Border reopens between Cameroon and Central Africa

BANGUI (AFP) - The border between Cameroon and the Central African Republic, closed at Garoua-Boulai after a military clash last week, has reopened, a Central African military source said Monday.

"The border between Central Africa and Cameroon has reopened and several vehicles, including heavy goods lorries, which were blocked at the border since Thursday, have been able to cross to make their way to the Central African capital," Bangui, the source at the border told AFP.

A Central African soldier who started the incident and two other soldiers who tried to help him have been freed after being interrogated by the authorities, the source added.

Last Thursday, a row between the Central African soldier and the driver of a motorbike taxi turned into a serious altercation between Central African troops, who opened fire with automatic weapons, and Cameroonian policemen.

No injuries were reported, but a Cameroonian flag was burned.

The Cameroonian military rapid intervention force appeared on the scene and two Central African soldiers were arrested, while a third was caught as he tried to flee in civilian clothes.

A Central African official said that the district administrator of Nana Mambere in the west went to Garoua-Boulai with a delegation and took three days to sort out the affair.

"There is permanent tension at the border between Cameroon and the Central African Republic and we hope that (Thursday's) incident will help solve the problem once and for all," a Cameroonian official said.

The landlocked and poor Central African Republic largely depends on imported goods brought in by road. Most of these supplies come through the Cameroonian port of Douala.