Residents of Bangui, the capital of the Central African Republic, have been facing an unprecedented crisis for two weeks. Indeed, fuel stations, formerly owned by Total and now taken over by Tamoil, are closed due to non-payment of customs fees. This situation has led to a fuel shortage across the city, impacting both public transportation and economic activities.
In the streets of Bangui, endless queues and frustrations have become daily life for residents. Some have been waiting for several days without success, unable to find even a liter of gasoline. The situation has become so difficult that some people have to go to the gas station in the early hours of the morning or even in the middle of the night to hope to get fuel. Even in these conditions, negotiation with pump attendants is often necessary to obtain supplies.
The fuel crisis not only affects motorists, but also commercial activities. Médard, an economic operator working with a cassava mill, complains of the poor quality of the fuel available, which affects the proper functioning of his machines and slows down his productivity. Public transportation costs have also increased, forcing some residents to walk to do their shopping.
This crisis has its source in the closure of ex-Total service stations by customs authorities, due to non-payment of oil tax fees. The amounts in question would amount to more than 2 billion CFA francs (around 3 million euros). Although some stations, such as Tradex and Green Oil, continue to provide fuel sporadically, they fail to meet general population demand.
Faced with this critical situation, Tamoil managers entered into talks with the authorities in order to find an administrative solution and break the deadlock. However, the urgency of the situation and the resulting economic and social consequences require rapid and effective action.
In conclusion, the fuel crisis in Bangui is causing major inconvenience for the population, both in terms of transport and economic activities. It is essential that the authorities find a rapid solution in order to restore a normal situation and guarantee the proper functioning of the city and its inhabitants.