Bamako - Post Report Question and Answers
Morale among expats:
State Department people seem to dislike Bamako as a place because many do not speak much French and it is seriously third world. USAID folks tend to really like Mali. Morale within the mission is a bit low at present, the reasons for which are complex. - Jul 2011
Very good... but people who are not flexible and want a more demanding life style may not like it. - Jul 2011
Pretty good. People like being in Bamako despite some of the inconveniences (like terrible drivers and nightmarish traffic). - Oct 2010
It's a constant rollercoaster, up and down, up and down but most for the time it's pretty good. People don't love it here but "it's not bad." - May 2010
Very good, most have been here a long time and choose to stay here. - Sep 2009
Generally good.... - Apr 2009
Pretty good except for a few people who obviously didn't even consult a map when bidding and are shocked to discover they are in Africa. This is a hardship post people-get used to it. - Feb 2009
While I was there it was good. I'd heard it was bad in the past, but we had a really good group of people. It's a place where a couple of unhappy families could really change the atmosphere. It was tough at times, but in general, we were happy. - Feb 2009
Morale is good. Boring though it can be here, people find their own group of friends and meet at restaurants or each others' homes for dinner/parties/movies. Other than being expensive and with very little to do, Bamako really isn't a difficult place to live, give or take the bug season. - Jan 2009
