Man who has visited every country on earth shares ‘most unsafe’ with 'no laws'

A man who has completed his mission to visit all 197 in the world has revealed the country he felt the ‘most unsafe’ in.

YouTuber Drew Binsky has seen it all during his travels, from capturing the eerie moment he came across a cannibal tribe, to visiting the place that has ‘everything you could want’.

In a video from last year, the American vlogger revealed the ‘places where I felt the most unsafe as a traveler’.

At the top of his list was Mogadishu, Somalia, classified by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) as a level four ‘do not travel’ destination.

“This is due to the threat from terrorist groups and continuing violence. If you choose to remain in Somalia, you do so at your own risk. You should have a personal emergency plan that does not rely on the UK government,” the FCDO says.

Mogadishu is considered dangerous due to the constant threat of terrorism (Getty Stock Images)

“This place has no rules, no laws,” Binsky added, saying that the ‘offshoot of al-Qaeda’, Al-Shabab, is present in the area which is home to an estimated three million people.

Binsky said whenever he left his hotel, he had ‘four bulletproof vest military guys’ alongside him in each truck with ‘huge AK-47s in their hand’.

He called it ‘very, very scary and very unfortunate’.

Terrorist kidnaps

Foreigners and aid workers face a high risk of being kidnapped by extremist groups (Getty Stock Images)

The FCDO warns that al-Shabaab frequently conducts attacks against government buildings, military bases, hotels, airports and other locations visited by civilians or foreign nationals.

“There is a high threat of kidnapping throughout Somalia, including in regions bordering Kenya and Ethiopia, and in Somaliland. Terrorists and criminal groups, including piracy groups, are involved in kidnapping. A number of western nationals, including British nationals, have been kidnapped in Somalia and some have been killed,” the FCDO says.

Political situation

Decades of conflict have led to a fractured central government (Getty Stock Images)

Mogadishu continues to experience instability due to ongoing conflict between Somali security forces, allied militias and al-Shabaab.

Military operations and counterterrorism campaigns regularly take place in and around the city, increasing the risk of armed clashes.

The FCDO warns that ‘political and community-based violence is common across Somalia, including Somaliland, and can flare up with little warning’.

Crime

Somalia is among the top 10 highest-crime nations in Africa (Getty Stock Images)

“There is a dangerous level of criminal activity by armed militia throughout Somalia. There have been murders, armed robbery and criminal kidnaps,” the FCDO adds.

“The humanitarian situation in Somalia has led to a large displacement of people, and a growth in refugee camps which are overpopulated. Food and health insecurity has led to an increase in crime, particularly around the refugee camps.”

Laws and cultural differences

Somalia is a mainly Muslim country, as the FCDO advises travellers to dress modestly and behave respectfully in public.

Alcohol is generally banned, and drug offences carry severe penalties. Same-sex sexual activity is illegal, and LGBTQ+ travellers may also face legal and social risks.

Travellers should always carry identification and follow instructions from security forces as the UK Government has limited ability to help British nationals if they experience legal problems in Somalia.