Israel Issues Travel Warnings for Several African States Due to Terror Threat

Israel's counter-terrorism bureau published new travel warnings Thursday afternoon for several African states amid "high concrete threats" from ISIS and Al-Qaida in the Maghreb. The bureau advised Israelis to refrain from visiting north Cameroon, west Chad and Niger, and urged citizens to leave the countries as soon as possible.

The new travel warnings were published after the counter-terrorism bureau assessed the situation along with the Mossad, the Shin Bet and other officials.

The new travel warnings name a threat in northern Cameroon from Boko Haram, the West African terrorist organization affiliated with ISIS.The counter-terrorism bureau said that the organization has stepped up terror attacks in Cameroon, near the northwest border with Nigeria. "The main threat is terrorist kidnappings of local and Western targets, including Israeli and Jewish targets," the statement read.

The counter-terrorism bureau also issued a partial travel warning for western Chad in light of Boko Haram threats, especially in the capital of N'Djamena and the Lake Chad area. The main worry in these areas is also the threat of terrorist kidnapping of local and Western targets, including Israeli and Jewish targets. An additional travel warning was issued for Niger amid threats from Al-Qaida in the Maghred and Boko Haram.

In addition, the counter-terrorism bureau renewed the travel warning for Nigeria and Kenya.The warning for Nigeria covers the entire country, but particularly focuses on the capital of Abuja. The bureau recommended avoiding non-essential travel to the area. The travel warning added that the travel warning was issued at a higher level for the north of the country, where a high concrete threat remains. The bureau recommended to avoid the area and to leave as soon as possible.

The bureau said that Israelis living in Kenya may be targeted by the "Al-Shabab" terrorist organization, adding that Israelis should refrain from non-essential trips. The bureau issued a higher-level warning for Nairobi and the coastal strip, where there is a basic concrete threat, and recommended to avoid visiting both destinations.