Fuel shortages in Paoua
By Fernando CANCIO | LNC Translated into English by Karen Ann SULLIVAN
(Paoua, 12 May 2026 – LNC) It cannot be emphasised enough, especially in these times of energy crisis, that once you leave Bangui – and even further out in the provinces – it is a real struggle to find a petrol station, and for good reason: there simply aren’t any. For example, in Paoua, in Lim-Pendé, residents struggle to find a formal petrol station; the only fuel supplier is informal and expensive, as the fuel shortage is compounded by a sharp rise in prices at informal petrol stations, leading to an unprecedented cost of living. For in recent weeks, the price per litre of fuel – mainly imported from Nigeria through informal channels – has crossed critical thresholds. For local business operators such as Djamal Aziz, the situation is alarming: a litre, once sold for 600 CFA francs, now exceeds 1,000 CFA francs, and even 1,300 CFA francs at some outlets. And this is not without consequences, as Cyrille Kourandhaut explains: “Everyone is feeling the pinch of this rise. It’s difficult for everyone, because the motorbike remains our main means of transport.”. Urban transport, motorbike taxi drivers and customers used to get on well, but relations have deteriorated as fares have doubled. Paulin Weinhilé, a passenger we bumped into at the central market, explains: “Before, 500 francs would take you 5 km. Today, for the same distance, you have to fork out 1,000 francs. ” As for transport professionals, they feel caught between a rock and a hard place. Abakar Hamat, head of the motorbike taxi station, laments the constant tensions: “We’re constantly arguing with our customers because of the fares we’re forced to set based on the price of fuel. ” As for the petrol retailers, known locally as “Kadhafi”, they are bearing the brunt of this increase. Cyrille Langoro, one of them, explains that the cost of buying a 25-litre jerrycan has reached 31,000 CFA francs, leaving them no choice but to pass on the rise to the end consumer to avoid bankruptcy. Faced with this problem, which is paralysing the local economy, the people of Paoua are appealing to the government and economic partners. But to no avail; the solution would be to build a modern petrol station, but that!
LNC
Date: 12 May 2026
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