Civil society groups and trade unions in the Central African Republic are pressing the government to reverse a fuel price increase that they warn will drive up transport and food costs in one of the world’s poorest countries.
Under prices introduced on Oct. 1, gasoline for private motorists rose from 1,050 to 1,150 CFA francs (about 1.96 U.S. dollars) per liter, while diesel climbed from 1,250 to 1,400 francs (about 2.38 dollars). Large-volume buyers now pay 1,500 francs (about 2.55 dollars) for gasoline and 1,650 francs (about 2.81 dollars) for diesel.
Fuel is often in short supply in the capital, Bangui, where the increase has added to the strain on household budgets.
For university student Junior Kotate, the increase has left families wondering how they will make ends meet, with fuel prices rising while wages stay flat.
"I suggest that the minister review fuel prices, because this situation is not working in our favor. We're stuck: fuel prices are rising but wages aren't; we're in the poorest country in the world, as they say, but it's here that all prices are going up. How are we going to get through this? What are we going to do? And parents are complaining, as are students," he said.
Trade unions have joined the protest, urging the government to reverse the increase, while civil society groups have called a nationwide shutdown for Oct. 12.
"Given the gravity of the situation and this unpopular decision, the organizations present here express their dissatisfaction and their categorical refusal to support such an initiative, which completely disregards the reality of the people's plight. They condemns such a breach of trust and calls for a general mobilization of the nation's active forces to block what it describes as a robbery against a people already battered by poverty," said Quentin Ngbouando, coordinator of I-Gue, a civil society group campaigning against the fuel price increase.
The government has attributed the rise to higher global fuel costs, saying it can no longer sustain earlier subsidy levels.
"This is a global reality; it is not a situation unique to the Central African Republic. Previously, we were buying a liter for 1,000 CFA francs. Today, prices are rising worldwide. The state had previously subsidized fuel to keep the price at 1,000 CFA francs, but it no longer has the capacity to do so," government spokesperson Evariste Ngamana said at a news conference last week.
The landlocked country imports all its fuel, leaving households and businesses exposed to swings in global energy prices. Higher transport costs could, in turn, push up prices for staple goods.
Central African Republic fuel hike draws backlash over living costs
