US Issues Most Serious “Do Not Travel” Warning to Sudan

The United States has renewed its strongest travel advisory for Sudan, maintaining the Level 4 “Do Not Travel” warning amid worsening armed conflict, widespread violence, and a deteriorating humanitarian situation across the East African nation.

The warning comes as Sudan’s civil war, which began in April 2023, shows no signs of abating despite multiple diplomatic efforts. According to Bloomberg, at least 150,000 people may have been killed since the conflict began.

Embassy Operations Suspended, No Consular Support

The U.S. State Department’s travel advisory emphasizes that the embassy in Khartoum remains closed, with all operations suspended since April 2023. “The U.S. government cannot provide routine or emergency consular services to U.S. citizens in Sudan due to the current security situation,” the advisory states.

Americans currently in Sudan are advised to develop communication plans with family members, avoid demonstrations and public gatherings, and enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive alerts. The State Department emphasizes that the ability to evacuate American citizens from Sudan is extremely limited.

Widespread Violence and Infrastructure Breakdown

The security situation in Sudan has dramatically deteriorated with “heavy fighting between various political and security groups” continuing across the country. Khartoum International Airport remains closed, with only Port Sudan Airport operating limited international flights, though it too faces drone attacks and intermittent closures.

Travelers face multiple severe risks including “armed conflict, civil unrest, crime, terrorism, and kidnapping,” according to the State Department. The UK’s Foreign Office recently updated its advisory on May 7, 2025, noting that the situation remains “violent, volatile, and extremely unpredictable.” Recent reports from humanitarian organizations indicate that some of the violence in Sudan has taken on an ethnic dimension, particularly in Darfur where historical tensions remain unresolved.

Humanitarian Crisis Deepens

The conflict has triggered what the United Nations calls “the world’s biggest displacement crisis” with approximately 11.3 million people forcibly displaced. According to UNHCR, this includes 8 million people internally displaced within Sudan and over 3 million who have fled to neighboring countries.

Despite the scale of the humanitarian crisis, international aid agencies report that funding for the Sudan emergency response remains severely underfunded. The World Food Programme and other UN agencies have warned of widespread food insecurity verging on famine conditions in parts of the country. The UK government’s recent security assessment stated that the level of indiscriminate violence in several regions, including Khartoum, Darfur, Kordofan, and Al Jazira, is at such a high level that civilians are at serious risk.

International Response and Travel Restrictions

Several countries, including Canada and Australia, have also issued their highest-level travel warnings for Sudan. The Australian government’s advisory similarly urges its citizens to “strongly consider leaving Sudan as soon as possible” while acknowledging the extreme difficulty in doing so given limited transportation options.

International efforts to negotiate a ceasefire continue, but previous attempts have repeatedly failed. Humanitarian corridors remain limited, and access to affected populations is severely constrained by security concerns and administrative obstacles imposed by warring parties.

Sudan Among 21 Countries on “Do Not Travel” List

Sudan is one of 21 countries currently under the State Department’s Level 4 advisory, according to Travel + Leisure. Other nations with this designation include Afghanistan, Belarus, Burkina Faso, Burma (Myanmar), Haiti, Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, Libya, Mali, North Korea, Russia, Somalia, South Sudan, Syria, Ukraine, Venezuela, and Yemen.

The State Department reviews Level 3 and 4 travel advisories at least every six months to ensure the information remains current. They also update advisories anytime there is a change in the security situation that might affect American travelers.