THE OPTIMA JURIS GUIDE TO AFRICA
Click on a region above to open the Optima Juris Regional Guide
Table of Contents
- Overview of Africa
- The Lowdown on Depositions in Africa
- Africa Parties to the Hague Evidence Convention
- Currency
- Security Isssues
- Tipping Rules
- Transportation
- Country Specific Information
- Major Cities in Africa
- Major African Airports
- Useful Links
Overview of Africa
The continent of Africa is the world's second largest continent after Asia, with a total surface area, including several surrounding islands, of 30,313,000 square kilometres. It stretches from 40 degrees latitude in the north to 34 35' degrees south and has 54 independent countries - 48 mainland and 6 island states - with an estimated total population of 700 million.
The economic powerhouse of Africa, south of the Sahara Desert, is South Africa. Through its well developed infrastructure and deepwater ports, South Africa handles much of the trade for the whole southern African region. In 1970 its immediate neighbors, Botswana, Swaziland and Lesotho, and latterly Namibia, signed the Southern African Customs Union (SACU) enabling them to share in the customs revenue from their trade passing through South African ports.
The Lowdown on Depositions in Africa - by Optima Juris
Depending on your deposition country, Africa can be among the most challenging destinations for deposition work. The situation varies widely from country to country, and can shift over time; so please contact us for country-specific details. But don't worry: depositions do happen here and we organize a great many of them every year. Here is the Optima Juris lowdown you won't find anywhere else, based our extensive experience in Africa:
Relative Scarcity of Reporters and Videographers
Currently, the level of U.S. deposition activity in Africa is modest. We expect this to change in the coming years as Africa's economy grows and trade with American firms expands, resulting in growing levels of U.S. litigation. At present, the relatively low demand means that there are no U.S. certified court reporters or legal videographers based in Africa (if you happen to be a freelance U.S. reporter or videographer currently in Africa, please let us know - we'd love to get in touch with you). Official court reporters in nominally English-speaking countries like South Africa or Kenya are typically employed full time with the local courts and are barred from performing freelance work. Even if they could work freelance, official reporters in Africa would not have the experience nor the certifications necessary for conducting U.S.-style depositions. Occasionally, international delegations such as the United Nations bring in their reporters for special trials, but those professionals do not usually stay in the region long afterwards due to the relative scarcity of work.
Our Recommendation
We typically recommend that our clients fly court reporters and videographers in from Europe or the Middle East. We have excellent professionals with experience working in Africa - if you're going to bring people in from abroad, make sure they've worked in Africa before. Reporters and videographers with strong experience traveling and working in the developing world will be a huge advantage for your deposition.
Other Resources
Other resources, such as videoconferencing facilities, conference facilities, and deposition interpreters, do exist in Africa and can be sourced locally. Quality and availability varies widely from country to country. In Africa, where highly-trained people and world-class resources are relatively scarce, it's not unusual to pay a premium for them. In general, you can expect to pay more in Africa than you would for comparable services or facilities in the U.S.
Tips and Tricks
The easiest countries for depos in Africa tend to be those with the most advanced economies: South Africa is a big favorite, due to its highly-developed infrastructure and availability of world class English-language services. In the north, Morocco, Tunisia, and Egypt also boast advanced infrastructures and a friendly attitude towards visitors. When arranging a deposition in Africa, we cannot over-emphasize the importance of paying close attention to the security situation, which can change rapidly in many countries. The Ivory Coast, for example, was considered a wealthy and stable destination until just a few years ago, when a violent civil war broke out which forced many foreigners to flee. If you research the security situation and plan carefully ahead, there's really no need to fear: Africa is a wonderful destination, with all the resources you need to conduct your deposition successfully.
