The regime in Yaoundé’s continuous neglect of infrastructure in Ambazonia is once more on full display in Lebialem County, where commercial motorbike riders operating along the Besali-Bechachi road axis in Wabane Subdivision have sounded the alarm about the deplorable state of the road.
For many youths in the area, the Besali-Bechachi stretch serves as a vital economic lifeline. The road enables them to transport goods, agricultural produce, and passengers between remote communities within Lebialem and neighbouring areas. Their daily survival depends largely on this route.
However, with the peak of the rainy season now underway, the road has deteriorated into a near-impassable track. Footage circulating on social media and reviewed by local media outlets reveals shocking scenes of motorcycles completely trapped in thick mud, leaving riders stranded and unable to continue their journeys.
“We are suffering,” a voice narrating one of the videos lamented, as several riders struggled desperately to free their motorcycles from the muddy sections of the road.
The worsening situation has once again highlighted the chronic infrastructural neglect suffered by communities in Lebialem County. Despite being home to thousands of residents whose livelihoods depend on road access, the county remains one of the most isolated parts of Ambazonia, with very limited road infrastructure connecting its villages and towns.
For the young men who risk their lives daily to earn a living through commercial bike transport, the burden does not end with navigating dangerous and deteriorating roads. Riders say they are frequently subjected to multiple checkpoint payments and other levies while operating under extremely difficult conditions.
Residents and road users are calling for urgent intervention to rehabilitate the Besali-Bechachi road before entire communities become completely cut off from economic activities, healthcare services, and access to essential goods during the rainy season.
As the rains continue to pound the highlands of Lebialem, many fear that without immediate action, the already dire situation could worsen, further deepening the suffering of residents in one of Ambazonia’s most neglected counties.
By Lucas Muma | BaretaNews
