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Burkina Faso · Safety report last updated
As of October 2026, Ouagadougou scores 20/100 on the IsMyTripSafe composite safety index — verdict: elevated risk — reconsider. Ouagadougou is not safe for travelers, with official advisories recommending against all travel. The main risks for visitors are pickpocketing (moderate risk) and robbery (high risk).
Safety Report
IsMyTripSafe.com
Burkina Faso · Assessed 13 October 2026
20
/ 100
Safer than ~7% of countries
Score capped at 20 — Level 4 advisory — "Do Not Travel". No other indicator can raise the score above this.
What drives this score
01 · Official Guidance
Advises against all travel
“Your travel insurance could be invalidated if you travel against advice from the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO). Areas where FCDO advises against travel FCDO advises against all travel to Burkina Faso.”
Updated 2026-10-07T10:36:57Z
Full advisory →Avoid all travel
“Canada's official risk level for Burkina Faso: avoid all travel.”
Updated 2026-09-24T08:53:33.120000-04:00
Full advisory →02 · Evidence Signals
Mugging & robbery risk
City SignalCity Web Research
Pickpocketing & theft risk
City SignalCity Web Research
Visitor safety sentiment
City SignalCity Web Research
Urban scale factor
City SignalCity Geocoding
Homicide rate
Robbery / mugging
HighHigh risk of armed robbery and violent crime, particularly in less populated areas and at night.
Pickpocketing
ModerateModerate risk of pickpocketing and bag-snatching in crowded markets and public transport hubs.
03 · Environment
04 · Institutions
05 · Field Research
Traveller sentiment score
Very Negative
36/100
Official advisories and news reports indicate a severe security situation, making it difficult for travelers to feel safe.
Ouagadougou is not safe for travelers, with official advisories recommending against all travel.
Ouagadougou faces significant security risks due to ongoing conflict and terrorism, compounded by high rates of road traffic accidents and poor air quality. Official government advisories strongly caution against any travel to Burkina Faso, including its capital.
Recent developments
Common scams
Full briefing
Ouagadougou presents significant safety concerns for travelers, with official government advisories from the UK, Canada, and the US strongly recommending against all travel. These warnings are underpinned by a high risk of conflict and terrorism, which directly impacts the security situation in the capital.
Recent reports indicate ongoing efforts to combat crime, such as the dismantling of an armed robbery ring in October 2026 and strengthened security ties with Nigeria against terrorism. However, these actions highlight the persistent threats. Travelers should be aware of a moderate risk of pickpocketing in busy areas and a high risk of more serious crimes like armed robbery, particularly outside of well-trafficked zones or after dark.
Beyond crime, Ouagadougou faces other hazards. The city experiences unhealthy air quality, and road traffic accidents are a significant concern, with a high death rate nationally. Travelers should also be mindful of health advisories, including risks of polio, dengue, and measles. Given these factors, maintaining a low profile, avoiding unnecessary travel, and adhering strictly to official guidance are paramount for any potential visitor.
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06 · Neighbourhoods
Our field research rated 8 Ouagadougou districts for visitors, 7 needing caution and 1 best avoided. See them plotted on the Ouagadougou safety map.
CentreavoidHigh risk due to general instability and potential for unrest.
Ouaga 2000cautionMore developed area, but still carries general risks of theft and requires vigilance, especially after dark.
DassasghocautionResidential area with moderate risk; exercise caution, particularly regarding petty crime and nighttime safety.
BoulmiougoucautionGeneral caution advised due to potential for petty crime and the need for situational awareness.
Sig-NoghincautionSimilar to other residential areas, maintain awareness of surroundings and avoid displaying valuables.
KamsaoghincautionExercise standard precautions against petty theft and be mindful of your surroundings.
TanghincautionStandard caution advised for petty crime and general safety, especially after dark.
NonghincautionGeneral caution advised; be aware of your surroundings and avoid risks after dark.
07 · After Dark
High risk of armed robbery and violent crime, particularly in less populated areas and at night.
After dark, be most careful around Centre, Ouaga 2000, Dassasgho, Boulmiougou. Stick to busy, well-lit streets and licensed taxis or ride-hail late at night.
08 · Questions
Ouagadougou is not safe for travelers, with official advisories recommending against all travel. Ouagadougou faces significant security risks due to ongoing conflict and terrorism, compounded by high rates of road traffic accidents and poor air quality. Official government advisories strongly caution against any travel to Burkina Faso, including its capital. (Assessed 13 October 2026.)
Safety is not one number, and this Ouagadougou report does not pretend it is: the score is re-weighted for who is travelling. A woman travelling alone, a family with children and a solo backpacker face different street-level risks, so the headline score shifts and the report leads with the findings that matter for that group. Personalize this report in one click to see the 2026 score and safety briefing for your specific travellers.
Field research flags Centre as best avoided. See the district-by-district safety map.
Ouagadougou scores 20/100 — see the Burkina Faso safety overview for country-level data.
The score blends 12+ public data sources — government advisories, UNODC/World Bank crime statistics, FBI crime data for U.S. cities, WHO health data, live air quality and disaster alerts — with AI field research over current local reporting. The databases carry the bulk of the weight; the traveller-sentiment score from field research carries the rest. Full methodology.
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Raw data: ouagadougou.json (CC BY 4.0).
