🚗 Hitchhiking in Ouagadougou with a "Wagner" Escort

Getting around Burkina Faso's capital isn't easy. No ride-hailing apps, no proper taxis (just shared bush taxis with fixed routes), and no zemidjans (the motorcycle taxis that made Benin so convenient). After finally flagging down a car, we agreed on a price—only for the driver to jack it up upon arrival. Normally, I’d throw the original fare at him and walk off (zero tolerance for scams). But my travel buddy wanted to avoid conflict. I insisted: "This isn’t about money—it’s about principle. If we cave, every tourist after us will get ripped off too." A heated argument later (drawing a crowd of curious locals), the driver backed down. 🛣️ The Unexpected Ride Home Stranded for 30+ mins with no taxis in sight, I proposed hitchhiking. At a gas station: 1️⃣ First attempt: A polished local in a brand-new Mercedes (rare here!) refused politely. Fair enough. 2️⃣ Second try: Spotted two white guys heading to their SUV. Bingo. They agreed instantly—turned out to be Russians. Given Wagner’s recent activity in the region, I jokingly asked if they were affiliated. They laughed: "Our mission today is just to deliver you safely!" 🎖️ One mentioned working in "political consulting" (👀 sure, buddy). Whether Wagner or not, it made for a killer travel story: "Got chauffeured through Ouagadougou by potential PMCs." 💡 Lessons Learned Stand your ground against scams (but pick your battles) Hitchhiking works—target expats/foreigners Wagner or not, Russians in West Africa = fascinating dinner convo 🍝 #BurkinaFaso #Ouagadougou #TravelStories #Wagner