Skip to main content
Sunday, November 8, 2026Nov 8
Subscribe
All Sections
Search
More

This story is free to read.

State Dept. advises against travel to Burkina Faso

A soldier stands guard after he and others dispersed anti coup protestors outside the entrance to the Libya hotel where talks about the recent Burkina Faso coup were taking place Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, Sunday, Sept. 20, 2015. Violence broke out at the main hotel in Burkina Faso's capital on Sunday where talks were taking place with regional mediators as demonstrators opposed to last week's coup clashed with supporters of the military. (AP Photo/Theo Renaut)
A soldier stands guard after he and others dispersed anti coup protestors outside the entrance to the Libya hotel where talks about the recent Burkina Faso coup were taking place Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, Sunday, Sept. 20, 2015. Violence broke out at the main hotel in Burkina Faso's capital on Sunday where talks were taking place with regional mediators as demonstrators opposed to last week's coup clashed with supporters of the military. (AP Photo/Theo Renaut) A soldier stands guard after he and others dispersed anti coup protestors outside the entrance to the Libya hotel where talks about the recent Burkina Faso coup were taking place Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, Sunday, Sept. 20, 2015. Violence broke out at the main hotel in Burkina Faso's capital on Sunday where talks were taking place with regional mediators as demonstrators opposed to last week's coup clashed with supporters of the military. (AP Photo/Theo Renaut)

By Associated Press 1 min read

WASHINGTON (AP) – The State Department is warning U.S. citizens against travel to Burkina Faso and advising Americans who are there to leave as soon as possible.

The West African country’s military carried out a coup last week, arresting its interim president and prime minister and installing a military general as head of state less than a month before scheduled national elections. The coup led to angry demonstrations in the capital.

The State Department travel warning says “gunfire continues to be reported in locations throughout” the capital and “many businesses providing essential services – including food, gasoline and cooking fuel – remain closed.”

The department has authorized the voluntary departure of non-emergency personnel from the U.S. Embassy, which will operate with reduced staffing and will continue to provide emergency consular services.