Visas and Formalities
Many African countries require visas - do your homework and make sure you provide enough time (ideally a month) in advance to get all the paperwork done and visas processed. Get business visas, with signed invitations from your local witness or client's company, whenever possible. Letters of invitation from political figures or large companies can be helpful in a jam. Sometimes those same individuals or organizations can send delegations to the airport to assist you through customs - take advantage of that kind of help whenever possible. When arriving at the airport, try to minimize the visibility and size of your baggage in order to avoid scrutiny from customs officials. Videographers should bring an ATA carnet with them in order to keep from getting gouged for customs duties for their gear. If that's not possible, eliminate the unnecessary items and try to make your kit look as "touristy" and non-professional as possible. The general rule of thumb is to travel light and keep a pleasant and smiling attitude with airport officials. Remember: they're in charge, and like most government employees, the best way to get results from officials is to show them respect and to keep things friendly and non-confrontational.
Lodging and Transport
Always stay at the best, business-class hotels available in your deposition city. Use the hotel car service to pick you up and drop you off at the airport - this will avoid having to run the sometimes risky gamut of taking street taxis. Your hotel driver should be waiting for you in the airport holding a placard with your name on it. As an added security precaution, you can ask the hotel to be sure to indicate your exact name on the placard, or to include a code word on it to ensure that your driver is the correct one. Try to avoid situations where a driver is holding a placard with just the hotel name, or just a business name, for example, as there have been instances of kidnappers using such ruses in Nigeria on unsuspecting visitors. If your client is a large company or organization, they may be able to send you their car and driver for use during your stay.
Keep a Friendly but Low Profile
The trick for conducting depositions successfully in developing regions such as Africa is to arrange for the best facilities possible, and to keep a friendly but relatively low profile. If possible, conduct the depositions within your hotel conference center to avoid having to move around (and confront traffic) too much. We encourage going out to explore on your free time, but when you do so it's best to stick to the better neighborhoods (your hotel concierge can advise you), to avoid going too far by foot, and to avoid establishing daily patterns which can be easily observed and noted by criminal elements. Don't draw attention to yourself - dress down and be confident but low-key with the people you meet. A great way to go out and explore is to do so accompanied by your local witness or African client - they'll know the best places to go and will be sensitive to local conditions for you.
Further Updates on Our Blog
For additional information, please keep an eye on our blog, Global Deposition Experts, where we often publish region and country specific tips and tricks for conducting depositions abroad. We also encourage you to contact us for free and immediate assistance with arranging your deposition in Africa.
Africa Parties to the Hague Evidence Convention
South Africa
Morocco
Full List of the Hague Evidence Convention Parties
Currency
Money
In many African countries, inflation is high and exchange rates are unpredictable. Although prices in dinars, shillings, rands, kwachas, pulas, etc. may rise from month to month, exchange rates normally keep pace, so what you pay in 'hard currency' (e.g. U.S. dollars or euros) remains pretty much the same. However, it's important to remember that prices invariably increase.
Credit cards
Credit or debit cards are handy for expensive items such as tours and flights, but most agents add a hefty 10% surcharge. It's therefore usually cheaper to use your card to draw cash from an ATM, if they exist. If there's no ATM, another option is to withdraw money from a local bank using your card, but be warned - this also incurs a charge of around 5%, and can be an all-day process, so go early.
Exchanging money
You can exchange your hard cash or travellers checks into local currency at banks or foreign-exchange bureaus in cities and tourist areas. For cash, bureaus normally offer the best rates, low (or no) charges and the fastest service, but what you get for travellers checks can be derisory – if they're accepted at all. Travellers checks are more readily accepted at banks, but while rates may be OK, the charges can be as high as 10% or 20% –plus you're often looking at a good half hour of queuing.
Travellers checks
Although ATMs are handy, they sometimes don't work. Cash is widely accepted and gets good rates, but cannot be replaced if lost. That's where travellers checks come in. They can attract poor rates and slow service (and in some countries are not accepted at all), and are often a pain to deal with, but they do have a major advantage of being replaceable.
Security Isssues
- We advise you to exercise a high degree of caution in Africa because of the high level of serious crime.
- Pay close attention to your personal security at all times and monitor the media for information about possible new safety or security risks.
- The rate of HIV/AIDS infection in South Africa is very high. You should exercise appropriate precautions if engaging in activities that expose you to risk of infection.
