By Etienne Mainimo Mengnjo
High food prices are creating significant strain on residents in Yaounde, with many reporting daily price increases at local markets that are making life increasingly difficult.
Citizens have largely attributed the rising cost of nearly all market goods to the aftermath of recent elections and are calling for a quick resolution before the situation escalates. this has also been recorded in major towns through out the country.
The impact on household budgets is immediate and severe. “This morning, I went to the market and I discovered that prices, especially for food products, have been increased,” said Sandra, a city resident who preferred to only use her first name for fear of reprisal. “When I asked, they told me that nothing is coming in to Yaounde and there is nothing they can do.”
A woman identifying herself only as a housewife expressed deep concern over the escalating situation. “I am pleading to the authorities to solve this post-election crisis as fast as possible because Cameroonians will not support the rising food prices,” she said. “You can’t imagine that everything in the market is witnessing an increase.” This sentiment underscores the mounting public frustration with the economic fallout of the political unrest.
Traders on their part say they are also struggling with the scarcity and subsequent higher costs. They added that the post-election uncertainty has severely disrupted key supply routes, leading to massive shortages of staples.
A woman selling njama njama (huckleberry leaves), a common vegetable in Cameroonian cuisine detailed the impact on her business.
“The situation is bad. I buy a bag of njama njama now for CFAF 25,000, meaning that I have to increase the price when I start selling, and sometimes, I find myself at a loss,” she said. “We used to have njama njama coming in abundance from Bamenda, but it has been days those cars are not traveling. So, it is really not the best.”
Fruit sellers have also stated that the tense atmosphere is deterring drivers from risking travel, leading to low stock particularly for these perishables transported from the country’s agricultural regions. As a results, some vendors have even left the market because they can no longer operate profitably under these conditions.
“The situation of post-elections is really pushing Cameroonians to the wall,” one trader said, noting that since the election-related tensions began, vehicle circulation has been restricted and markets have been sparse. “A little that comes in will always see an increase in price.”
Another trader added that vendors are not to blame for the hikes, as products are scarce. “Election crises have made it very impossible for cars to be circulating. The North is blocked, and cars hardly come from Douala and Bamenda, just to name a few,” he said.
The lack of vehicle movement has created a bottleneck, ensuring that the small amount of produce that reaches the capital is sold at a premium.
“The situation of post-elections is really pushing Cameroonians to the wall,” one trader added, noting that since the election-related tensions began, vehicle circulation has been restricted and markets have become sparse. “A little that comes in will always see an increase in price.”
With memories of the widespread 2008 civil unrest which was partially fueled by significant food price increases, citizens and traders alike are urging authorities to act quickly to resolve the current issues and restore the flow of essential goods.
The fear according to some observers now is that a failure to stabilize prices and ensure food access could quickly escalate the political crisis into a humanitarian concern.
