Over 300 trucks stranded at Garoua-Boulaï

The resurgence of violence in Central Africa Republic forced Cameroonian drivers operating on the Douala-Bangui corridor to stop work since 7 October.

"The drivers themselves decided not to go into CAR since October 7, 2015. They are overwhelmed by the attacks and killing of some of their members who are regular victims," says distraught Ibrahima Yaya, president of the National Union of professional transport drivers of Cameroon (Syncprtcam) reached by telephone on Sunday.

For him, at the resurgence of violence in Central Africa Republic, an option imposed itself to his members to cease serving the Central African Republic. "We did not give any directive for drivers to stop transporting to Bangui," he cautions.

Clearly, the resurgence of violence in recent days in the Central Africa Republic is bad news for the transporting sector, which pays in reality the brunt of the situation and truckers sometimes pay the price.

This is the case of Mohamadou Bachirou, 26, a truck driver. On October 6, he was shot dead by an armed gang, around Yaloko, a Central area. He was buried by his executioners ... In the process, his truck, registered LT TR SU 284, carrying goods worth 100 million F., was looted. The same day, his colleague Adjiassi Iliasou had four fingers cut.

Mr. Idrissou, another driver, has had more luck, he managed to take refuge in Garoua-Boulaï after being severely beaten, leaving his truck of goods worth 50 million F ultimately vandalized.

Mohamadou Bachirou lost his life in the same conditions as his colleague Pierre Tchoutchoua, killed a few days earlier and whose body was exhumed and returned to his family on the demand of the Cameroonian authorities.

At Garoua-Boulaï, border town with CAR, trucks leaving from Douala are no longer able to reach their final destination, Bangui. At this level, traffic is blocked.

On Sunday, October 18, a report indicated 309 trucks were parked in Garoua-Boulaï alone. "We rely on the wisdom of the Cameroonian authorities for they tell us that we have to do in this situation," says Yaya Ibrama.