Warning of “social implosion”

Protest marches have been gathering momentum in the Central African Republic (CAR) capital, Bangui, as trade union members resumed their strike over pay arrears. On Friday, over 10,000 people marched through the city centre. Last week, the situation was reported tense after police used teargas to disperse demonstrators from a youth group called the ‘Flambeau centrafricain’ (Central African Torch), whose protest action was sparked by the strike. Striking civil servants and other workers had called off their protest, which began on 2 November, but downed tools again on Tuesday. Sources in Bangui told IRIN the resumed strike would last a week and “could be extended”. Friday’s demonstration was dubbed a “peaceful protest march”, and trade union leaders have warned that they will harden their stance by organising an operation to bring the entire country to a standstill and an “indefinite general strike”. Analysts described the situation as explosive and warned of a “social implosion”. The hard-won peace in CAR is at great risk if the issue of pay arrears is not dealt with, one analyst cautioned. The disbursement of a second tranche of credit from the World Bank is still awaited in the country. Students and other members of the ‘Flambeau centrafricain’ have also said they will step up their action against the government’s “impotence”. Meanwhile, a government statement said the authorities had seized a considerable consignment of weapons in various quarters of Bangui, comprising pistols, assault rifles, grenades and rocket launchers. The circulation of illegal arms gives further cause for concern particularly at this time of heightened tension in the country, analysts warned.