Madagascar

[Univelton]

Have you or any other mongers here ever gone to jail in Africa? Any been in close call situations? Please regale us so we can enjoy the excitement from the safety of our monitors and keyboards.

Time back in Freetown in Sierra in 2016 during the Ebola epidemic. The curfew was a rule from around 10:00 pm to 5:00 am. So one day in the middle of the week, one of my expatriate folks took a ride to the Lumley beach, one of the 5 top beaches in the country. Anyone who visited Freetown and had chance to visit its beaches knows it.

It was around 6:00 pm after a busy day. We ordered some beer and were really hanging out.

At around 8:00 pm, a small childish cute girl (she later told me she had a kid to my astonishment) approached me and asked me to buy her a drink. She was polite and courteous. I asked the bar lady to give her whatever beer she wants.

The small girl ordered a soft drink. We were then chatted about life in Freetown and Ebola. Then she started telling stories about her family, the incident when she got impregnated by a village schoolboy. I honestly felt sympathetic for her. And attracted to her. My fingers were already very far feeling the wetness as if her story was not my concern.

Then she whispered to me "hey, can we take a short walk on the beach?" I said let us go. She took my hand and I could see her face was innocent and she was really horny. It was around 9:00 pm.

What a heck! Curfew to start in a few minutes.

We crossed the road and sat in or on the sand. I do not remember. John was already very stiff.

Important note: when in Freetown, where everything is free (not free of course), always bear with you Jimmy Hat.

Then what a crime scene action! She was in periods. But she was really enjoying and me too!! Forget about the family stories and impregnation!

Then a police officer!! Now it is more then a crime! The girl talked to him in Krio (the local language) and the police officer told her to go home and he will deal with me.

The reflex for me to apologize and apologize! I prayed all Gods and told him that I was not aware of the curfew.

So I was taken to a police station! Nearby. I was under arrest for disseminating Ebola! You Europeans brought the Ebola, he said and you are disseminating to our teenagers.

I said I was sorry. Now it was 10:30 pm around and my folk was looking for me.

I saw his white pick up packed with police officers in the back.

When he saw me being interrogated, he loudly laughed asking me what brought me to the police station.

The interrogating police officer also laughed. They hugged each other and my friend told me to get in the car.

Then we went home.

Long story!

[Albert9989]

Not in jail but not so far maybe but situation was a bit complex that time.

Was long time ago, living in ivory coast. Driving back home along the stadium, no lights there even if in town, and suddenly I saw many people in the middle of the street. They jumped on the side while I was passing through them and there I realized that it was a patrol of police and militaries due to some trouble in the city at that time.

They were shouting stop stop so I stopped, they came to me by running, all rifles directed on me.

One policeman told me to go back all together to the police station just close to there.

When we arrive a drunk policeman was shouting"put him in jail now".

They were may be 5 or 6 policemen's and same for soldiers.

Police told me: you put all of us at risk, you could have killed us!

So I tried to explain that in the dark, with "camouflage" military clothes and I stopped because I was reedy to add, and black people.

Si I didn't argue more.

But we talked like this for maybe 10 to 20 minutes.

At some point police said to soldier: but finally what do you want to do with him? It's you that he put at risk!

And chief soldier said, nothing, let him go away.

And I was then able to leave after some more excuses.

That was a situation were you have to stay very calm and not a good situation to show money.

I have many others like this. With guns on my head, but everytime the situation was going quiet after some time, long time. But you must keep control.

Not sure it could be the same now.

[Taiwan Laowai]

Part of the adventure. Any day in Africa you go to bed alive or don't end up in jail is a good day.

Neddy.

Have you or any other mongers here ever gone to jail in Africa? Any been in close call situations? Please regale us so we can enjoy the excitement from the safety of our monitors and keyboards.

[Neddy69]

Thing about COVID in Uganda was that president was issuing sudden directives such as. Anyone caught violating curfew or other COVID related guidelines would automatically be charged with attempted murder which I believe is not bailable. I think over 4,000 people in Uganda including a handful of Chinese and other foreigners were locked-up for such violations. It was only several weeks later that president directed police to release these offenders unless they had dome something else serious. So thousands of people including some foreigners did jail time there in last few weeks. Traffic violations are one thing but COVID is very special case.

