Officials cite the possibility of terror.
The United States Department of State has renewed its caution to prospective travelers heading to Algeria.
The government’s website explains that Wednesday’s warning replaces that originally posted on December 13, 2016 (h/t Breaking911.com).
The travel warning states at the top: “The Department of State continues to warn U.S. citizens against travel to remote areas of Algeria due to the threat of terrorist attacks and kidnapping.”
The travel warning does not offer any specific threats as the impetus to the update. It does note terrorist events that took place in September 2014 and in January 2013 as cautionary tales for those considering visits to the area.
The warning is careful to add that the amount of violence taking place in the turbulent country has diminished more recently. However, there is still a very real prospect for violence in an around the major metropolitan areas.
The Department of State explains terrorists have unfortunately had a wide range as to the places they have enacted their violence: areas both south and east of Algiers (Blida, Boumerdes, Tizi Ouzou, Bouira and Bejaia), just outside of Constantine and near the Tunisian border are just some of the places noted as locations these attacks have occurred.
While the travel warning is a caution against traveling to the country as a whole, there are specifics offered at the website.
These include avoiding the following, via Travel.state.gov: travel near the eastern and southern border, travel over the Sahara, meandering too far away from major highways, going with anything but a respected travel agency and going anywhere other than major cities and where tourists gather.
As for recent events, Morocco World News cites the AFP in a report stating, “Two Algerian soldiers and four other civilians were wounded in a terrorist attack on an army convoy,” earlier this month.
The United Kingdom has a similar warning in place and echoes that military officials are present throughout metropolitan areas and that the possibility of an attack is real.
Its website explains: “Terrorists are very likely to try to carry out attacks in Algeria, including kidnappings. Terrorist attacks have focused on the Algerian state, but attacks could be indiscriminate and include foreigners. There’s also a risk that lone actors could target foreigners.”
The travel warning comes amid various terror attacks that have commenced throughout Europe, including in London, Manchester and Paris in recent days.
Regardless of terrorist attacks, many seem to be determined to visit their respective destinations.
Angie Hendricks, President and CEO of Travel Leaders in Oklahoma City, explained to TravelPulse on the impact these attacks have had: “I still have clients planning to travel to London, Paris, Dublin, Barcelona, Russia and especially Italy this summer and fall. The concerns have been few and no one has canceled. Of course, that can change at any minute but we are optimistic.”
Whether that sentiment extends to places like Algeria remains to be seen. What isn’t up for debate is that you should take your travel plans seriously. Adhere vigilantly to warnings and follow advice accordingly.
