Do Not Travel
“Do not travelto Sudan due to risk of unrest, crime, kidnapping, terrorism, landmines, and health threats. The U.S.”
Updated Fri, 15 May 2026
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Is Khartoum safe? 🇸🇩
Sudan · Safety report last updated
As of October 2026, Khartoum scores 20/100 on the IsMyTripSafe composite safety index — verdict: elevated risk — reconsider. No. Khartoum is extremely unsafe for travelers due to ongoing armed conflict and breakdown of law and order. The main risks for visitors are pickpocketing (high risk) and robbery (high risk). The U.S. State Department rates it Level 4 (Do Not Travel).
Safety Report
IsMyTripSafe.com
Khartoum 🇸🇩
Sudan · Assessed 18 October 2026
20
/ 100
Elevated risk — reconsider
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
Crime50/100CautionCrime index 40.3 / 100 · city-level
Sentiment32/100ElevatedOverwhelmingly negative
Advisories0Elevated
Stability35Elevated
Health68Fair
01 · Official Guidance
Advisories
Elevated
Advises against all travel to parts of the country
“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 Sudan because of the ongoing military conflict in Khartoum and other parts of the country.”
Updated 2026-10-07T10:14:42Z
Full advisory →Avoid all travel
“Canada's official risk level for Sudan: avoid all travel.”
Updated 2026-10-13T14:30:27.2592229-04:00
Full advisory →02 · Evidence Signals
Crime
Caution
Urban scale factor
2.0M residents
60
City SignalCity Geocoding
Homicide rate
5.1 / 100kHomicide rate · per 100kJapan0.2Switzerland0.6World avg5.2United States5.8Brazil19.3South Africa43.7
65
Robbery / mugging
HighArmed robbery is common, especially near checkpoints and deserted areas; foreigners are targeted for valuables and vehicles.
Pickpocketing
HighPickpocketing occurs in crowded markets and transit points; remain vigilant in souks and around security cordons.
▸ 3 more indicators▾ Hide extra indicators
03 · Environment
Health & Air
Fair
04 · Institutions
Stability
Elevated
05 · Field Research
Current Situation
Elevated
Traveller sentiment score
Overwhelmingly negative
32/100
Reported feel15Overwhelmingly negative
Robbery risk34High risk
Pickpocket risk58High risk
Recent traveler reports describe Khartoum as a war zone with pervasive fear; those who remain report avoiding movement after dark and distrust in local security forces.
No. Khartoum is extremely unsafe for travelers due to ongoing armed conflict and breakdown of law and order.
The city faces active military conflict between rival armed groups, widespread looting, and near-total collapse of public services. Government advisories from the US, UK, and Canada uniformly warn against all travel. Visitors risk exposure to violence, arbitrary detention, and crime with no reliable police or medical response.
Recent developments
- Jul 2026Sudanese police arrested over 2,000 suspects in a city-wide anti-crime sweep in Khartoum following rising looting and theft— Sudan Tribune
- Jul 2026Paramilitary forces launched drone and ground attacks across Sudan, including in and around Khartoum— Arab News
- Oct 2026Khartoum airport remains closed and non-functional due to conflict, limiting evacuation options— IsMyTripSafe.com
Common scams
- Fake checkpoint extortion by armed groups posing as police
- Overcharging or fraud at informal currency exchanges
Full briefing
Khartoum is currently an active conflict zone with fighting between the Sudanese Armed Forces and Rapid Support Forces reported in residential districts. The city lacks functioning governance, and basic services including policing and medical care are unreliable or absent. Armed checkpoints are widespread and often extort money or detain travelers without cause. Markets such as the Khartoum Souk remain open but pose risks of petty theft and accidental exposure to crossfire. Movement after dark is especially dangerous due to patrols by armed groups and frequent power outages. There are no safe areas for foreigners; even accommodation offers no guarantee of security due to the risk of looting or forced entry. Travelers should not rely on local transport or assume any route is safe, as roads are subject to sudden closures and ambushes. The only prudent course is to avoid travel entirely and follow official evacuation guidance if already in the country.
Was this Khartoum, Sudan report helpful?
06 · Neighbourhoods
Safest areas and areas to avoid
Our field research rated 8 Khartoum districts for visitors: 1 safer, 2 needing caution and 5 best avoided. See them plotted on the Khartoum safety map.
Khartoum City CentreavoidActive military conflict, checkpoints, and risk of artillery fire as of October 2026
OmdurmanavoidOngoing armed clashes between SAF and RSF; high risk of stray gunfire and looting
Bahri (Khartoum North)avoidIndustrial zone subject to military targeting; frequent drone strikes and ground attacks reported July–October 2026
Souk Arabi (Central Market)avoidHigh risk of looting, armed robbery, and crossfire; market largely non-functional due to conflict
Khartoum Airport vicinityavoidAirport closed since April 2023; surrounding area used for military operations and drone launches
Al-Mogran (Confluence of Nile Rivers)cautionRelatively less combat but checkpoints and patrols pose detention risk; avoid after dark
Riyadh DistrictcautionResidential area with intermittent militia presence; risk of arbitrary arrest or extortion at checkpoints
Al-AmaratsaferSouthern residential zone with fewer frontline clashes; still subject to city-wide risks like power outages and crime
07 · After Dark
Is Khartoum safe at night?
Armed robbery is common, especially near checkpoints and deserted areas; foreigners are targeted for valuables and vehicles.
After dark, be most careful around Khartoum City Centre, Omdurman, Bahri (Khartoum North), Souk Arabi (Central Market). Stick to busy, well-lit streets and licensed taxis or ride-hail late at night.
08 · Questions
Khartoum safety FAQ (2026)
Is Khartoum safe right now (2026)?
No. Khartoum is extremely unsafe for travelers due to ongoing armed conflict and breakdown of law and order. The city faces active military conflict between rival armed groups, widespread looting, and near-total collapse of public services. Government advisories from the US, UK, and Canada uniformly warn against all travel. Visitors risk exposure to violence, arbitrary detention, and crime with no reliable police or medical response. (Assessed 18 October 2026.)
Is Khartoum safe for women, families and solo travelers?
Safety is not one number, and this Khartoum 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.
Which areas of Khartoum should tourists avoid?
Field research flags Khartoum City Centre, Omdurman, Bahri (Khartoum North), Souk Arabi (Central Market), Khartoum Airport vicinity as best avoided. See the district-by-district safety map.
What are the most common scams in Khartoum (2026)?
- Fake checkpoint extortion by armed groups posing as police
- Overcharging or fraud at informal currency exchanges
How does Khartoum compare with other places in Sudan (2026)?
Khartoum ranks #1 of 5 Sudan destinations we've assessed, scoring 20/100. See the Sudan safety overview for the full list.
How is this khartoum safety score calculated (2026)?
The score blends 15+ 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: khartoum.json (CC BY 4.0).