Another special case is if you find yourself in the middle of a Presidential motorcade. That is not something simple bribing will solve. Those special forces guys are serious and do shoot and people sometimes.

Part of the adventure. Any day in Africa you go to bed alive or don't end up in jail is a good day.

Neddy.

[Taiwan Laowai]

Be always respectful. Admit your fault? Ruefully. African police is very creative in making up nonexisting offences to collect a bribe. Never offer a bribe in the first place. Most important. Show the goons you have more time than them. Sooner or later the subject of money will pop up. I. e. A suitable gift would prevent him from charging you for whatever. Particularly creative is the traffic police. Never forget. It is in general very unlikely that you be taken to a station to be charged. In that case the patrolman would have to share the spoils with his superior officer. The bribe is most of times a petty amount. Although Kenyan police in particular can be very greedy when they feel they can shake down an unsuspecting tourists. I heard sums of 10.000 ksh and more. Hilarious stories. Maybe I'll write a guide. As for myself I give anything which wears an uniform a wide berth. Have a been caught a few times. Absolutely. If you never paid bribes you not been to Africa. Butthe most I paid for a traffic offence in Senegal was 3000 fcfa. Slightly over the local rate of 2000 fcfa.

Neddy.

Thing about COVID in Uganda was that president was issuing sudden directives such as. Anyone caught violating curfew or other COVID related guidelines would automatically be charged with attempted murder which I believe is not bailable. I think over 4,000 people in Uganda including a handful of Chinese and other foreigners were locked-up for such violations. It was only several weeks later that president directed police to release these offenders unless they had dome something else serious. So thousands of people including some foreigners did jail time there in last few weeks. Traffic violations are one thing but COVID is very special case.

Another special case is if you find yourself in the middle of a Presidential motorcade. That is not something simple bribing will solve. Those special forces guys are serious and do shoot and people sometimes.

[Neddy69]

Strange how bribing in Rwanda somehow ended up on Madagascar thread but anyway. My limited experience with that has not been so successful, probably due to me not being smooth enough somehow.

Over a decade ago, due to faulty info from Cameroon embassy in Australia that I phoned up, I ended up arriving in Doula with no visa when I needed one to enter. In the end, even US $1,200 offer was not enough to stop them from putting me on next flight back to Nairobi.

When I was stopped in Kampala this April and threatened with an attempted murder charge for jogging during COVID (new rule announced night before), officer would not entertain my offers. It was only after hotel staff arrived and spoke discreetly with officer that 40,000 Shilling would make the problem go away.

Also, a Chinese guy I knew of in Metro Manila was stopped on a motorcycle for a minor driving violation. When he tried to bribe the officer in a straight and perhaps condescending manner, he ended up offending the officer and the problem became a lot more complicated and bureaucratic for him. Had he kept his mouth shut and behaved with respectful body language, he likely would have been cut loose with a warning.

In more cases than not, my gut has told me that a bribe would not help things. So the only time I will offer it is in desperation. To avoid arrest or be allowed into a country. The way I do it is to apologize for causing trouble do to ignorance and offer "any way possible" as a token gesture to make up for my mistake.

As for Rwanda and Kigali, I would never dare as my skill level is not there. I am still an African newbie.

Be always respectful. Admit your fault? Ruefully. African police is very creative in making up nonexisting offences to collect a bribe. Never offer a bribe in the first place. Most important. Show the goons you have more time than them. Sooner or later the subject of money will pop up. I. e. A suitable gift would prevent him from charging you for whatever. Particularly creative is the traffic police. Never forget. It is in general very unlikely that you be taken to a station to be charged. In that case the patrolman would have to share the spoils with his superior officer. The bribe is most of times a petty amount. Although Kenyan police in particular can be very greedy when they feel they can shake down an unsuspecting tourists. I heard sums of 10.000 ksh and more. Hilarious stories. Maybe I'll write a guide. As for myself I give anything which wears an uniform a wide berth. Have a been caught a few times. Absolutely. If you never paid bribes you not been to Africa. Butthe most I paid for a traffic offence in Senegal was 3000 fcfa. Slightly over the local rate of 2000 fcfa.

Neddy.

[Member #4673]

If you're under 70 and in good health, there is less risk in covid than all the previous ones (malaria, infection, car crash, robbery, whatever) you already take when travelling to Africa.

I am not going to travel 2 km from my house in Pattaya unless Covid is clear completely. Or vaccine is available.

