Bangui-Garoua-Mboulai corridor blocked again

The unlimited strike by Cameroonian transporters since July 31, 2015, has brought activities to a long halt on the national road n ° 1 which leads to Cameroon.

These Cameroonian transporters denounced the persistent insecurity on the Bangui-Garoua-Mboulai corridor. This situation has led to direct consequences on trade in Bangui with the increase in the prices of some commodities.

"The impacts of their action are being felt. Just observe the frontage of BARC (Bureau d’Affrètement Routier Centrafricain), young people who used to sell products around the area no longer have things to put on the market. There is need for the government to have a dialogue with the Cameroonian transporters for a resumption of activities", required a young trader met.

Another, an onion seller, said "it is very difficult for us at this time, by the simple fact that convoys no longer arrive. We do not have products to buy in order to supply the local market.

Everything falls back to the Central African Government, who said they will do "everything possible to find a solution to this situation.”

On the Central African side, the Central African Union of transporters and officials from the Ministry of Transportation supported having initiated discussions with the Union of Cameroonian carriers in order to settle this situation.

Cameroonian carriers had decided to carry out a blockade of the Douala-Bangui corridor to demand from the Government of Cameroon on July 29, 2015, "security guarantees and the activation of government action, alongside Central African Republic, for the purpose of establishing a framework of consultation at the highest peak with Cameroon and CAR, with the involvement of the MINUSCA", in order to put an end to the multiple rebel attacks on this corridor.

Despite security assurances given by the MINUSCA which, according to Colonel Adolphe Manirakiza, military spokesman of the UN institution "always sends a team of patrol to secure the axis,” insecurity attributed to elements of the rebel group of the Democratic People's Front of the Central African Republic (FDPC) of Martin Koumtamadji alias Abdoulaye Miskine on this corridor is always last.

The Mayor, the prefect and a pastor from Baboua were abducted by this group, on July 19, which is now in negotiation with the Central African Government, according to the information provided by the Minister Saïd Dominique Paguindji, public safety and spokesperson of the Government.