(Business in Cameroon) - In a letter, dated March 4, addressed to the Embassy of the Central African Republic CAR in Cameroon, the head of the General Confederation of Transport Trade Unions of Cameroon (Cgstc), Pierre Nyemeck, denounced an alarming security situation at the border between the two nations.

According to the letter, many Cameroonian transporters have been immobilized since 4 March, at Zoukombo, 17 km from the Garoua-Boulaï border, in Central African territory, by a group of rebels. Similar situations are often observed in this region, causing significant profit shortfalls and loss of human life, without any compensation whatsoever.

The Confederation says it recently informed of an intention to denounce, among other things, these conditions of abuse suffered by its members on the Central African part of the Douala-Bangui corridor. These include the improper collection of truck escort fees amounting to XAF50,000 for each Cameroonian carrier bound for Bangui, at Beloko, which would be used “inter alia and according to consistent information, to finance and maintain terrorist groups.”

To avoid the suspension of Cameroon-CAR transportation, the carriers request that “concrete actions be taken in the interest of all.”

S.A