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Burkina Faso

Reality Brief: Ouagadougou

What to know about Ouagadougou, gathered from AfriPilot's sourced information: alerts, rules, addresses and useful places. Nothing is added without a source.

Region: KadiogoGathered from 11 sources checked on October 2, 2026.

Current alerts

  • Whole country strongly advised against

    Armed terrorist groups, kidnappings and attacks; curfews. The Ouagadougou-Bobo-Dioulasso road is strongly advised against.

    Published on March 4, 2026 · France Diplomatie, Travel advice: Burkina Faso, safety, GOV.UK (FCDO), Burkina Faso travel advice: warnings and insurance

  • Mandatory travel form

    Since 8 April 2026, the online "fiche voyage" is mandatory before each entry and exit.

    Published on April 8, 2026 · France Diplomatie, Travel advice: Burkina Faso, entry and residence

Alerts checked on October 2, 2026 against the sources cited.

Essentials before you arrive

Living in Ouagadougou

Field experience

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    Pharmacies, clinics and hospitals

    Listed in OpenStreetMap (not exhaustive): pharmacies (102), clinics (30), hospitals (67). Locate those near your home in the first days and check opening hours and on-call services locally.

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    Where to shop for food

    Listed in OpenStreetMap (not exhaustive): markets (72), supermarkets (40). Compare a few basic prices between market and supermarket before settling into habits.

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    Banks, cash machines and exchange

    Listed in OpenStreetMap (not exhaustive): banks (90), cash machines (3), currency exchange (8), money transfer (9). Withdraw and change money at these official places, preferably during the day, never in the street.

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    A shop for your SIM card

    Listed in OpenStreetMap (not exhaustive): phone and internet (29). Go with your passport: SIM registration is often mandatory.

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    A furnished flat for the first weeks

    Listed in OpenStreetMap (not exhaustive): furnished apartments (16). A furnished flat gives you time to visit several neighbourhoods before signing a lease.

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    A coworking space as a fallback

    Listed in OpenStreetMap (not exhaustive): coworking (3). Useful for remote work when the connection or power fails at home.

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    Consulates in the city

    Listed in OpenStreetMap (not exhaustive): consulates (3). Note the address of your country's consulate or the nearest embassy.

Useful contacts

Contact details taken from the official sources cited. Check them before going.