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Cameroon Truckers Resume Work after CAR Rebels Release Hostages

Moki Edwin Kindzeka

   GAROUA BOULAI, CAMEROON - Truckers from Cameroon are crossing into the
   Central African Republic again, after the C.A.R. government convinced
   rebels to release abducted drivers. The truckers provide an important
   lifeline to the landlocked C.A.R.

   Cameroonian truckers cautiously resumed routes into the Central African
   Republic this week, after C.A.R. authorities persuaded rebels last
   Friday to release drivers they took hostage.

   Three weeks ago, the rebels abducted 10 Cameroonian drivers along with
   three female passengers as they returned from the C.A.R. capital,
   Bangui.

   The security incident halted truck deliveries from Cameroon, a serious
   matter for the land-locked C.A.R., which depends on Cameroon's Douala
   seaport for about 95 percent of its supplies.

   Ali Aboubakar was one of the abducted drivers who returned Monday to
   Cameroon. He said armed rebels had taken them far into the bush.

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