Rising Insecurity in Douala's Markets

Nothing describes the economic capital as powerful as does crime. The dangerous cohabitation of vices and business ventures in Douala, like in other big cities on the continent, have unfortunately taught the most affected city dweller a certain mistrust of authority. Douala's flourishing mileage of insecurities alongside public security posts (gendarmerie, police and fire fighters) implanted besides and in the markets is used to argue in favour of the issue of complicity.

For the trader, if Douala is today a city most inclined to insurrection as it is widely known in the country it is due to the heritage of a long cohabitation of crime aided by the complicity or indifference of security forces. A woman of one of the state-owned media corporations nodded her head in confirmation of this sad reality when, last week, her handbag bearing hundreds of thousands of FCFA, identification papers and other valuable documents were stripped off her shoulder in Mboppi Market by an unarmed robber. Instead of collaborating to stem the daylight crime as it was yet on-going, the several buyers and sellers around rather stayed off and preferred to partake in the ensuing show of sympathy after she had shouted for help to no avail. A security officer who stood nearby also played the folly. Indiscreetly, he betrayed his complicity, raising questions as to their suitability in and besides the market when he told the victim to "Write a complaint against Mr. ....", stating the actual name of the bandit.

Instances like this only show how the good intentions of the State to protect its citizens, property and promote economic growth are thwarted by individuals deployed for the purpose.

Armed robbers, bandits, and burglars take advantage of and are now operating on this context. Imagine a young man moving up to a victim so closely; brandishing a sharp sword to the face of a trader he suspects has money and ordering for silence and the release into his hand of FCFA 1 million or else...! This deadly drama was played in the open air beside a crowd of people lined up to board taxis over the week-end beside Marché Central. None of the taxi waiters knew it until the victim burst into shouting after the assailant had left.

Pick-pocketing has attained the proportion of a curse across business venues in Douala. Bandits snatching women purses or handbags during shopping in marketplaces have only caused children and women to cry foul as families are strained to go on empty stomachs. A shopkeeper said the situation betrays need for more security efforts and reinforcement.