Central Africa Government Calls Planned Fuel Protest ‘Illegal’

The government of the Central African Republic on Saturday warned against a planned opposition protest over fuel price increases, calling it “illegal”.

The Republican Bloc for the Defence of the Constitution (BRDC) organised a shutdown of the capital, Bangui, on October 12, which saw four senior civil society officials arrested and jailed.

Another protest has been called for next Friday but government spokesman Evariste Ngamana said: “They will not be able to go out and march because it will be illegal.”

The Central African Republic is among the poorest countries in the world and there has been widespread discontent since fuel prices increased at the start of October.

Security and logistical challenges in the landlocked, import-dependent country frequently lead to fuel shortages and force people to resort to the black market.

Ngamana said the government “will not allow disorder”, adding: “We are not in the least bit afraid of this march but we live in a state governed by the rule of law and we must respect the rules.”

There was no immediate indication of what action the government would take to stop the protest.

The government considers the BRDC to be “illegitimate and illegal”.

The BRDC wants the immediate and unconditional release of those arrested on October 12 and a cut in the price of fuel to less than 1,000 CFA francs ($1.70) a litre.

Last month’s hike put prices up to 1,150 CFA francs for a litre of petrol and 1,400 CFA francs for a litre of diesel.