Hiiraan Online
Thursday June 14, 2018
FILE - The British Embassy in Mogadishu. Getty Images
London (HOL) - The British government has issued a travel advisory on Thursday to its citizens to not travel to Somalia, including Somaliland except for the cities of Hargeisa and Berbera, to which the FCO only advised that citizens should travel only if it is “essential”.
“Any British national visiting Hargeisa or Berbera should exercise a heightened level of vigilance and take care in public places where people gather. Monitor local and international media to avoid any demonstration or disturbance taking place. Leave any area of unrest quickly and don’t attempt to watch or photograph it.”
The advisory issued ahead of the busy holiday travel season says that terror attacks are “very likely” to be carried out in Somalia and also warns against the threat of kidnap.
“Terrorists are very likely to try to carry out attacks in Somalia. There is a high threat of kidnap throughout Somalia. Terrorist groups have made threats against westerners and those working for western organisations. There is a constant threat of terrorist attack in Mogadishu and terrorists continue to plan attacks against westerners in the rest of Somalia including Somaliland.”
The U.K. does have an embassy in Mogadishu but the advisory says that it is unable to provide consular assistance to citizens. It asks anyone in need of urgent help to contact the British High Commission in Nairobi.