Warnings for holidaymakers visiting Ethiopia were stepped up by the government today.

The Foreign Office now advises holidaymakers against all travel within 50 kilometres of all of Ethiopia’s borders.

“We advise against all travel to areas off the principal roads/towns within 50 kilometres of the border areas with Eritrea because of the risk of landmines. The Ethiopia/Eritrea border remains closed and the situation is very tense and could deteriorate extremely rapidly,” the Foreign Office said in a statement.

It also advises against all travel to the Danakil desert area that is bounded by the Dessie-Adigrat road, the Dessie-Djibouti road and the Ethiopian/Eritrean border, following the kidnapping of tourists that took place in March of this year.

Additionally, all travel to the Gambella Region is advised against as “the situation remains volatile”, and border areas off principal roads and towns towards the Sudan and Kenyan border where banditry has increased.

“Armed groups hostile to the government of Ethiopia operate in several areas near the border with Kenya,” the Foreign Office warned.

For the latest Foreign Office travel advice on visiting Ethiopia see www.fco.gov.uk