The U.S. Department of State recommends against all nonessential travel to the Hodh El Charghi region, the eastern half of the Tagant region, as well as the Zemmour region of Mauritania, and strongly discourages travel to unpopulated areas of eastern Mauritania unless accompanied by Mauritanian government escorts.

Furthermore, the U.S. Department draws attention to the risks of traveling to Mauritania and urges extreme caution when traveling there due to increased activities by the terrorist group Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM). AQIM may use the Islamic month of Ramadan as an opportunity to conduct further attacks against U.S. citizens or other foreign nationals. Faith-based organizations, regardless of location, may be particularly targeted.