Traffic resumes on the Douala-Bangui corridor

Cameroonian truck drivers, who ply the Douala-Bangui corridor, have decided to put an end to the strike action which went on for several weeks.

They resumed work on Saturday, August 22 and reopened the road to Bangui, their final destination.

This pleased the stakeholders: Central African and Cameroonian governments, but also the Minusca, which played a role in the stabilization and pacification of CAR. Instruction was immediately given to convey the 450 fleet of trucks which were abandoned in Garoua-Boulai since July29; the day of the strike action by the truck drivers who feared insecurity in the Central African territory. They were instantly taken to Bangui. It will be the same for other trucks stranded in other cities in the East and elsewhere.

This dramatic turnaround comes after the crisis meeting held on August 22 in Garoua-Boulai, border town with CAR. A multiparty dialogue initiated by the BGFT saw the presence of all the protagonists. El Hadj Oumarou, coordinator of the Land Freight Management Office (BGFT) was the agent of the Cameroon government.

Chief of Transport, Sylvain Yabata Hilaire, represented Central Africa, General Director of the Central Bureau of Charter, Parfait Biakite, and the representative of the Union of Central African Carriers were at the meeting. His Cameroonian counterpart, the National Union of Professional Transport Drivers of Cameroon (Syncprotcam) was represented by its National President, Ibrahima Yaya.

The Sub-Prefect, Diyen Jam Laurence, chaired the dialogue alongside the Mayor of Garoua-Boulai, Yaffo Ndoe Esther.

Now, there will be a reinforcement of peacekeepers at the border from Garoua-Boulai to Bangui. In addition to the Bangladeshi soldiers already present, a detachment of Cameroonian, Gabonese, Congolese contingents will now be effective. A military base will be strengthened between Baboua and Bouar, the most dangerous zone for Cameroonian drivers.

Moreover, for the interest of carriers, the number of trucks per convoy was limited to 60 instead of 120 initially. Previously, these vehicles were subject to full control in Douala as well as on the way back to Bangui. In addition, drivers are now prohibited to transport people, who are often the source of their misfortune.

But the owners of the trucks were urged to also play their role. They were adviced, to register their employees to the CNPS for Cameroonian drivers and CNSS for CAR drivers, in three months.