Boston University International Programs may cancel the Niamey International Development Program in Niger next semester due to a U.S. State Department travel alert issued Nov. 19 warning against all travel to the western African country, officials said.

International Programs Director Joseph Finkhouse said in an email that the office will make a final decision about the program on Dec. 10. An email was sent Tuesday to the 16 students participating, he said.

‘This is an action that we do not take lightly and we do not want to rush judgment,’ he said. ‘But because it is late in the semester, we felt that we owed it to the students to let them know the situation as soon as possible.’

The travel alert recommends against all travel to Niger due to threats of kidnapping.’

The alert specifically references the Dec. 14, 2008 kidnapping of two United Nations officials and former Canadian diplomats by the terrorist group al-Qaida in the Land of the Islamic Maghreb. A more recent kidnapping occurred on Jan. 22 when four Europeans were abducted by AQLIM operatives along the Mali-Niger border, according to the alert.

‘That is very strong language, and we need to take it seriously,’ Finkhouse said.

Though travel alerts are issued frequently to inform travelers about potentially risky situations, the one regarding Niger is distinctive, Finkhouse said.’

‘The uniqueness of the Niger alert comes from the fact that it is a blanket recommendation to avoid all travel to Niger, which covers the entire country, including Niamey,’ he said.’

Other alerts, such as those currently issued for Germany and China, do not recommend against all travel but rather advise about certain possible risks, Finkhouse said.’

If the program is canceled, it would be an unprecedented action, Finkhouse said. BU has never canceled a study abroad program due to travel alerts before and expects to resume the Niger program the following semester.’

In the meantime, International Programs is doing everything possible to accommodate students to other programs if they wish to switch, he said.

College of Arts and Sciences junior Siena Hickey, a Niger program participant, said she expects the program will be canceled.

‘They just released this travel alert within the last week or two,’ she said. ‘It’s very unlikely they’ll lift it within the next 10 days.’

She said the decision seemed sudden.’

‘I couldn’t believe it this morning,’ she said. ‘I thought it was a joke.”

Hickey said she was aware of the incidents mentioned in the travel alert and does not fear for her safety.

‘Just the fact that the State Department put out this strongly worded letter made it more alarming,’ she said. ‘On one hand, maybe I should be more fearful about my own safety, but on the other hand it makes me angry that they’re keeping us from going somewhere where there are BU students right now having a good time and feeling perfectly safe.”

Hickey said the Niger program director is advising students to look into other options, and she is already exploring several availabilities.’

‘It’s kind of tough because in a matter of days I have to decide what to do the whole semester,’ she said.’

CAS sophomore Stephen Allen, another participant, said he does not want the program to be cancelled but thinks it’s good that BU has student safety as its top priority.’

‘I found out about the travel alert a few days ago,’ he said. ‘I was expecting an e-mail about it. They made it official, so it was kind of upsetting.”

Allen said he is looking into the Rabat Language and Liberal Arts Program in Morocco.

‘It’s a bad situation,’ he said. ‘I feel bad for the juniors who were banking on this working out, since their time opportunity is not as deep.’