US warns its citizens on travelling to Somalia over Al-Shabaab activity

The US Tuesday renewed its travel warning to its citizens travelling to Somalia noting the Horn of African country was still unstable and dangerous.

The State Department said terrorist operatives and armed groups in Somalia continue to attack Somali authorities, the troops from the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM), and other non-military targets.

The warning further noted there existed particular threat to foreigners in places where large crowds gather and Westerners frequent, including airports, government buildings, and shopping areas. Inter-clan and inter-factional fighting can flare up with little or no warning.

Citing the Dallo airline attack in February in which an attacker detonated an explosive device mid air, the State Department said the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) had issued a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) containing information on the U.S. prohibition against U.S. civil aviation operations in airspace over Somalia due to security risks toward civil aviation.

The warning replaces a similar one issued October 1, 2015.