Testing my body strength resistance to this virus? I will leave it to more adventurous mongers. Meanwhile its two month that Thailand has no Covid cases. Even not one. Also border closed we are in safe prison.

[Taiwan Laowai]

You guys. You do not know Rwanda and its complexities. Bribe and its other forms is a very complex issue. Of course, Rwanda is different from say other Western African countries where you can openly bribe any officer. Rwandan society is a very conservative one. They are never open on any matter. Not because of the current situations but since its existence during the monarchy or under colonial rule. Rwandans in general are close-minded, they never talk on serious matter. Political life is almost nonexistent.

So bribery, corruption, . And other related crimes are a taboo in this country and they are common. Should you meet a police officer, use your sixth sense. Every Rwandan is a spying agent and everyone does not trust anyone. You get me? In some situations, I bribed the police officers, and in other others, I decided not to do so because of the public image of the country and its leadership and consequential outcomes. If you are unlucky, you will be shown on public TV and broadcast on air radios that a tourist has tried to bribed an officer. And even the President will talk about you in a press conference. Just Public Image and Public Relations. If you are lucky, nothing will happen.

To be brief, use your common sense, and do not bribe the police officer, otherwise you will be put in jail and become a persona non grata and deported.

But underground, bribery is very very common in the one of the most closed society I have ever seen all over the world.

Do you know that in my own experiences, Rwanda is worse than North Korea when taking into account some benchmarks with a certain perspective?

Tell me in your experience! I am ready to agree or disagree.

Strange how bribing in Rwanda somehow ended up on Madagascar thread but anyway. My limited experience with that has not been so successful, probably due to me not being smooth enough somehow.

Over a decade ago, due to faulty info from Cameroon embassy in Australia that I phoned up, I ended up arriving in Doula with no visa when I needed one to enter. In the end, even US $1,200 offer was not enough to stop them from putting me on next flight back to Nairobi.

When I was stopped in Kampala this April and threatened with an attempted murder charge for jogging during COVID (new rule announced night before), officer would not entertain my offers. It was only after hotel staff arrived and spoke discreetly with officer that 40,000 Shilling would make the problem go away.

Also, a Chinese guy I knew of in Metro Manila was stopped on a motorcycle for a minor driving violation. When he tried to bribe the officer in a straight and perhaps condescending manner, he ended up offending the officer and the problem became a lot more complicated and bureaucratic for him. Had he kept his mouth shut and behaved with respectful body language, he likely would have been cut loose with a warning.

In more cases than not, my gut has told me that a bribe would not help things. So the only time I will offer it is in desperation. To avoid arrest or be allowed into a country. The way I do it is to apologize for causing trouble do to ignorance and offer "any way possible" as a token gesture to make up for my mistake.

As for Rwanda and Kigali, I would never dare as my skill level is not there. I am still an African newbie.

[Chris P]

I don't know where you life and where you got your theory of fundings per Covid-deaths to hospitals. Must be a perfect place to stay.

This is an info from "The Econimist. July2nd".

Data released on June 30th by the Centres for Disease Control (CDC) show that the country's death toll skews significantly younger. There, people in their 80's account for less than half of all covid-19 deaths; people in their 40's, 50's and 60's, meanwhile, account for a significantly larger share of those who die. The median covid-19 sufferer in America is a 48-year-old;.

Don't want to get into a big debate but Google "CBS8 hospitals covid death payments". There have been cases of people killed in auto accidents labelled covid victims on the death cert. There is a big push by establishment to hype covid for a variety of reasons, such as to get mail-in voting to make it easier for them to get rid of Trump. But as I said, if it were really dangerous, people crammed together in 3rd world slums with no healthcare would be dying 100,000 a week, which is just not happening.

If you're under 70 and in good health, there is less risk in covid than all the previous ones (malaria, infection, car crash, robbery, whatever) you already take when travelling to Africa.

[Univelton]

This proves nothing even if it s true. At night with no witnesses you did something wrong (anyway not wearing an helmet is stupid and dangerous if you ask me) so you had to pay a fine period. That's normal.

Trying to bribe an immigration officer at an official Rwandan border so you can get away with testing is a complete different story. I will be happy to bring you apples or oranges after this.

But be my guest go ahead and try it since you know everything about everything.

