Bangui (the capital of the Central African Republic, a landlocked nation in central Africa) has been gripped by a fuel shortage for roughly ten days, with long queues forming at petrol stations as supplies of both petrol and diesel run dry. Residents unable to find fuel at official pumps are turning to roadside vendors who charge up to 1,500 CFA francs per litre — well above the standard 1,100 CFA franc price — and who sometimes sell adulterated fuel mixed with water, risking engine damage. The crisis is rippling through the broader economy, pushing up transport costs and food prices at local markets; the landlocked country depends heavily on fuel imports routed through the ports of Cameroon and the Republic of Congo, making it chronically vulnerable to supply disruptions. A government source has acknowledged the difficulties and said a return to normal is expected within days, though the Energy Ministry has yet to issue an official statement.