Highway Extortion: Togo’s 500 FCFA Police Shakedown – A User’s Shocking Account
In Togo, taking the road is synonymous with uncertainty every day. For years, users have suffered from systematic extortion by road safety agents, and sometimes as a result of that of the Motor Brigade on some roads. Whether they comply or not, drivers know they will have to “negotiate” to continue their journey. This situation pushes many to neglect road safety rules, knowing that informal payments are inevitable anyway.
Kégué, Atilamonou crossroads, bypass. Wearing a faded t-shirt and worn-at-the-knee jeans, a middle-aged man stands by a yellow and blue tricycle. His face is tight, his gaze dejected, as he has a discreet exchange with two road safety officers.
One of them, in uniform, hidden behind sunglasses, holds a book of tickets. Although the discussion appears formal, the atmosphere betrays a discussion. The driver, clearly nervous and impatient, holds a few coins in his hand.
Inside the tricycle, two customers are getting impatient: a young girl and a middle-aged woman, both carrying packages on their knees. One taps his phone, angry, while the other sighs, resigned but compassionate.
They observe quietly sharing frustration and understanding. The result occurs when the tricycle driver asks for a 100 FCFA coin to complete and settle the amount owed to the police.
Salam, the tricycle driver, says this kind of situation happens every day. It has become normal, he said. Every day, you have to pay 500 FCFA to the agents of the DSR (Road Safety Division), without any receipt.
He said: “Fortunately, we know where the agents are based in the city. If you are stopped after you have already paid, tell them, and they will let you pass. We don’t have a choice. This morning’s incident happened simply because I only had 400 FCFA when I left the house, and despite all my pleas, they would not listen.
In Togo, thousands of tricycles circulate, mainly in Lomé, carrying passengers and goods. According to several sources, the majority of drivers do not have a driving license. These young people, often graduates, drive while waiting to find a better job.
But others believe that even with all the papers in order, it is impossible to escape police rackets. “When they stop you,” said a driver, “they ask if these are the papers they’re eating. Ultimately, we tell ourselves that there is no point in conforming. »
On our roads, coins replace the driving licence. The police turn a blind eye to violations, endangering the lives of users.
The systematic rackets and harassment caused by the agents of the DSR and the BM spare no one.
At the end of May 2024, angry truckers repeatedly denied the checks, rackets and threats. As usual, the unions intervened, promising to convey their grievances to the minister. But drivers are no longer hoping for anything, saying these steps are just a diversion.
François Bangane
Source: alternative.info