Hundreds of people marched in Bangui, the capital of the Central African Republic, on Friday to protest against recent government-imposed fuel price increases. The demonstration, which saw participants carrying placards with slogans such as “A hungry belly has no ears” and “We are all equal in the face of the high cost of living,” was organized by the Republican Bloc for the Defence of the Constitution (BRDC), an opposition coalition. According to Punch, the rally included motorcycle taxi drivers, vendors, residents, and civil society members who gathered to voice their dissatisfaction with the rising cost of living.
The central African nation, recognized as one of the poorest in the world, has experienced higher pump prices since the start of October. The government introduced the hikes, citing high global oil market prices that make subsidies unsustainable. However, the increase has exacerbated existing shortages caused by security and logistics challenges, leading to higher transport and food costs. Stephane, a 31-year-old demonstrator who spoke to AFP, stated that transportation costs had become nearly equal to his housing expenses. He warned that the current protest was merely a warning, asserting that the population had reached its limit and that future demonstrations would involve larger crowds.
The Friday march proceeded after the government initially labeled the gathering illegal. Armoured vehicles from the United Nations peacekeeping mission and local police escorted the procession. Martin Ziguele, a spokesman for the BRDC, told Punch that fuel prices had increased three times within a year. He contrasted these hikes with the monthly minimum wage of 35,000 CFA francs, which has remained unchanged for more than 30 years. Ziguele also highlighted the detention of five civil society organizers from a previous shutdown called on October 12, demanding their release as a key objective of the current rally.
Joachim Lessoua, a 38-year-old trader, expressed his frustration to AFP, noting that rising prices for basic necessities were suffocating the population. He questioned where the situation would lead as the economic pressure mounted. The protest underscored the deepening crisis in the Central African Republic, where the gap between living costs and stagnant wages continues to widen. The government’s decision to allow the march, despite initial objections, indicates a tentative de-escalation, though tensions remain high as the country grapples with severe economic instability and ongoing security concerns.