The U.S. State Department has recently issued security risk and travel alerts for the following countries:

Nigeria:
The State Department recommends avoiding all but essential travel to the Niger Delta states of Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Delta, and Rivers. Violent crime is a problem in Lagos and other large cities as well as on the roads between cities. Tension between some Muslim and Christian communities, and between ethnic groups, occasionally results in violence.

Haiti:
Travellers are warned to exercise a high degree of caution when traveling to Haiti. While the overall security situation has improved, political tensions remain, and the potential for politically-motivated violence persists.

Gabon:
The Department of State alerts U.S. citizens to the risks of travel to Gabon during the upcoming presidential elections following the death of Gabonese President El-Hadj Omar Bongo Ondimba. The official election campaign period begins on August 16. The elections are scheduled for August 30. This Travel Alert expires on September 15, 2009.

While the U.S. Embassy in Libreville expects the presidential election to develop peacefully and in an orderly fashion, travelers should be aware that even peaceful gatherings and demonstrations can turn unexpectedly violent. Significant traffic congestion, shortages in hotel lodgings, and large crowds throughout the country, particularly in Libreville, are likely to inconvenience travelers.

Travelers in Gabon should remain aware of their surroundings, monitor their own security situations at all times, and avoid large public gatherings, protests, and demonstrations.

Kenya:
The U.S. Department of State warns U.S. citizens of the risks of travel to Kenya. American citizens in Kenya and those considering travel to Kenya should evaluate their personal security situation in light of continuing threats from terrorism and the high rate of violent crime. This replaces the Travel Warning of November 14th, 2008, to note increased security concerns in northeast Kenya near the Somali and Ethiopian borders.

The U.S. Government continues to receive indications of potential terrorist threats aimed at American, Western, and Kenyan interests in Kenya. Terrorist acts could include suicide operations, bombings, kidnappings, attacks on civil aviation and attacks on maritime vessels in or near Kenyan ports.

For its own employees, the U.S. has imposed the following travel bans, which can be used as guidelines by other travellers:

• All of Mandera District.
• The entire area north and east of the town of Wajir, including travel on Highway C80 and areas east of C80 and an 80-kilometer wide band contiguous with the Somalia border. Travel to and within the towns of Wajir and Moyale remains unrestricted.
• Within Garissa District, an 80-kilometer wide band contiguous with the Somalia border. Travel to and within the town of Dadaab remains unrestricted.
• Within Ijara District, an 80-kilometer wide band contiguous with the Somalia border; Boni National Reserve.
• Within Lamu District, a 60-kilometer wide band contiguous with the Somalia border. Travel to and within the limits of towns within/contiguous to the Kiunga Marine Reserve remains unrestricted.

Niger:
The Department of State alerts U.S. citizens of the risks of travel to Niger immediately before and after the constitutional referendum on August 4, 2009, and recommends against all non-emergency travel to Niger at this time.