Foreign travel advice

Ethiopia

! Warning FCDO advises against all travel to parts of Ethiopia.

Warnings and insurance

Still current at:
524 September 2024
Updated:
524 September 2024
Latest update:
Updated Information added about plannedMpox transportationscreening and(‘Entry marketrequirements’ blockades in Oromia, affecting all roads in and out of the region, due to begin on 6 September (‘Warnings and insurance’ page).
Download a more detailed map (PDF)

Your travel insurance could be invalidated if you travel against advice from the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO). Consular support may be limited where FCDO advises against travel.

Areas where FCDO advises against travel

InternationalBorder border areas areas

FCDO advises against all travel within:  to within: 

  • 20km of the border with Sudan Sudan
  • 10km of the border with South Sudan Sudan
  • 100km of the Ethiopian border with Somalia and Kenya in Ethiopia’s Somali region, and within 30km of the Ethiopian border with Somalia in Fafan zone, except the border town and crossing at Wajale, and the principal road between Jijiga and Wajale Wajale
  • 10km of the border with Kenya, except for principal roads and towns towns
  • 10km of the border with Eritrea Eritrea

Tigray region region

FCDO advises advises against all travel to the parts of Tigray region west of the Tekeze river and within 10km of the internal border with Amhara region.

FCDO advises against all but essential travel to the remainder of the Tigray region except the towns and connecting roads ofconnecting Mekelle:

  • southward to Maychew
  • northwardsnorthward to Adigrat
  • west and north-westward to Abiy Addi, Adwa and Shire
  • eastward to Abala on the Tigray-Afar border

Amhara region region

FCDO advises against all travel to Amhara region. region.

Afar region region

FCDO advises against all travel to areasthe parts of Afar region within:  

  • within 10km of the border with Eritrea 
Eritrea.

GambellaGambela region region

FCDO advises against all travel to GambellaGambela region. region.

Oromia region region

FCDO advises against all travel to these areas of Oromia region:  to: 

  • within 10km of the border with Kenya, except for principal roads and towns towns
  • north of (but not including) the A4 road in West Shewa zone zone
  • south and west of (but not including) the A3 road in North Shewa zone  zone
  • West Wollega zone (including the main Addis Ababa to GambellaGambela road), East Wollega zone, Kellem Wollega and Horo Gudru Wollega  Wollega

FCDO advises advises against all but essential travel to:

  • all of East Shewa zone except the Addis Ababa to Adama Expressway and 10km either side of the expressway between Addis Ababa and Bishoftu.
  • the A4 road between Addis Ababa and Cheliya, except for the section in in the Finfine special zone.
  • all of North Shewa Zonezone
  • West Guji and Guji zones

Somali Regional State region

FCDO advises against all travel to within: within:

  • 100km of the Ethiopian border with Somalia and Kenya in Ethiopia’s Somali region  
  • 30km of the EthiopianEthiopia-Somalia border with Somalia in Fafan zone, except the border town and crossing at Wajale, and the principal road between Jijiga and Wajale Wajale
  • 100km of the Ethiopian border with Somalia and Kenya in the rest of the region

FCDO advises against all but essential travel to:  to: 

  • the Siti zone zone
  • the Nogob (previously Fik) Fik)
  • Jarar (previously Degehabur) Degehabur)
  • Shabelle (previously Gode) Gode)
  • Korahe and Dollo (previously Warder) Warder)
  • areas of Liben and Afder zones more than 100km from the Somalia and Kenya borders borders

Central, Southern, Sidama and South West regions (formerly SNNPR) SNNPR)

FCDO advises against all travel: 

  • travel to within 10km of the borders with South Sudan and Kenya 
Kenya

Benishangul-Gumuz region region

FCDO advises against all travel to these areas of Benishangul-Gumuz region: to:

  • within 20km of the border with Sudan Sudan
  • the Metekel zone
  • the and Maokomo special zone zone

FCDO advises against all but essential travel to the rest of Benishangul-Gumuz region. region.

Find out more about why FCDO advises against travel to these regions.

Support from FCDO

Staff at the British Embassy in Addis Ababa cannot offer support in person in areas of Ethiopia where FCDO advises against travel.

If you need urgent help from the UK government, for example if you’ve been arrested or you’re concerned about forced marriage, contact the British Embassy in Addis Ababa.

If you’re in the UK and are concerned about a British national in Ethiopia, call FCDO on 020 7008 5000.

Strikes and protests in Oromia region

The Oromo Liberation Army have announced calls for a complete transportation and market blockade in Oromia, affecting all roads in and out of the region, duethat tobegan begin on 6 September.

FollowingThere this announcement, there may be disruption to travel and operation of businesses and services in the Oromia region, with makeshift checkpoints in place or other targeting by the Oromo Liberation Army.

Before you travel travel

No travel can be guaranteed safe. Read all the advice in this guide. You may also find it helpful to: to:

Travel insurance insurance

If you choose to travel, research your destinations and get appropriate travel insurance. Insurance should cover your itinerary, planned activities and expenses in an emergency.  emergency. 

About FCDO travel advice

FCDO provides advice about risks of travel to help you make informed decisions. Find out more about FCDO travel advice.

Follow and contact FCDO travel on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. You can also sign up to get email notifications when this travel advice is updated.

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