On 10 May 2008, following earlier reports of a large number of JEM rebels in Kordofan, rebels launched an attack on Omdurman, a city close to Khartoum on the west bank of the Nile. A curfew is still in place in Omdurman.

Khartoum International Airport is currently closed. Visitors are advised against all travel to Khartoum until the situation is clearer.

Visitors are advised against all travel to Malakal and all but essential travel to the rest of the Upper Nile area due to insecurity. Security remains fragile due to tribal clashes in Upper Nile and Jonglei states.

Visitors are advised against all travel to the Eritrean border and against all but essential travel to Kassala. The Sudanese border with Eritrea was tense earlier in 2008. The situation has been calm in recent months, but could deteriorate rapidly.

It is advised against all travel south of Juba in Central and East Equatoria. Visitors are also advised against all travel in West Equatoria within 40kms of the border with the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

Visitors are advised against all but essential travel to all other parts of southern Sudan, including Juba. The situation throughout southern Sudan is volatile. There have been robberies and violence against NGO and UN staff.

Visitors are advised against all but essential travel to Darfur and areas West of an-Nahud and al-Fula in North Kordofan, which borders Darfur, due to the unstable security situation. This particularly applies to the Chadian/Darfur border areas since the upsurge in fighting between Sudanese and Chadian armed forces and rebel movements in December 2007. Violence and insecurity are particularly serious in West Darfur. Visitors should exercise extreme caution in all areas of Darfur. Anyone in Darfur should seek advice from the UN security office in Geneina before travelling outside of the state capitals.

Banditry in Darfur is widespread. Visitors should exercise caution when travelling outside the major population centres or at night. There have been several incidents involving NGO and UN staff and some African Union peace monitoring troops have been killed.

The Comprehensive Peace Agreement signed in January 2005 has effectively brought to an end the north-south civil war but some areas remain tense. There continue to be demonstrations, which have turned violent. Visitors should remain vigilant and avoid demonstrations or similar large gatherings in public places.

There is a high threat from terrorism. Attacks could be indiscriminate, including in places frequented by expatriates and foreign travellers.