Ivory Coast’s largest city authorities are demolishing homes in low-income areas citing public health concerns, leaving thousands homeless.
Hundreds of homes were demolished in February as part of a wave of demolitions aimed at underdeveloped areas in Abidjan, the country’s fast-growing economic hub.
The government cites public health concerns as reason for preventing deadly floods in poor areas built along a lagoon in this port city of 6.3 million on West Africa’s southern coast during the rainy season.
Since 2005, over 300 people have lost their lives due to the floods, which also create ideal conditions for water-borne diseases.
In Abidjan, demolitions in low-income areas are not uncommon, driven by rapid urbanization and housing shortages.
Nearly one in five Ivorians now live in the city, highlighting the strain on infrastructure caused by economic challenges pushing people towards urban centers in search of better prospects.
The recent wave of demolitions in Abidjan, particularly targeting impoverished suburbs in the Gesco and Sebroko districts, is among the largest in years, affecting hundreds of thousands of residents since late January.
Families being evicted and rights groups allege that this time, the demolitions are being carried out without prior notice or compensation.
Despite objections, local authorities maintain that the demolitions are necessary for public health reasons and claim to have begun relocating homeless families to safer areas.
Approximately 35% of Ivorians live below the poverty line, facing daily challenges such as water shortages that force many to rely on streams for their basic needs.
In addition to economic struggles, the country has grappled with security threats, including jihadist attacks that have extended to coastal regions in West Africa, including Ivory Coast.
Ivory Coast’s communications minister, Amadou Coulibaly, has defended the government’s actions, stating that the cleanup of these neighborhoods is part of a clear vision.
He asserted that some of those displaced from areas like Boribana are being resettled in around 1,000 government-built houses.
Many families find themselves homeless, stranded in various parts of the city as a result of the ongoing demolitions.
The Ivorian League for Human Rights condemned the demolitions, describing them as “brutal” and causing disastrous consequences for already vulnerable families.
They urged authorities to cease the campaign immediately. Youssouf Coulibaly, a youth leader from Boribana, expressed the sentiment shared by many affected residents, stating, “It’s our whole history.
“I was born here. My parents have been here for 40 years. So Boribana is like our village.”
“Imagine for a moment that when our children went to school, when they left (the house) there were no policemen. They say to themselves that at midday, we’re going to go back home to eat, and come to find that dad isn’t there, mum isn’t there, the house isn’t there.”
Despite the outrage and protests from those evicted, Ivory Coast President Alassane Ouattara has urged Abidjan’s local authorities to “show solidarity… to preserve cohesion and social peace.”
City officials maintain that the demolitions are part of a larger project aimed at reconstructing and providing basic amenities in the affected areas.
They claim that plots of land will be leased to the evicted residents for up to 25 years at a cost of about $16 per month.
Additionally, the government announced on April 8 that compensation had begun for affected households, with each receiving approximately $405 to support their relocation efforts.
In a country where the minimum wage is around $121 per month, many argue that it is not enough to cover the rising cost of housing. Belmonde Dogo, the minister responsible for poverty alleviation efforts, assured that all displaced individuals would receive the necessary assistance for their relocation.
Furthermore, the Yopougon municipality, primarily inhabited by working-class residents, has unveiled plans to support those affected by the demolitions.
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