While violence has reduced significantly in recent years, terrorist groups remain active in some parts of the country. Although major cities are heavily policed, the possibility of terrorist acts in urban areas cannot be excluded. Extremists have conducted attacks in the following areas:

• mountainous region south and east of Algiers (provinces of Blida, Boumerdes, Tizi Ouzou, Bouira, and Bejaia)
• further east outside the city of Constantine
• southern and eastern border regions, including Tebessa and the Chaambi mountains area, south of Souk Ahras, near the Tunisian border

Although most attacks are directed towards Algerian military or police, in September 2014, an ISIL-affiliated group abducted and killed a French citizen in the Kabylie region. In January 2013, an Al-Qaeda-linked organization attacked a gas production facility near In Amenas, Algeria, near the Libyan border, holding foreign and Algerian workers hostage, with dozens killed, including three U.S. citizens.

U.S. citizens should:

• avoid travel within 50 km (31 miles) of the eastern border and within 450 km (280 miles) of the southern border.
• avoid overland travel across the Sahara. Travel to Saharan cities only by air.
• remain on principal highways when traveling to coastal/mountainous areas east of Algiers and the mountains immediately south of Algiers.
• always travel with reputable travel agents who know the area.
• avoid staying overnight outside of the main cities and tourist locations.
• inform local police when staying in locations outside of major cities.

The Algerian government requires foreign diplomats and most foreign workers to contact the Ministry of Foreign Affairs when traveling between wilayas (provinces) so that the government can evaluate the need for police coordination, to include escorts. This requirement to coordinate travel may also limit the availability of U.S. consular services outside of the Algiers wilaya.

For further information:

• See the State Department’s travel website for the Worldwide Caution, Travel Warnings, Travel Alerts, and Algeria Country Specific Information.
• Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive security messages and make it easier to locate you in an emergency.
• Contact the U.S. Embassy in Algeria, located at 5 Chemin Cheikh Bachir El-Ibrahimi in the El Biar district of Algiers, at ACSAlgiers@state.gov. The work week is Sunday-Thursday, and services are available by appointment. For emergencies, including after hours, call [213]770-08-20 00.
• Call 1-888-407-4747 toll-free in the United States and Canada or 1-202-501-4444 from other countries from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays).
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