Hi!
Africa, like most overseas jobs, require you to have the type and some hours in it. There ARE lots of jobs and hiring.
I am flying the -9 in NBO. I emailed, and called the guy, and kept at it for a number of months. I had to pay for my own PC check. Finally, the guy told me to buy a ticket and show up. He paid me back + $500 for travel expenses, and I was back in the cockpit again less than a week later.
Another guy from my airline is CRJ-900 for Arik Air out of Lagos. Another is GIII in Dubai. Another Emirates (don't need a type rating). Another King Air-WX mod in Saudi. I know another guy via the net who just got hired on a CRJ out of Aden, Yemen. I just saw a job advertised for -9 captain out of Djibouti. You had to be current and fly over there to start in a matter of days. I earlier saw a -9 FO job that they needed someone to start in TWO DAYS!!!
There are planes flying all over the place here in East Africa, with crews coming and going. If you can find the right job and show up, you are in. My op has had a number of pilots quit because it was not for them.
It is very different, and not easy, coming from a normal US background. I was NOT looking in Africa at all, because of this, until I was laid off. So far, the job is do-able. Almost every other ex-9 guy in my company wanted nothing to do with it, which I understand.
cliff
NBO