Central African Republic detains fuel protest organisers

The Central African Republic government said five civil society officials who organised a Bangui shutdown protest against fuel price rises will remain in custody.

The officials called for the capital to shut down on October 12. They were arrested on October 15 and have been detained since.

Fuel prices have risen since the start of the month after a government increase. The higher pump prices have pushed up transport and food costs, adding to shortages linked to security and logistics problems.

The protest day left less traffic on Bangui's roads and some classes and businesses closed.

Interior Minister Bienvenu Zokoue said the country faced an “attempt to destabilise the institutions of the republic disguised as a shutdown operation in the city”. He said the alleged leaders had “a close link” to two opposition parties and that the detentions were meant to prevent new actions that could paralyse institutions.

Families of the detained organisers and other civil society groups demanded their release and threatened to resume protests. The wife of Quentin Ngouando, head of one of the organising civil society groups, said their fundamental rights should be respected and that they should be freed immediately.

President Faustin-Archange Touadera said earlier this month that high oil prices meant the government could no longer subsidise fuel. He said the state needed a fair pricing policy to pay salaries and meet other obligations.