Hamburg Bus Driver Also Serves as Mayor

Why this is here: Deagoue won the mayoral election in Niambli with approximately 70 percent of the vote, campaigning by personally visiting and speaking with residents.

Alex Deagoue drives buses for Verkehrsbetriebe Hamburg-Holstein in Germany and governs Niambli, a village in the Ivory Coast. The 57-year-old began driving buses roughly ten years ago, after initially working temporary jobs and training as a truck driver. He moved to Germany in 2000 and finds the work offers a sense of familiarity due to the frequent communication with passengers.

Deagoue regularly visits his home village and became mayor in February after campaigning and winning with about 70% of the vote. He noted a stark contrast between waste disposal practices in Germany and the Ivory Coast, motivating him to bring his experiences to his role as mayor. He currently balances the demands of both positions, traveling between Germany and Niambli.

The article does not detail how Deagoue manages the practicalities of governing from a distance, or what specific projects he hopes to initiate in Niambli. He continues to work as a bus driver while serving as mayor, and the arrangement appears to be ongoing.