The Kouki bridge in Bossangoa collapsed over a year ago following the transit of heavy vehicles operated by Chinese mining firms. Local officials in Bossangoa, including the regional director and the public prosecutor, subsequently secured 7 million CFA francs from those Chinese mining operators to finance urgent temporary repairs to the structure. This collapse occurred specifically due to the passage of heavy trucks belonging to Chinese mining operators. Conflict has emerged regarding these funds as the Ministry of Public Works, directed by Minister of State Bertrand Arthur Piri, now exerts pressure on the Bossangoa public prosecutor. Officials at the ministry require the prosecutor to transfer the 7 million CFA francs to the capital, Bangui. The situation remains unresolved as local authorities face demands from the national government to relinquish control of the capital intended for local bridge reconstruction.
Ministry Demands Transfer of Funds
Ministry of Public Works officials claim the 7 million CFA francs currently held in Bossangoa must be transferred to the Office National des Matériels (ONM). According to the ministry, these funds are intended for the Office National des Matériels to build a permanent replacement bridge rather than the temporary repairs proposed by local authorities. The Ministry of Public Works, led by Minister of State Bertrand Arthur Piri, is actively pressuring the prosecutor of Bossangoa to ensure the transfer of the 7 million CFA francs to Bangui. The Ministry of Public Works maintains the claim that the funds are specifically intended for the Office National des Matériels (ONM) to facilitate the construction of a permanent replacement bridge for the community.
Independent of these current financial disputes, the MINUSCA Civil Affairs Section previously funded a separate bridge project in the area. Records from the MINUSCA Civil Affairs Section indicate that the total cost for that project reached 9,500,000 CFA francs. This prior intervention by the MINUSCA Civil Affairs Section remains a point of reference for infrastructure funding in the region.
Local authorities in Bossangoa, including the regional director and the public prosecutor, originally secured the 7 million CFA francs from the Chinese mining operators with the explicit intent to fund temporary repairs. These local officials argue that the immediate need for transit across the Kouki bridge necessitates the use of the funds for the temporary repairs as originally planned. Conversely, the national authorities in Bangui emphasize the role of the Office National des Matériels (ONM) in overseeing the permanent infrastructure project. The standoff persists as the Bossangoa public prosecutor manages the competing directives between the local requirements for bridge access and the Ministry of Public Works' insistence on centralizing the 7 million CFA francs for the Office National des Matériels (ONM). The Kouki bridge remains damaged while the debate over the allocation of the 7 million CFA francs continues between the regional director, the Bossangoa public prosecutor, and Minister of State Bertrand Arthur Piri.
