In Kayes I asked at the commissariat if there was a need for escort to Bamako, he replied 'ask the gendarmes'. Went over there and sat for a while, noone was interested. Finally a bossman showed up, he asked me 'are you mr Diallo?' This was so surreal I replied "Non je m'appelle Sidibé. Abdullahi Sidibé!" At this everyone present was laughing and slapping their knees.
I said 'I am going to Bamako'. Bossman said 'Bon voyage!'
That was it.
Lots of crooks around Nioro-Diema and that is where you could also, possibly, be kidnapped.
Man I hate giving away my papers. I will carry copies of passport and driver's license, that is all they are gonna get from me. Once they have your papers you're out of luck.
In Bamako I gave the driver's license away too often to corrupt policemen, finally I said 'look I am not going to pay you even one CEFA, so what are you going to do with it? Show it to your wife??' They found that funny, but insisted I 'needed to support the police'. Wearily I gave him a couple hundred and swore never ever to hand over any important documents again.
Edit: in fact, I doubt I will even stop or pull down the window. Just ignore, ignore.
Last edited by priffe; 7 Dec 2013 at 16:51.
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