Road travel becomes dangerous and expensive in North West CameroonCEFR B2
19 Nov 2025
Adapted from Guest Contributor, Global Voices • CC BY 3.0
Photo by Lai Man Nung, Unsplash
In the North West region, daily travel has become both dangerous and expensive amid a nine-year armed conflict in the North West and South West regions. Since the proclamation of the October 12 presidential election results, separatist fighters have stepped up road blockages around the North West, and drivers and riders now charge higher fares driven by fear and risk rather than fuel prices.
Buses have given way to commercial motorbikes known locally as Okada because riders say small bikes can escape into the bush when danger appears. Price examples show the scale of change: a short trip on the Bamenda–Menchum road that once cost FCFA 700 now costs FCFA 5,000 (USD8.86). On the Bamenda–Bafmeng line a seat that once cost FCFA 3,000 (USD5.32) can now cost FCFA 25,000 (USD44.30) to FCFA 30,000 (USD53.16) on a bike if the traveller has luggage.
Transporters say they charge extra because they risk their lives and face many unpredictable checkpoints where both security forces and separatist fighters demand money. One transporter said a Bamenda–Ekok journey can include more than 30 checkpoints and that he gives FCFA 2,000 (USD3.54) whenever stopped. Violence has also led to burned buses; a local manager, Pa Dan, said he lost two vehicles in 2021, stopped going to Belo and Ndu after attacks, and reported two drivers were asked to surrender their vehicles and were killed.
The higher cost of moving goods has increased market prices in Bamenda: a bag of beans that cost FCFA 3,000 (USD5.32) now sells for FCFA 6,000 (USD10.63), and traders say crops sometimes rot before reaching town. Education and public services are affected too: many teachers refuse remote posts, and teacher Patrick Tameh described daily threats and ransom demands that ask for large sums equal to many months or years of salary. He said he spends close to FCFA 100,000 (USD177.20) monthly on transport and sometimes an extra FCFA 100,000 in a month because of frequent travel.
Officials at the Ministry of Trade say they are aware of the situation, and analysts and local leaders say restoring confidence on the roads will require more than patrols. The conflict has caused loss of life, damage to property, and a weakened regional economy; the rise in transport costs is one of several lasting effects on families and livelihoods.
Difficult words
- separatist — person fighting to form a separate region
- checkpoint — place where vehicles are stopped and checkedcheckpoints
- ransom — money demanded to stop violence or free someone
- patrol — regular armed movement to watch and protect roadspatrols
- livelihood — way people earn money to livelivelihoods
- proclamation — official public announcement of a decision
- transporter — person or company that moves goods or peopleTransporters
Tip: hover, focus or tap highlighted words in the article to see quick definitions while you read or listen.
Discussion questions
- What measures, beyond patrols, might help restore people’s confidence on the roads? Give reasons from the article.
- How do higher transport costs affect families and public services like education in this region? Use examples from the text.
- What short-term and long-term actions could reduce the risks transporters face at checkpoints? Describe possible benefits and challenges.
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