Hundreds of trucks stranded on the Méiganga-Ngaoundéré road were violently cleared by armed forces on the night of Saturday, December 6, resulting in significant material damage and casualties. This forceful intervention ended a four-day blockade but triggered a new escalation of the conflict with the truckers.

🛑 Four Days of Blockade Following an Outburst of Anger

Since December 4th , around a hundred trucks had been blocking National Highway No. 1 at the entrance to Méiganga. This protest was triggered by an altercation between a driver and a gendarme, provoking widespread anger within the trucking community.

The truckers' demands, which remained unanswered despite attempts at negotiation by local authorities, were as follows:

1. The suspension of several checkpoints deemed abusive.
2. The release of truck drivers and motorcyclists arrested and imprisoned during the post-election crisis.
3. The end of harassment and police harassment across the entire national territory.

💥 Forced Intervention and Significant Damage

Faced with the continued blockade, law enforcement proceeded to forcibly remove the vehicles using heavy equipment such as Caterpillar bulldozers.

The toll of this punitive operation is heavy:

1. Trucks overturned and destroyed.
2. Drivers injured.
3. Damaged goods.

The objective of restoring traffic flow has been partially achieved, with a tentative resumption of traffic allowing the passage of public transport buses.

🚨 Heading towards a shortage? Transporters announce a total strike

In response to the destruction of their work tools, the carriers announced a total cessation of their activity from Monday, December 8.

Truck drivers, exasperated by the army's intervention, are considering continuing their crisis action. This indefinite strike threatens to cause serious disruptions to supplies in the south of the country , raising concerns about the potential economic and social consequences of this escalation.