- Global Security Updates
- Be a smart traveller. Before heading overseas:
- organise comprehensive travel insurance and check what circumstances and activities are not covered by your policy.
- register your travel and contact details, so we can contact you in an emergency.
- subscribe to this travel advice to receive free email updates each time it's reissued.
Tipping Rules
In Africa it is customary to tip 5-10%. Of course high-end international hotels may appreciate a higer percentage.
Transportation
If you want to call a taxi, your hotel or the nearest tourism information office can recommend a reliable service.
Country Specific Information
- Country
- Capital
- Currency
- Official languages
- Eletrical requirements
- Dialing code
- Algeria
- Algiers
- Algerian dinar
- Arabic
- 230V/50Hz
- 213
- Angola
- Luanda
- Kwanza
- Portuguese
- 220V/50Hz
- 244
- Benin
- Porto Novo
- West African CFA franc
- French
- 220V/50Hz
- 229
- Botswana
- Gaborone
- Pula
- English, Setswana
- 231V/50Hz
- 267
- Burkina Faso
- Ouagadougou
- West African CFA franc
- French
- 220V/50Hz
- 226
- Burundi
- Bujumbura
- Burundi franc
- Kirundi, French
- 220V/50Hz
- 257
- Cameroon
- Yaoundé
- Central African CFA franc
- French, English
- 220V/50Hz
- 237
- Cape Verde
- Praia
- Cape Verdean escudo
- Portuguese
- 220V/50Hz
- 238
- Central African Republic
- Bangui
- Central African CFA franc
- Sango, French
- 220V/50Hz
- 236
- Chad
- N'Djamena
- Central African CFA franc
- French, Arabic
- 220V/50Hz
- 235
- Comoros
- Moroni
- Comorian franc
- Arabic, French
- 220V/50Hz
- 269
- Côte d'Ivoire
- Yamoussoukro
- West African CFA franc
- French
- 220V/50Hz
- 225
- Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Kinshasa
- Congolese franc
- French
- 220V/50Hz
- 243
- Republic of the Congo
- Brazzaville
- Central African CFA franc
- French
- 230V/50Hz
- 242
- Djibouti
- Djibouti
- Djiboutian Franc
- Arabic, French
- 220V/50Hz
- 253
- Egypt
- Cairo
- Egyptian Pound
- Arabic
- 220V/50Hz
- 20
- Equatorial Guinea
- Malabo
- Central African CFA franc
- Spanish, French
- 220V/50Hz
- 240
- Eritrea
- Asmara
- Nakfa
- Tigrinya, Arabic
- 230V/50Hz
- 291
- Ethiopia
- Addis Ababa
- Ethiopian birr
- Amharic
- 220V/50Hz
- 251
- Gabon
- Libreville
- Central African CFA franc
- French
- 220V/50Hz
- 241
- Gambia
- Banjul
- Dalasi
- English
- 230V/50Hz
- 220
- Ghana
- Accra
- Ghanaian cedi
- English
- 230V/50Hz
- 233
- Guinea
- Conakry
- Guinean franc
- French
- 220V/50Hz
- 224
- Guinea-Bissau
- Bissau
- West African CFA franc
- Portuguese
- 220V/50Hz
- 245
- Kenya
- Nairobi
- Kenyan shilling
- Swahili, English
- 240V/50Hz
- 254
- Lesotho
- Maseru
- Loti
- Southern Sotho, English
- 220V/50Hz
- 266
- Liberia
- Monrovia
- Liberian dollar
- English
- 120V/60Hz
- 231
- Libya
- Tripoli
- Libyan dinar
- Arabic
- 127V/50Hz
- 218
- Madagascar
- Antananarivo
- Malagasy Ariary
- Malagasy, French
- 220V/50Hz
- 261
- Malawi
- Lilongwe
- Malawian kwacha
- English, Chichewa
- 230V/50Hz
- 265
- Mali
- Bamako
- West African CFA franc
- French
- 220V/50Hz
- 223
- Mauritania
- Nouakchott
- Mauritanian ouguiya
- Arabic
- 220V/50Hz
- 222
- Mauritius
- Port Louis
- Mauritian rupee
- English
