The RN3 isn’t a road—it’s an open wound. Every day, thousands of Cameroonians gamble with their lives on it, while trucks and buses park haphazardly, turning the highway into a supermarket parking lot. Thirty-five accidents in just three months—a toll that should shame, not just alarm. Yet, the Ministry of Transport (MINT) opts for soft measures: awareness campaigns, roadshows, and fleeting checkpoints. As if a bandage could stop a hemorrhage.
The issue isn’t a lack of driver discipline, but the glaring absence of alternatives. Where are vehicles supposed to park when poorly lit shoulders are the only option? MINT blames 'dangerous parking,' yet fails to acknowledge the lack of secure rest areas along this critical route. Worse, these accidents aren’t just human tragedies—they come with a steep price tag. A single hour of gridlock on the RN3 costs businesses millions in CFA francs, spoils perishable goods, and slashes wages. Cameroon’s economy is bleeding out on this road, and no one seems in a hurry to stop it.
For the average citizen, this situation is a double punishment. First, they risk their lives every time they take the RN3. Then, they foot the bill—through taxes—for awareness campaigns that solve nothing. MINT is right about one thing: penalties must be tougher. But without proper infrastructure, these measures amount to pure repression. Where are the secure parking lots promised for years? Where is the public investment to ease congestion on this vital artery? Cameroon deserves more than cosmetic fixes.
The RN3 is a mirror held up to the nation. It reflects our ability—or inability—to plan development structurally. As long as the state hides its inaction behind PR stunts, Cameroonians will keep paying the ultimate price. In lives lost, and in hard cash.
