Ivory Coast demolishes 176 risky sites in Abidjan
Thousands of families are homeless after Abidjan authorities cleared 176 sites deemed at risk.
Abidjan's bulldozers have cleared 176 sites identified as risky, displacing thousands of families. Dwellings in neighborhoods from Adjamé to Yopougon, Port-Bouët, and Koumassi have been demolished since the start of the year. Many residents lost their homes and possessions, with some sleeping in markets, bus stations, or cemeteries.
The government plan aims to improve safety by removing homes from unstable slopes, flood-prone areas, and sites near high-tension power lines. Minister-Governor Cissé Ibrahim Bacongo oversees the implementation of this plan, with President Alassane Ouattara reportedly informed of each demolition. However, the prosecutor stated that demolitions, like one in Koumassi Campement, occurred without a court order, leading to an ongoing investigation.
The operation has also affected schools, with several educational facilities destroyed before alternative arrangements were made for students. This forces parents, already displaced, to find new schools for their children, often without a stable address. The scale of displacement in peacetime Abidjan is unprecedented, according to the report.
Why it mattersThousands of families in Abidjan are left without shelter and schools are being destroyed, impacting children's education and stability.