- 230V/50Hz
- 230
- Morocco
- Rabat
- Moroccan dirham
- Arabic
- 127/220V/50Hz
- 212
- Mozambique
- Maputo
- Mozambican metical
- Portuguese
- 220V/50Hz
- 258
- Namibia
- Windhoek
- Namibian dollar
- English
- 220V/50Hz
- 264
- Niger
- Niamey
- West African CFA franc
- French
- 220V/50Hz
- 227
- Nigeria
- Abuja
- Nigerian naira
- English
- 240V/50Hz
- 234
- Rwanda
- Kigali
- Rwandan franc
- Kinyarwanda, French, English
- 230V/50Hz
- 250
- Sao Tome and Principe
- Sao Tome
- Sao Tome and Principe Dobra
- Portuguese
- 220V/50Hz
- 239
- Senegal
- Dakar
- West African CFA franc
- French
- 230V/50Hz
- 221
- Seychelles
- Victoria
- Seychellois rupee
- English, French, Seychellois Creole
- 240V/50Hz
- 248
- Sierra Leone
- Freetown
- Leone
- English
- 230V/50Hz
- 232
- Somalia
- Mogadishu
- Somali shilling
- Somali, Arabic
- 220V/50Hz
- 252
- South Africa
- Bloemfontein, Cape Town, and Pretoria
- South African rand
- Afrikaans, English, Southern Ndebele, Northern Sotho, Sotho, Swati, Tsonga, Tswana, Venda, Xhosa, Zulu
- 220/230V/50Hz
- 27
- South Sudan
- Juba
- Sudanese pound
- English
- 230V/50Hz
- 211
- Sudan
- Khartoum
- Sudanese pound
- Arabic, English
- 230V/50Hz
- 249
- Swaziland
- Lobamba (royal and legislative) Mbabane (administrative)
- Lilangeni
- English, Swati
- 230V/50Hz
- 268
- Tanzania
- Dodoma
- Tanzanian shilling
- Swahili, English
- 230V/50Hz
- 255
- Togo
- Lomé
- West African CFA franc
- French
- 220V/50Hz
- 228
- Tunisia
- Tunis
- Tunisian dinar
- Arabic
- 230V/50Hz
- 216
- Uganda
- Kampala
- Ugandan shilling
- English, Swahili
- 240V/50Hz
- 256
- Western Sahara
- El Aaiun
- Moroccan dirham
- Arabic
- 120/220V/50HZ
- 212
- Zambia
- Lusaka
- Zambian kwacha
- English
- 230V/50Hz
- 260
- Zimbabwe
- Harare
- Zimbabwean dollar
- Shona, Ndebele, English
- 220V/50Hz
- 263
Major Cities in Africa
- Cairo, Egypt
- Lagos, Nigeria
- Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Johannesburg-Ekurhuleni, South Africa
- Khartoum-Umm Durman, Sudan
- Alexandria, Egypt
- Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire
- Casablanca, Morocco
- Cape Town, South Africa
- Durban, South Africa
Major African Airports
- Johannesburg, South Africa
O.R. Tambo International Airport
JNB - Cairo, Egypt
Cairo International Airport
CAI - Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt
Sharm el-Sheikh International Airport
SSH - Cape Town, South Africa
Cape Town International Airport
CPT - Hurghada, Egypt
Hurghada International Airport
HRG - Casablanca, Morocco
Mohammed V International Airport
CMN/GMMN - Nigeria, Lagos
Murtala Muhammed International Airport
LOS - Nairobi, Kenya
Jomo Kenyatta International Airport
NBO - Durban, South Africa
King Shaka International Airport
DUB - Tunis, Tunisia
Carthage Airport
TUN
Useful Links
Hotels
Agoda Hotel Search in Africa
Lonely Planet Africa Hotel Search
CIA
U.S. Embassy
United State Embassies Around the World
Electrical Requirements
Detailed List on Voltage Requirments
Need more information, or access to our global services? We can help! Contact us and find out how easy we can make your deposition in Africa.
Regional Guides
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