You guys. You do not know Rwanda and its complexities. Bribe and its other forms is a very complex issue. Of course, Rwanda is different from say other Western African countries where you can openly bribe any officer. Rwandan society is a very conservative one. They are never open on any matter. Not because of the current situations but since its existence during the monarchy or under colonial rule. Rwandans in general are close-minded, they never talk on serious matter. Political life is almost nonexistent.

So bribery, corruption, . And other related crimes are a taboo in this country and they are common. Should you meet a police officer, use your sixth sense. Every Rwandan is a spying agent and everyone does not trust anyone. You get me? In some situations, I bribed the police officers, and in other others, I decided not to do so because of the public image of the country and its leadership and consequential outcomes. If you are unlucky, you will be shown on public TV and broadcast on air radios that a tourist has tried to bribed an officer. And even the President will talk about you in a press conference. Just Public Image and Public Relations. If you are lucky, nothing will happen.

To be brief, use your common sense, and do not bribe the police officer, otherwise you will be put in jail and become a persona non grata and deported.

But underground, bribery is very very common in the one of the most closed society I have ever seen all over the world.

Do you know that in my own experiences, Rwanda is worse than North Korea when taking into account some benchmarks with a certain perspective?

Tell me in your experience! I am ready to agree or disagree.

[Amadeuss]

This whole covid thing is a hoax anyway: 99% of people who died of it were on their last legs anyway.!

I don't know where you life and where you got your theory of fundings per Covid-deaths to hospitals. Must be a perfect place to stay.

This is an info from "The Econimist. July2nd".

Data released on June 30th by the Centres for Disease Control (CDC) show that the country's death toll skews significantly younger. There, people in their 80's account for less than half of all covid-19 deaths; people in their 40's, 50's and 60's, meanwhile, account for a significantly larger share of those who die. The median covid-19 sufferer in America is a 48-year-old;.

[Chris P]

If you wait for "better" times you might wait 2 years... And after lockdown you'll have a lot of hungry prime chicas at bargain basement prices. Fact is. African countries have to restart commercial air traffic fairly soon. Covid or not. Otherwise there will be no Airline Industry left.
Neddy

I agree with Neddy, I think there will be great opportunities for bargains when things reopen, both on accommodation and girls. I had flights booked for both Gambia and Madagascar this summer. Both airlines said I can take them any time in the next 2 years and I most definitely intend to (hopefully sooner rather than later). This whole covid thing is a hoax anyway: 99% of people who died of it were on their last legs anyway. Plus hospitals are given extra funding for every covid death (wink wink nudge nudge) so they tested every 90 year old corpse and if they found the virus (which they probably would as he / she had been in hospital for ages) onto the list they went and a new car for the doctor. If it was a real threat then everyone in overcrowded third world slums would be dropping like flies but that is not the case.

The tourists may not be there but the girls still are. Supply and demand!

[Muzungufotsy]

Best you hit the ignore button. He's been the resident africa forum troll for a long time. Contributed exactly zero. Knows it all. From the www.

Neddy.

Dont feed the pet. lol.

Funny to call me a troll when I say something obvious that you know is true.

[Neddy69]

Seems you don't know nothing yourself you look corruption index on internet and decide rwandians not take the bribes. Yes they are much less corrupted when other african countries but its not means they not take it or you will get in jail if you offer them. Yes its posible they can refuse or not like in any african countries. When I come first time rwanda 3 years ago I take boda boda at night time and the motorcycle driver didint give me a helmet (at kigali everybody must wear helmets on motorbikes) later police guy stop us and ask why I don't wear a helmet? Boda boda driver go futher and start talk with him something, after boda driver comeback to me and said give 3000 or 5000 (I not remember already how much it was) he went pay it for police guy and he let us go. So don't tell me I don't know nothing about country.

Best you hit the ignore button. He's been the resident africa forum troll for a long time. Contributed exactly zero. Knows it all. From the www.

Neddy.

Dont feed the pet. lol.

[Muzungufotsy]

This proves nothing even if it s true. At night with no witnesses you did something wrong (anyway not wearing an helmet is stupid and dangerous if you ask me) so you had to pay a fine period. That's normal.

Trying to bribe an immigration officer at an official Rwandan border so you can get away with testing is a complete different story. I will be happy to bring you apples or oranges after this.

But be my guest go ahead and try it since you know everything about everything.