Fuel rises by 8%, transport fares doubles, and cooking gas by 33% as violence disrupts the main corridor linking the Southwest to Cameroon’s economic capital.

Silence at the busy Mile 17 park on Buea has replaced the usual bustle of shouting Drivers and motor engines. Buses parked idle under the sun, and drivers sat in groups just chatting.

Since violent post-election protests broke out in Douala and spread to other parts of the country, movement along the Buea–Douala corridor has slowed to a crawl. “For the past 5 days, things have not been moving,” says one driver, frustration heavy in his voice. “Before, everything was smooth. Now people are scared to travel because of the tension in Douala. We just come here and wait.” The paralysis has had a heavy toll on the local economy. Fuel prices have risen overnight from 6500 to 7000 francs per litre, while transport fares on the few cars daring to ply the Douala route have doubled from 1500 to 3000 francs. For traders, each day of blocked transport means fewer goods and higher costs.

At the Great Soppo market, the effect is visible on every stall. Cooking gas has jumped from 7 500 to 10 000 francs, and dealers say only a handful of suppliers remain active. “When trucks can’t leave Douala, it affects everyone,” explains Sally Grace, a gas seller. “Even if you get two or three bottles, they are more expensive. When suppliers raise their prices, we must do the same otherwise we won’t buy again.”

The meat sector is no better off. Butchers say cattle normally travel from the North through the Littoral before reaching Buea. Now, with the roads unsafe, they receive barely one-fifth of their usual supply. “It’s not that we want to increase prices,” a butcher at OIC market explains. “The cows simply aren’t arriving. Even if you go to the Slaughter House, you can’t find them.”

As supply chains tighten, the prices of basic foodstuffs such as rice and cooking oil are skyrocketing, forcing many families to cut down on meals or switch to cheaper alternatives. “You have money in hand but there’s nothing to buy,” says a mother of 3 we met at Great Soppo Market. “Life has become too hard.”

Che Nicoline, a staff of the Delegation of Commerce reacting on phone, warned that the effect of these disruptions could be far-reaching, hitting not just households but also small businesses that depend on daily movement between Buea and Douala. While authorities continue to call for calm and dialogue, people on the ground have one message: they just want peace and the return of normal business life.

Jude Mbaku, Buea