Ouagadougou - Post Report Question and Answers
What is the relative size of the expatriate community? How would you describe overall morale among expatriates?
There is a small-to-medium expat community. Can be difficult to get to know people unless your kids go to school together. Overall the morale is pretty decent, but unless you speak French it can be difficult to break into the expats here. - Jun 2020
The expat community is small. There was a mix of some of the finest people I have ever met, and some of the most reprehensible. Both qualities are highly magnified in a place like Ouagadougou. Morale was always an issue and seemed to be going downhill. - Oct 2019
The expat community is small and not always very cohesive. The sense of being isolated in your own little walled compound can be quite great at times. Morale was okay, but for a variety of factors deteriorated greatly over the last year. - Jul 2019
The expat community is not large and can be a little clannish depending on one’s reason for being in Burkina, who one works for or where one lives. Not a strong sense of community. It can be difficult to forge meaningful relationships increasing the sense of isolation. Morale was only fair and getting worse. - Jul 2019
Given the location, expat morale is surprisingly high, but that is beginning to change following the January 2016 terrorist attack. There seems to have been an above-average number of people in the development community cutting short contracts or choosing not to extend. Within the Embassy, I would characterize morale as high. The Embassy goes to great lengths to make our lives as comfortable as possible here. Historically nearly everyone who can extend for a third year has done so. It remains to be seen how that will change in the future. - May 2016
Fairly small English speaking expat community. Most of our friends have been made through the school. Morale at the Embassy is good. Most people are quite happy here and many extend for a 3rd year. - Aug 2015
Few Americans, Brits and Canadians. Fairly large French and francophone European community. - Jun 2015
Morale depends on who you listen to and hang out with. We're happy here. Most people are happy here. It would be naive to think that it's always easy and enjoyable. It's a hard place to live and sometimes that is just too much to handle. - Jan 2015
There are probably 200 or so Americans and countless other expats. - Jul 2013
Relatively small English speaking community. - Jul 2013
Small and insular. We don't see them much other than on the commuting roads and supermarkets. - Apr 2013
The expat community is pretty large, but mostly Francophone. The English-speaking expat community is pretty small, you'll know the majority of other Americans within 6 months. - Nov 2012
Medium. - Aug 2010
Around 200 - Only about 20 or 30 in the Embassy community (not counting spouses or kids). - Jul 2008
Very large, but spread out. There are a lot of international NGOs and a lot of missionaries. - Jun 2008
