Paraffin, petrol prices up as Bozize begins ruling by decree

In his first major action since parliament granted him the right to rule by decree, Francois Bozize, the president of the Central African Republic (CAR), announced a 35 franc CFA (US $0.06) increase in the price of paraffin, a basic commodity for most of the country's 3.5 million population. Residents who use paraffin as cooking fuel will now pay 385 francs ($0.7) per litre, up from 350 francs ($0.6). In such an impoverished nation, even a slight price increase has a large impact on the purchasing power of its citizens. In the decree, broadcast on national radio on Wednesday, Bozize also increased the price of petrol from 650 francs ($1.18) to 700 francs ($1.30) per litre and diesel from 575 francs ($1.04) to 675 francs ($1.20) per litre. On 30 December, parliament adopted a law giving Bozize extra power, following his request to be allowed to rule by decree for nine months. The new law, passed after cabinet meetings and consultation with the country's constitutional court, authorised Bozize to rule by decree for three months, not the nine he had requested. Any decree the president makes would be effective for three months and subject to ratification by parliament at the end of that period. The increase in fuel prices surprised many residents. Taxi and bus drivers in the capital, Bangui, said the hike came as a shock. "We are going to increase the cost of transport in the capital," said Oubah Lawane, a taxi driver. "Taxi and bus owners will meet some time this week in order to initiate a strike if the government [which sets the price of transport fares] does not adjust the cost of transport," he said. Bozize's decree on fuel prices came amid tension in many areas of the country over the government's failure to pay civil servants several months of salary arrears. Salary increments for government workers in the country have been frozen since 1985, and the new fuel prices will affect the workers' purchasing power. The CAR Human Rights League has criticised the National Assembly's decision to give more power to the president. "As a democratically elected president, Gen Francois Bozize doesn't need such a law to rule the country," said the organisation’s chairman, Goune Ngai Wanfio. However, Dieudonne Stanislas M'Bango, the minister in charge of parliamentary affairs, said, "The president has the right to resort to this alternative in accordance with Article 29 of the new constitution."