Douala-Bangui Corridor: UN mission to protect truck drivers

Information from the Transport Ministry of the Central African Republic, CAR, reveals that the UN Peacekeeping Mission to the country, MINUSCA has taken fresh measures to protect Cameroonian and Central African truck drivers as well as goods along the Douala Bangui corridor sequel to attacks at borders from rebels.

CAR Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation, Arnaud Djoubaye Abazene was bearer of the good news. He led a delegation to Cameroon’s Ministry of Transport on August 20, 2015 where they held lengthy talks with Prof. Robert Nkili.

Truck drivers along the corridor have been on strike for 10 days and being a land locked country with dependence on Cameroon’s Douala Seaport, CAR officials could not sit to bear the increasing food scarcity the country is witnessing.

The strike comes on the wake of insecurity at the borders where Arnaud Djoubaye Abazene said already 19 truck drivers have lost their lives from rebel attacks. “We cannot afford to lose lives again,” Mr Nkili stressed.

He said Cameroon was offering help to a neighbor and sister but will not go the extra mile of losing her denizens. MINUSCA has however assured CAR authorities that truck drivers and goods will henceforth be accompanied by soldiers along the Douala-Bangui corridor with emphasis at the borders or threat zones.

Arnaud Djoubaye Abazene said MINUSCA soldiers were ready to retaliate in case of attacks. He said sustainable security measures were underway to guarantee peace and security along the corridor. The two Ministers of Transport, Prof. Robert Nkili and Arnaud Djoubaye Abazene instructed trade union leaders to invite truck drivers to resume activity.