Guinea-Bissau Transport Drivers Strike Over Higher Fuel Prices

Transport workers across parts of Guinea-Bissau, including the capital Bissau, began a strike on Tuesday, April 7th, 2026. This followed a government decision to raise fuel prices in response to the US-Iran conflict, setting the stage for major disruptions in daily transportation.

The strike disrupted movement in at least three locations. In Gabu, the country’s largest city outside the capital, taxi and van drivers suspended operations and the same happened in the town of Mansoa. As a result many commuters were forced to walk long distances as public transport ground to a halt. In Bissau, operators of 15-seater vans joined the strike on Tuesday. Taxi drivers joined the strike on Wednesday, according to Caram Gassama, chairman of the country’s drivers’ union.

The unrest follows a sharp fuel price hike announced last week by the military-led government. Diesel rose from 700 CFA to 898 CFA per litre, a roughly 28% increase. Petrol climbed from 794 CFA s to 899 CFA per litre, a roughly 13% increase. But while the government moved swiftly to adjust pump prices, it also barred transport operators from raising fares. Drivers now have to absorb the extra costs just when many are already under pressure.

The strike comes after two weeks of fuel shortages across much of the country. The shortages have further exposed Guinea-Bissau’s dependence on imported petroleum. They also highlight how fragile the country’s transport system is. In a low-income country where road transport remains central to daily life and commerce, disruptions of this scale are felt almost immediately.

What is unfolding in Guinea-Bissau reflects a broader pattern across Africa: The US-Iran conflict has started to affect the cost of living. In fuel-importing states, rising global oil prices are translating into higher transport costs and the risk of public unrest.