Mauritania warning

The US Department of State urges extreme caution when traveling to Mauritania due to increased activities by the terrorist group Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM), which continues to demonstrate its intent and ability to conduct attacks against foreign nationals.

In a presumed terrorist action, three Spanish NGO workers were kidnapped from their vehicle while driving from Nouadhibou to Nouakchott on Nov. 29.

The Department also recommends against all nonessential travel to the Hodh El Charghi region, the eastern half of the Tagant region and the Zemmour region of Mauritania and strongly discourages travel to unpopulated areas of eastern Mauritania.