ECONOMY · CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC
Key Facts
- —The country The Central African Republic is a landlocked country that brings in a large share of its imports, including fuel, by road from the Cameroonian port of Douala.
- —Why it matters The Bangui-Douala road is the country’s main supply line, and any stoppage quickly squeezes prices in Bangui, the capital.
- —Why now The truck blockade comes days after a fuel price rise at the start of October and a partly observed protest shutdown of Bangui on Monday 12 October.
- —What happened More than 100 cargo trucks have been parked for over a week at Garoua-Boulaï, on the Cameroonian side of the border, as drivers refuse to cross.
- —The numbers Over 100 trucks stuck, more than one week without crossings, and a one-month suspension of trips that drivers say they have decided, not yet confirmed by officials.
- —What it means for you Aid groups, the UN mission and foreign firms in the country rely on goods hauled along this corridor, so a long stoppage would raise their costs.
- —Still open The government has not responded publicly, and no date for a return to normal traffic has been set.
A truck blockade at the border between Cameroon and the Central African Republic has left more than 100 cargo trucks stranded for over a week. The drivers, parked at Garoua-Boulaï on the Cameroonian side, refuse to drive on towards Bangui, the Central African capital.
The stoppage matters well beyond the region because the landlocked country brings in a large share of its imports along this road from the port of Douala. Aid agencies, a large UN peacekeeping mission and foreign mining firms all depend on that supply line.
Radio Ndeke Luka, the country’s main independent radio station, reported the blockade on Tuesday 13 October. The Bangui news site Journal de Bangui confirmed on Wednesday 14 October that the trucks were still not moving.
Why the Truck Blockade Began
Both outlets say the drivers want Central African security forces to end what they call police harassment and abusive checks along the route. They have made a return to work conditional on concrete measures to protect them on the road.
Corbeau News Centrafrique, an online outlet sharply critical of President Faustin-Archange Touadéra, gives a more specific trigger. It reported on Monday 12 October that a Cameroonian driver was stabbed while confronting a cargo thief at the PK26 dry port outside Bangui.
That account has not been independently confirmed, and no police statement on the attack has been published. Corbeau News says the drivers then decided to suspend their trips to the Central African Republic for one month.
The outlet cites a video posted on 7 October by a member of the drivers’ union, filmed at Garoua-Boulaï. “Today the trucks are parked; nobody crosses,” he says, adding that no driver will accept being mistreated while serving a brother country.
Corbeau News says delegates from two Cameroonian drivers’ unions travelled to the border town to support the strikers. They are the National Union of Road Drivers of Cameroon and the National Union of Professional Transport Vehicle Drivers of Cameroon.
A Corridor Under Strain
The Bangui-Douala corridor links the Atlantic port of Douala with the Central African capital, crossing the border between Garoua-Boulaï and Béloko. Journal de Bangui calls it a strategic axis for supplying the country and for trade across Central Africa.
According to Corbeau News, the drivers carry food, clothing, fuel and equipment for public works projects. A longer standstill, Journal de Bangui warns, could disrupt deliveries and hurt the traders who depend on the route.
It is not the first stoppage of its kind on this road. In December 2024, Cameroonian drivers blocked the crossing after a colleague was killed near Bangui, an attack Corbeau News blamed on Russian security contractors.
That allegation was never tested in court, and the contractors have not responded publicly to it. Traffic later resumed, but drivers still complain that the road remains unsafe.
Fuel Prices and the Neptune Oil Debate
The truck blockade lands on a city already angry about the cost of fuel. The government raised pump prices at the start of October, a move that unions and civil society groups have contested.
Civil society groups answered with a “ville morte”, or dead city day, in Bangui on Monday 12 October. It was only partly observed, with lighter traffic and some shops and classes closed while civil servants stayed at work.
On Wednesday 14 October, Corbeau News renewed its attack on Neptune Oil, a Cameroonian company that holds exclusive rights to import most petroleum products. The outlet cites an audit by the consultancy CPCS, commissioned by the UN Development Programme and published in October 2025.
According to Corbeau News, the audit found that the share of fuel imported by river fell from 87% in 2020 to 38% in 2024. A decree requires at least 80% to arrive by river, which is cheaper, so more fuel now travels by truck on roads like this one.
The outlet also says the audit found Neptune Oil has no legally registered entity in the country and pays no corporate tax there. These are allegations that The Rio Times could not independently verify, and neither the company nor the government has answered them publicly this week.
What It Means for US Readers
For American aid groups, contractors and mining investors in the Central African Republic, a blocked corridor means slower deliveries and higher costs. Fuel, spare parts and food for field operations mostly arrive by this road.
The dispute also touches US policy interests, because Russian security contractors remain active in the country. Washington has sanctioned the Wagner Group, and any clashes on the corridor will be watched closely by Western governments.
There is a stabiliser, though: traffic resumed after the December 2024 stoppage, and the unions say they want answers rather than a permanent halt. A quick agreement on security checks could reopen the road.
What Is Not Known
It is not known how many of the stranded vehicles are fuel tankers, or whether shortages have yet appeared at Bangui pump stations. No official figures on stocks have been released.
It is also unclear whether the Central African government has opened talks with the drivers’ unions. Neither the transport ministry nor the police has published a statement on the truck blockade or on the reported stabbing.
Finally, the start date of the one-month suspension has not been confirmed. If it began in early October, normal traffic might not return before November without a deal.
Readers can follow earlier coverage in Central African Republic Defends 12% Diesel Price Rise. Background is in Central African Republic Explained, a Fragile Peace in 2026 and Doing Business in the Central African Republic.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is the truck blockade?
The trucks are parked at Garoua-Boulaï, a Cameroonian town on the border with the Central African Republic. The town sits on the main road linking the port of Douala with Bangui.
Why are the drivers refusing to cross?
Local media say they want an end to police harassment and abusive checks on the Central African side. One outlet also reports that a driver was stabbed near Bangui, which has not been independently confirmed.
How long has the road been blocked?
Radio Ndeke Luka and Journal de Bangui say the trucks have been stuck for more than a week. A union video posted on 7 October said the stoppage was continuing, and one outlet reports a one-month suspension of trips.
Will fuel run short in Bangui?
No shortages have been officially reported so far. A long stoppage could tighten supply because much of the country’s fuel travels by road from Douala.
Does this affect US travellers?
Few Americans travel overland on this route, which already faces serious security risks. Aid groups and companies working in the country are the most likely to feel delays.
Sources: Radio Ndeke Luka on the Garoua-Boulaï blockade (13 October); Journal de Bangui on more than 100 stranded trucks (14 October); Corbeau News Centrafrique on the drivers’ one-month suspension (12 October); Corbeau News Centrafrique on Neptune Oil and the CPCS audit (14 October); Corbeau News Centrafrique on the December 2024 blockade; Radio Ndeke Luka debate on the new fuel prices (3 October).
This article was produced by The Rio Times’ automated newsroom system. How we use AI · Report an error · Editorial responsibility: Matthias Camenzind, Editor-in-Chief