Government launches operation against «clandos» in Yaounde

The 'clandos' or 'OPEC' represent common clandestine transit cars, very often in poor condition, operating without any legal authorization, particularly less expensive per distances.

These are the vehicles affected by an operation organized yesterday in the city of Yaoundé by the Ministry of transport (Mintrans).

In collaboration with the General Delegation for national security (DGSN) which made available 300 officers of the judicial police for the smooth running of this vast operation of restoring sanity in the sector of public transport in the Department of Mfoundi, from the central region, Mintrans intends to rid the streets and various spontaneous stations established throughout the city, of clandos as stated by Minister Robert Nkilli Friday during the meeting with the Ministry of labour and social security (Mintss); the Dgsn, the Secretariat of State for defence (SED) and the trade unions.

Contrary to a rumor that has been circulating in the city of Yaoundé outlining that the fight against clandos is simply to permit the free circulation of ‘Le Bus’ in charge of passenger transportation in the city of Yaoundé, the Minister of transport (Mintrans), Prof. Robert Nkili, without pronouncing on this rumor clarified over the Crtv 11 May:

"I do not require that the clandos disappear, but I require that the practice should cease. All these people, who apparently make their living from this transport, I ask that they do so openly, that they come in transportation services file in due form to be allowed to do so. All we ask is that our employees, law enforcement forces do their job without hesitation. There are 300 judicial police officers. These are officials of the Ministry of transport who will lend strong hand to the forces of order to those who are unwilling to respect the laws and regulations. What we do not want, is to put on the road, cars that have nothing to do with "cars". We have not banned cars, on the contrary.

"It is not either 'a fight against the poor who simply want to manage to make ends' as some drivers arrested hammered at "Camair", bus station of the operating clandos on the Yaounde-Soa axis, but simply a cleanup operation that would allow the State to return to duties (taxes, taxes etc.) and the population, the major beneficiaries, to move with more security."