EU grants 55 million euros for road construction

In an accord marking the resumption of aid to the Central African Republic, the European Union (EU) has granted the government 55 million euros (US $65.5 million) to complete the rehabilitation of a section of the main road linking the capital, Bangui, and the Cameroonian border town of Garoua-M'Boulay. The EU suspended aid to CAR in 2003 following a coup in which then Gen Francois Bozize ousted Ange-Felix Patasse. Under the accord, signed on Friday, the money that would remain after this road's construction would be used to build other national and rural roads, the head of the EU delegation in CAR, Jean-Claude Esnieu, said in Bangui after the signing of the agreement. Public Works Minister Charles Massi told IRIN on Monday that government expected to receive the EU money by September, and that the construction of the 250-km section of the 650-km road would start by January 2007. He said the money would also help in the maintenance of national and rural roads. Most rural roads in the country have not been repaired in almost two decades, making it difficult for farmers to transport their produce to markets. The reconstruction of the roads would also help reduce armed banditry in the country because it would allow the army to deploy faster to present insecure areas.