The Trade Minister made public an order on July 9 fixing taxi rates.

According to this order, users will now have to pay 250 CFA FRANCS during the day and 300 CFA FRANCS for pick-ups at night, an increase of 50 FCFA.

This order which seems to have been taken quickly and under pressure from the taxi unions is paradoxically silent on the date of entry into force of these new rates.

"However to take into account the interests and the legitimate expectations of users, aroused order extended the principle of negotiation of these rates of case by case between the taxi and its customers within the limits of the maxima below" indicates the decision of the Minister of trade that came two days after a crisis meeting between the Government and trade unionists in the transport sector who threatened a general strike following the increase in fuel prices.

According to our sources, after the increase in the taxi fares, that of long distance and air transport should also be revised upwards in the next few days.