what is necessary, including violent repression to stay in power. The football African Cup of Nation is being held in Ivory Coast from 13 Jan to 11 Feb 24.
Current highlights:
- Kenya: More countrywide protests planned for today.
- Nigeria: Rebels attack military in Kaduna & Niger states, 17 dead
- Zimbabwe: Power outages until September
- Mali: Increased attacks on military bases
- Kenya: Civil unrest in Nairobi
- Niger: Islamist attack Banibandoa base killing over 30 soldiers
- South Africa: Flooding and deaths in E Cape area
- Mali: Islasmist attack on town of Boulikessi
- Nigeria: Mass flooding and loss of over 650 lives in central Nigeria
- DRC: Flooding in Kinshasha kills over 30
- Zimbabwe: Shops shutdown as protests against president
- Sudan: Army recapture Khartoum presidential palace
- DRC: M23 rebels enter Bukavu
- Botswana: Flooding on border with South Africa
- Tanzania: Outbreak of Marburg disease kills 8
- Ivory Coast: French troops to withdrawl
- Burkina Faso: Military disolves government
- Mali: Deaths in mine accident
- M Pox: spreads to DRC, Kenya, Uganda, 14,000 cases
- Rwanda: Outbreak of Marburg disease
- Nigeria: increase in cases of Chlorea
- Zimbabwe: Accute drought conditions
- Sudan: Fighting intensifies
- Sierra Leone: Night time curfew
- Kenya & Ethiopia: Severe flooding
- Niger: France to pulls out troops
- Gabon: Military Coup
- Zimbabwe: Opposition protests likely
- Malawi: Fuel shortages
- Ethiopia: Increased levels of Cholera
- Mali: UN peacekeepers ordered to leave
- Mozambique: Elevated malaria risk
- Ethiopia: Violence in Ahmara region
- Zambia: Power cuts anticipated
- Kenya: Continued risk from terrorism
- South Africa: Power cuts continue