Opening up regions in CAR: Installation of the first bridges in Lobaye

A rapidly deployed solution

Some 120 people, both civilians and soldiers, have participated in the installation of two bridges, 9 and 15 metres long, respectively, under the supervision of the Director of Infrastructure Maintenance of the Central African Ministry of Public Works and Road Maintenance, a French engineer and an official from the French Ministry of Transport, mobilised by Expertise France. They have been supported by 2 officers and 36 non-commissioned officers, both ranked and soldiers from the army engineer battalion of the Central African armed forces and 65 residents from surrounding villages.

They are prefabricated and portable and are particularly suited to the Central African context as they do not require special tools or heavy equipment for their construction. It has therefore been possible to install them very rapidly: less than 20 days between their delivery in Bangui and their assembly in Lobaye, one of the country’s 16 prefectures. A diagnostic was conducted beforehand to assess the feasibility of the project and identify priority areas.

On 2 May 2019, the Minister of the Economy, Planning and Cooperation, the Minister of Agriculture and Local Development and representatives of the European Commission Directorate-General for International Cooperation and Development (DG DEVCO), the European Union delegation, the French embassy and Expertise France visited the site to assess the progress in the ongoing works.

Facilitating movements, a challenge for economic recovery

The installation of transport infrastructure targets strategic points for the country’s economy and aims to contribute to opening up the Central African Republic. Both internally and externally, isolation is a major barrier to the economic recovery of the country, which has been badly affected by the armed conflicts in 2012-2013. It is also a major obstacle to the return of decentralised State services to regions and to improving the security situation.

In these circumstances, the construction of bridges over strategic areas should foster the free movement of people and goods, contribute to the economic recovery (by facilitating exports, and the transport of agricultural production, part of which is currently lost due to the lack of transport routes towards large cities or due to transport costs which are too high), promote the redeployment of decentralised State services (whose officials will be able to travel in areas where they no longer go), and also strengthen security and social cohesion in territories (by connecting communities).

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