Sudan · Safety report last updated
As of July 2026, Khartoum scores 20/100 on the IsMyTripSafe composite safety index — verdict: elevated risk — reconsider. No — the official Level 4 “Do Not Travel” advisory and documented armed conflict make Khartoum unsafe for visitors. The main risks for visitors are pickpocketing (moderate risk) and robbery (high risk).
Safety Report
IsMyTripSafe.com
Sudan · Assessed 29 July 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 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 2026-05-11T15:07:13Z
Full advisory →Avoid all travel
“Canada's official risk level for Sudan: avoid all travel.”
Updated 2026-07-29T14:31:46.2003107-04:00
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
HighMugging and armed robbery are common in central Khartoum, especially at night and near transport hubs
Pickpocketing
ModeratePickpocketing and bag‑snatching occur frequently in crowded markets and transport stations
03 · Environment
04 · Institutions
05 · Field Research
Traveller sentiment score
Extremely negative
35/100
Recent traveler reports describe feeling unsafe, with many cutting trips short or canceling plans due to the volatile security climate
No — the official Level 4 “Do Not Travel” advisory and documented armed conflict make Khartoum unsafe for visitors.
Khartoum sits in a war zone where fighting between the Sudanese army and paramilitary forces continues, with frequent drone attacks, mine threats, and a high risk of sudden violence. The composite safety index of 18 reflects a HIGH RISK environment, and all major governments advise against all travel.
Recent developments
Common scams
Full briefing
Safety Briefing
Khartoum is currently unsafe for any traveler. The official Level 4 “Do Not Travel” advisory from Canada, the UK, the United States and Australia reflects an ongoing armed conflict between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, with frequent drone strikes, artillery fire and unexploded ordnance scattered throughout the capital. Recent incidents—including a city‑wide police sweep that led to 2,000 arrests (Sudan Tribune, July 2026), an explosion in central Khartoum blamed on a legacy land mine (Arab News, April 2026), and a drone attack on the airport that forced flight cancellations (Middle East Monitor, May 2026)—illustrate how quickly the security situation can deteriorate.
The composite safety index of 18/100 and a HIGH RISK classification stem from high robbery and moderate pickpocketing levels. Mugging and armed robbery are common in central districts, especially after dark and near transport hubs, while pickpocketing frequently targets visitors in crowded markets. Scams that prey on tourists—such as bogus tour operators and currency‑exchange fraud—are also reported. Travelers who ignore the advisory expose themselves to the possibility of sudden violence, detention, or being caught in cross‑fire.
If you must remain in Khartoum for essential reasons, stay in a vetted, secure accommodation, avoid all public gatherings, and limit movement to essential travel only. Keep a low profile, register with your embassy’s emergency alert system, and maintain a ready evacuation plan. Use only trusted, government‑vetted guides, avoid night travel, and be prepared to shelter in place for extended periods. Under no circumstances should you rely on local transport or attempt to navigate checkpoints without explicit clearance, as the security environment remains unpredictable and extremely dangerous.
06 · Neighbourhoods
Our field research rated 5 Khartoum districts for visitors, 4 needing caution and 1 best avoided. See them plotted on the Khartoum safety map.
Al-MogranavoidActive conflict zone near frontlines; frequent shelling and armed confrontations make it unsafe for visitors
Al-AmaratcautionRelatively stable residential area but still high risk of petty crime and occasional armed clashes; stay alert, avoid night travel
RiyadhcautionAffluent district with better security presence; however, sporadic fighting and roadblocks can occur, requiring vigilance
Soba EastcautionCommercial hub with increased checkpoints and occasional looting; remain cautious, especially after dark
Kassala RoadcautionMain thoroughfare with regular military patrols but also frequent ambushes and roadside thefts; travel with extreme care
07 · After Dark
Mugging and armed robbery are common in central Khartoum, especially at night and near transport hubs
After dark, be most careful around Al-Mogran, Al-Amarat, Riyadh, Soba East. Stick to busy, well-lit streets and licensed taxis or ride-hail late at night.
08 · Questions
No — the official Level 4 “Do Not Travel” advisory and documented armed conflict make Khartoum unsafe for visitors. Khartoum sits in a war zone where fighting between the Sudanese army and paramilitary forces continues, with frequent drone attacks, mine threats, and a high risk of sudden violence. The composite safety index of 18 reflects a HIGH RISK environment, and all major governments advise against all travel. (Assessed 29 July 2026.)
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.
Field research flags Al-Mogran as best avoided. See the district-by-district safety map.
Khartoum ranks #1 of 3 Sudan destinations we've assessed, scoring 20/100. See the Sudan safety overview for the full list.
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.
Browse the Sudan safety overview or all destinations. Raw data: khartoum.json (CC BY 4.0).
