Safety and emergencies

Areas advised against

• All of Burkina Faso is strongly advised against by France (update of 4 March 2026), tourism included: armed terrorist groups, kidnapping and attack risk, curfews. The UK also advises against all travel and has no embassy there (assistance from Accra).

  Verified fact·Verified on 10/2/26High confidence

  France Diplomatie, Travel advice: Burkina Faso, safetyGOV.UK (FCDO), Burkina Faso travel advice: warnings and insurance

• Strongly advised against in particular: classified forests, national parks, reserves and hunting areas, and near the capital the Ziniaré site and the sacred crocodiles of Bazoulé.

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  France Diplomatie, Travel advice: Burkina Faso, safety

Terrorism and kidnapping

• The terrorist threat is very high, especially in regions bordering Mali, Niger, Benin, Togo and Côte d'Ivoire; the risk of kidnapping and murder is very high. Stay in secure places (airlocks, armed guards, perimeter walls, emergency exits).

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  France Diplomatie, Travel advice: Burkina Faso, safetyGOV.UK (FCDO), Burkina Faso travel advice: safety and security

On the road

• The Ouagadougou-Bobo-Dioulasso road is strongly advised against: fly instead. Highway robbers operate day and night; if attacked, do not resist and alert the consulate and the gendarmerie (16), police (17) or the free line 10 10.

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  France Diplomatie, Travel advice: Burkina Faso, safety

• Do not drive near public buildings, military bases or the presidential area. Night driving is very dangerous, even in town.

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  France Diplomatie, Travel advice: Burkina Faso, safety

Crime

• In town, crime remains moderate: avoid unplanned districts and outskirts, do not walk alone at night, keep bags out of sight, avoid bank counters and Orange Money kiosks after dark and vary your routes.

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  France Diplomatie, Travel advice: Burkina Faso, safety

Scams

• Scammers ("brouteurs") extract money online, sometimes with fake official documents. For a suspicious request for money, France invites you to write to cad.ouagadougou-fslt@diplomatie.gouv.fr.

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  France Diplomatie, Travel advice: Burkina Faso, safety

• Emergency numbers

  Police 17, fire 18, gendarmerie 16, free police and gendarmerie line 10 10 (highway robbery).

  1718161010

  France Diplomatie, Travel advice: Burkina Faso, safetyFrance Diplomatie, Travel advice: Burkina Faso, useful contacts· Oct 2, 2026

• Embassy and Consulate General of France in Burkina Faso

  Passport: France

  French embassy and consulate; consulate emergency number +226 78 71 86 07.

  Avenue de l'Indépendance, rue de l'Hospitalité, Koulouba, BP 504 Ouagadougou 01+226 25 49 66 66+226 78 71 86 07

  France Diplomatie, Travel advice: Burkina Faso, entry and residenceFrance Diplomatie, Travel advice: Burkina Faso, useful information· Oct 2, 2026

• Consular agency of France in Bobo-Dioulasso

  Passport: France

  Consular agency.

  +226 20 97 26 31+226 70 21 53 32

  France Diplomatie, Travel advice: Burkina Faso, useful contacts· Oct 2, 2026

• Embassy of Canada in Burkina Faso

  Passport: Canada

  Consular assistance for Canadians.

  318 avenue Professeur Joseph Ki-Zerbo, Ouagadougou 01+226 25 49 08 00ouaga-cs@international.gc.ca

  Government of Canada, Travel advice: Burkina Faso· Oct 2, 2026