(Ecofin Agency) - Since last November 21, 2017, the mobile operator Azur Centrafrique, subdisiary of Azur Telecom, is temporarily closed. The decision was taken by the minister of posts and telecommunications, Justin Gourna-Zacko (picture), during a personal meeting with the company’s staff which has been on strike for some days now. The workers demand the payment of salary arrears they are owed.

According to the Journalists network on human rights (RJDH), Augustin Agou, deputy of Bangui’s 1^st district who was present at the meeting, revealed that authorities convinced the workers to continue dialogue with executives. They also suggested that Azur pays at least two months of arrears to its employees to start with. 

A source at the firm told RJDH that Azur Centrafrique has decided to ask the Prime minister to cancel the telecoms minister’s decision. It also indicated that the group’s CEO, Jean-Bruno Obambi, is expected in Bangui by the beginning of next month, to come up with a solution to the current crisis.

It should be noted that issues between Azur Centrafrique and authorities arise while the telecom firm initiated some key investments. It has in July 2017 launched 3G+ which it plans to extend across the whole country. In Central Africa’s telecom market, the operator is actually last.