USA Warns Its Citizens Against Risk Of “Kidnapping” Across 35 Countries Including Algeria !

The US State Department has warned its citizens against what it called “abductions” in 35 countries around the world against the backdrop of the release of a US tourist kidnapped in Uganda a few days ago.

The United States of America provided a new risk indicator for public travel advisers to inform Americans more clearly about the risks of kidnapping and hostage-taking by criminal and terrorist elements around the world.

Washington said the new “K Index” is part of the ongoing commitment to providing clear and comprehensive information on travel safety for US citizens so they can make sound travel decisions, offering specific risk indicators such as crime, terrorism, civil unrest, natural disasters, health and other potential risks.

The new US list, including the “K” risk of kidnapping, comprises 35 countries (8 of which are Arab ones).
These are: “Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, Bangladesh, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Colombia, Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Haiti Kenya, Lebanon, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Malaysia, Mali, Mexico, Niger, Nigeria, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, The Philippines, Russia, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkey, Uganda and Ukraine”.

The Consular Affairs Office is working closely with the Office of the Special Presidential Envoy for Hostages and with all US agencies to serve and protect Americans abroad and to head off and resolve kidnappings and hostage-taking, the same source said, adding that it will continue to update its public information as part of its continued commitment to serving US citizens as they travel overseas.