In a note signed on 20 March 2020, the Minister of Transport denounced “the many cases of abuse committed by the road prevention teams deployed on the main roads of the national territory.” Jean Ernest Massena Ngalle Bibehe (pictured) listed clandestine controls, the requirement of documents and qualifications not falling within the competence of the Ministry of Transport and, above all, the undue collection of fines for the offenses noted.

The minister says such bad behaviors are recurrent and “not only lead to intolerable abuses against road users and negatively affect the Ministry's anti-corruption policy, but also considerably tarnish the image of the Ministry of Transport in the public opinion.”

To remedy this situation, Jean Ernest Massena Ngalle Bibehe instructs the teams dedicated to road safety to ‘stick to the special nature of their competence.’ He recommends that they place particular emphasis on awareness-raising and educational actions. Moreover, these teams should refrain, “even if an inspection has led to the discovery of an offense, from demanding and a fortiori from collecting money from users.”

“I will punish without hesitation the slightest violation brought to my attention,” the minister warns.

D.M.