2023-05-21 22:58:07
Sugar, oil, flour, fuel, soap, cement… The prices of foodstuffs and basic necessities continue to soar in the north-east of the Central African Republic. This price increase particularly affects Birao, in the prefecture of Vakaga, and Ndélé, in the prefecture of Bamingui-Bangoran. Two cities whose supply depends – in large part – on neighboring Sudan, at war since April 15. In Birao, some products have disappeared from the shelves, others have seen their prices double. An untenable situation, according to El Hadj Hissene Karama, the president of the Vakaga Traders Association. “Before the conflict in Sudan, a bag of sugar was 40,000 CFA francs. Now it is 90,000. The price of fuel was 1,000 francs per litre; this time it’s 2,000. Oil also previously was 1,000 francs, but this time it’s 2,000. And for the flour: the bag is normally 35,000, this time- here it is at 80,000.” “Sudanese traders can no longer serve Birao…” In two months, the fighting in Sudan has destabilized the entire supply chain in the region, particularly at Amdafock, in the border between the two countries. Fafa Olivier Attidzah is the representative in the Central African Republic of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. He was there in early May to assess the situation. “Sudanese traders can no longer serve Birao as they did before the crisis. The Amdafock-Birao road is the only road used by the Vakaga prefecture to get supplies in everything. Everything comes from Sudan: sugar, petrol, cement, blankets, small livestock, poultry, vegetables… Everything comes from Amdafock, on the Sudan side or from Nyala, before arriving in the territory. Central African. Gasoline and sugar impacted in Ndélé The absence of Sudanese traders is felt as far as Ndélé, a little further west. Here too, inflation is weighing on households. According to Ibrahim Senoussi, the sultan-mayor of the commune of Dar el-Kouti, it particularly affects gasoline and sugar. “The war in Sudan and the security situation in the area did not favor the massive arrival of Sudanese traders and today, the scarcity is felt on the ground. Prices are constantly rising. Let’s just take the sugar: in normal times, when the Sudanese arrived in droves, five kilograms of sugar cost 3,500 francs, or even 4,000. But today, we buy it for 6,500 francs, even 7,000. hold out. To supply the city, the sultan-mayor is now counting on the rehabilitation of the Bangui-Ndélé axis. According to several sources, insecurity nevertheless remains an obstacle for many freight carriers. In Birao, the situation is even more critical. The rainy season is likely to reinforce the economic isolation of the inhabitants.
1684732108
#Central #African #Republic #war #Sudan #drives #prices
