In Abidjan, Ivory Coast, Dame Touré and her three children were forced to hastily gather their belongings as bulldozers were sent to demolish their neighborhood due to public health concerns. The government cited the need to clear out underdeveloped areas along a lagoon that suffer deadly floods during the rainy season. Evictions and demolitions are not new in Abidjan, where rapid urbanization has led to a population boom and housing shortages, affecting nearly one in five Ivorians. The recent wave of demolitions in impoverished suburbs has left hundreds of thousands of residents without homes, sparking outrage and protests.
African governments struggle to manage population explosions in cities and meet infrastructure needs, reflecting a larger developmental problem across the continent. Rights groups and evicted families in Abidjan criticize the current demolitions for being carried out without prior notice or compensation, leaving many homeless and stranded. The demolitions have fragmented families and scattered the homeless across various parts of the city, with many struggling to find shelter or relocate elsewhere in Ivory Coast. The Ivory Coast government claims the aim is to provide a decent living environment for the affected residents, but the Ivorian League for Human Rights has called for a halt to the campaign.
Among the victims of the demolitions were nearly 2,000 schoolchildren whose school was demolished without prior notice. The evictions have disrupted education and livelihoods, forcing many to seek refuge in other areas or sleep out in the open. President Alassane Ouattara has called for solidarity and social peace in response to the protests, urging local authorities to provide basic amenities and support for the evicted residents. The government has announced compensation for affected households, but some believe the amount offered is insufficient to cover the growing cost of housing in the city.
The Yopougon municipality, which is mostly home to working-class residents, has also pledged to support those affected by the demolitions. However, many like Dame Touré are overwhelmed with helplessness as they watch their neighborhoods being demolished and worry about their uncertain future. Despite government promises of assistance and relocations, the evicted residents continue to face challenges as they struggle to rebuild their lives in the wake of the demolitions. The ongoing demolitions in Abidjan highlight the complexities of urbanization, housing shortages, and infrastructure development in rapidly growing African cities like Abidjan.
