Foreign travel advice

Ethiopia

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

Warnings and insurance

Still current at:
420 January 2025
Updated:
420 January 2025
Latest update:
UpdatedFCDO informationnow onadvises earthquakesagainst andall volcanicbut activityessential affectingtravel to all of North Shewa zone including the Afarsection andof Amharathe regionsA3 inroad particular.('Warnings ('Warningand insurance' and Insurance'Regional 'risks' page).pages)
Download a more detailed map (PDF)

Earthquakes and volcanic activity

On 4 Jan the Ethiopian authorities began evacuating people from around Mount Dofan in Awash national park, due to increased volcanic activity. Earthquakes have affected the Afar and Amhara regions, and tremors have been felt in the surrounding area, including in Addis Ababa. Please see the Safety and Security pages - Extreme weather and natural disasters - Earthquakes for further advice.

Areas where FCDO advises against travel

Border areas

FCDO advises against all travel to within: 

  • 20km of the border with Sudan
  • 10km of the border with South 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
  • 10km of the border with Kenya, except for principal roads and towns
  • 10km of the border with Eritrea

FCDO advises against all but essential travel to:

  • areas between 10-15km from the border with Eritrea

Tigray region

FCDO advises against all travel to:

  • the parts of Tigray region west of the Tekeze river
  • within 10km of the internal border with Amhara region
  • Tahtay Adiyabo woreda (district)
  • Irob woreda (district)

FCDO advises against all but essential travel to:

  • within 5 km of Tahtay Adiyabo and Irob woreda (districts) east of the Tekeze river

Amhara region

FCDO advises against all travel to Amhara region.

Afar region

FCDO advises against all travel to the parts of Afar region within 10km of the border with Eritrea.

Gambela region

FCDO advises against all travel to Gambela region.

Oromia region

FCDO advises against all travel to: 

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

FCDO 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 the Finfine special zone.
  • all of North Shewa zone (including the section of the A3 road there)
  • West Guji and Guji zones

Somali region

FCDO advises against all travel to within:

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

FCDO advises against all but essential travel to: 

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

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

FCDO advises against all travel to within 10km of the borders with South Sudan and Kenya

Benishangul-Gumuz region

FCDO advises against all travel to:

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

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

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

Earthquakes and volcanic activity

On 4 January the Ethiopian authorities began evacuating people from around Mount Dofan in Awash national park, due to increased volcanic activity. Earthquakes have affected the Afar and Amhara regions, and tremors have been felt in the surrounding area, including in Addis Ababa. Please see the Safety and Security pages - Extreme weather and natural disasters - Earthquakes for further advice.

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.

Before you travel

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

Travel 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. 

About FCDO travel advice

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

Get travel advice updates

Sign up to get email notifications when this travel advice is updated.

Follow and contact FCDO: