Truck drivers desert the Douala-Bangui corridor

Truck drivers have parked their vehicles at Garoua-Boulaï in the Eastern region of Cameroon.

"Notwithstanding the statements from the first member of the BGFT which was reported by some media last week, the situation is not same as what was described. I can tell you that all trucks have parked at Garoua - Boulaï. Truck drivers fear the growing insecurity," noted a source quoted by Le Quotidien de l’Economie this Friday, August 7, 2015.

On this 500 Km long stretch, the town Botha 452 Km from Bangui and 158 Km from Garoua - Boulaï thrilled the truckers. A driver that the newspaper met at Yassa said: "I can tell you without risk of being mistaken, that it is the route of death. It is a road that has become dangerous because of armed gangs that dictate their law. Ex-members of the Seleka in CAR and heavily armed gangs, supported the source, "are equipped with AK 47, and some have rocket launchers".

Hamadou Yerima, assistant conductor, an informant of the journal, thinks that if the members of these groups are of Central African nationality, other bands will continue this insecurity: "it should also be noted that in this area, there are poachers, Fulani villagers who often come to commit crime."

Facing deadly attacks from these armed groups, truck drivers have decided to, according to the journal, desert the Douala-Bangui axis. Yet, Mohamadou Moussa, from the national office of road transporters of Cameroon, did not confirm this fear prevailing among truckers. "The trucks are at the port. I can't know if there were problems afterwards or if trucks are parked. I did not go on the ground to check, but the trucks load. I think that there are escorts," he said.

On July 18, 2015, four Cameroonian truck drivers carrying goods to Bangui were murdered by an armed gang, according to the Union of professional drivers of transport in Cameroon.