Congo Job opportunity - is it safe

[Junkie]

Got a strong possibility to work in Kigali next year on 6 to 12 months and the money looks very good ... not a flying job unfortunately, so the down side is probably will miss out on a lot of flying

Any advice and issues to be aware of wrt safety, travel and health precautions, banking, tax, etc - I have off shore facility that I haven't used in ages

Bottom line - is it worth it ?

[ICEMAN]

Yes, its worth it financially, offshore accounts are the way most guys work, HOWEVER there are a few sacrifices you will have to make.......

1) its usually long periods of continuous work at a time to cut down on travel costs for the company. so be prepared for long periods away from home (usual is between 8 weeks and 3 months at a time)

2) Get used to the african way of life: the swiss may of invented the perfect time piece, but africa still owns the time, its very frustrating sometimes....

3) Get used to the idea that you as the "mzungu" will owe each and every local ,and especially any sort of official, something for nothing, you are the reason for all of his problems, you are the reason for his financial challenges.

See if u can get a copy of miss trix`s first issue of African Skies for a few tips about the congo.

Biggles is still digging a hole out there, send him a PM for some updates since the democratic elections last month.

[Cali]

You will need an off shore account for sure.

I will pm you my banking details

[RV4ker (RIP)]

I did a stint there many moons ago. Good ca$h but baie K@K living conditions (no running water at times for eg.). In long run not worth it in my opinion (malaria, constant and real threat of jail time, bribes etc..) but the short term ca$h gains are a HUGE factor...

I was there before it was Kabila Country. May have changed by now?

2c

[Spongebob]

Hi Junkie.

For some reason I cannot find my atlas rigth now but I suspect Kigali is not in the DRC but in Rwanda.

I spent 4 months in DRC earlier this year. The living conditions are pretty rotten. The safety situation varies from region to region. In the East, especially Northeast it is the worst or highest risk. Do not go there yet.

The risk you will be exposed to depends on the type of work you will do. also, the more you travel the higher the risk.

My biggest concern was medevac. If you get injured or seriously ill you must have a way to proper medical facilities which is likely to be Nairobi in Kenya, or in Tanzania. I am sure you can buy some insurance to this effect.

The security situation inside Rwanda is better than inside the DRC and colleagues tell met the poeple are less "agressive" in Rwanda than in DRC.

Overall I would not consider working like this for any extended period of time.

But let us face the facts, working in Africa is at present much safer than working in Iraq.

Good luck

[Duck Rogers]

My biggest concern was medevac. If you get injured or seriously ill you must have a way to proper medical facilities........

That's easy.....just phone Iceman!

[ICEMAN]

That's easy.....just phone Iceman!

Dukkie....Eish!!!........ u gonna wait a long time for my 503 to get up there , old age and bed sores will get you first!

[Woody]

Morning "iceman"
Good to see you are dug in and settled .Im sure you can write your
own instructors manual on survival up there.Wx turning and looking good this side.

[Bumpy]

J.U.N.K.I.E.


I have no experience in the DRC, but here are a few ex-pat tips I learnt the hard way.

• The pay is good, but don’t expect it to be on time!
• Your job description is only the start, because you just can’t sit back and watch something getting screwed-up so you jump in and help, very rewarding, but often entails long working hours…
• Always have a few extra notes in your pocket for the law (local currency – never USD)
• If it feels like influenza its influenza – and if it feels 500 time worse its Malaria

[Biggles]

Kigali is in Rwanda. Don't know the security situation there.

Alright those were mostly negative coments.

Firstly it all depends on who you are working for. Some companies are sorted and established.

Malaria can be avioded. I know people who working in Ghana for 7 years and never had malaria because he stayed in aircon places, used repelant and did not go outside after sunset (I was partying on the beach till 3am so had malaria 15 times in 3 years) (But I have a thing for swedish backpackers

Money is good. BUT if staying in cities and you want too eat western food it can get expensive. Most jobs are all expences covered though.

Also watch the taxman. You need to be out of the country for more than 6 months in the year(I think) and have one stretch of over 62 days continously out the country to not have to pay income tax. Best get advice from someone in the know.

Offshore accounts are the same as currency specultion. You can get burnt badly. Just when you need the money in good old RS of A the rand could get inexplicably strong...

I have found working in Central and western Africa to be a very rewarding experience, once you get used to African time...

[Cloud Warrior]

To get tax exemption you need to spend more than 183 days outside the country of which one period must be 60 days continuous. And remember a day is deemed to be midnight to midnight - the taxman can get rather picky wrt this.