THOUSANDS of residents in Abidjan have been left homeless after Côte d’Ivoire’s government intensified a demolition campaign targeting informal settlements. The move, part of an urban renewal drive, has sparked widespread criticism, with human rights groups condemning the forced evictions and lack of support for displaced families.
According to AFP, the demolitions have devastated communities, with residents claiming they were not given adequate notice, compensation, or alternative housing.
Homes razed without warning
For many, the demolitions came without warning. Among them was 60-year-old Bertin Gnangon Aba, who was asleep when bulldozers arrived at his home in northern Abidjan.
‘They destroyed everything I had, even my identity card,’ Aba told AFP. ‘They didn’t even give me time to take anything. Everything is gone.’
Aba, like thousands of others, has been forced to seek shelter wherever he can, often in makeshift structures or even cemeteries.
The evictions are part of a broader plan by Abidjan Governor Ibrahima Cissé Bacongo, who was personally tasked by President Alassane Ouattara to transform the city into a modern and prosperous capital. The government argues that these demolitions will clear hazardous areas prone to landslides and flooding during the rainy season.
However, for those affected, the reality is starkly different.
A city transformed, but at what cost?
The upscale neighbourhoods and new business districts emerging across Abidjan stand in sharp contrast to the plight of evicted residents. As the government pursues its ambitious redevelopment plans—including high-end housing and commercial spaces—thousands of displaced families are left struggling to survive.
‘We understand the need for development, but what about us?’ asked Philippe Kouame, a 44-year-old artist who has been left homeless. ‘How are we supposed to live? The authorities should think about us too.’
Kouame, like many others, had no means to secure alternative accommodation. With no compensation provided, he chose to stay amid the ruins of his former home. Others have resorted to sleeping on the streets or in abandoned areas.
Hamed, an upholsterer, now sleeps in a cemetery. ‘We don’t know where to go, so we’re forced to stay here,’ he said.
Despite government claims of a thorough biometric census to ensure fair relocation, residents argue that the process has been flawed and inconsistent.
Human rights groups condemn evictions
The forced evictions have drawn sharp criticism from human rights organisations. Côte d’Ivoire’s National Council for Human Rights denounced the demolitions as violations of fundamental rights, while Amnesty International condemned the ‘excessive use of force’ during the operations.
Pulchérie Gbalet, a prominent human rights activist, called the situation a ‘humanitarian disaster created by the state.’
Her organization, the Coalition of Victims Threatened and Affected by Displacement in Côte d’Ivoire (Covimed-CI), estimates that at least 20,000 people have been evicted.
Some residents in affected areas reported receiving small compensation payments of CFA250,000 francs ($398) per demolished home. However, Covimed-CI claims that less than 10 percent of those affected have received any form of assistance.
Government promises resettlement
Despite growing criticism, Governor Bacongo insists that affected residents will be relocated ‘in a few months.’ The government has announced a resettlement programme for 3,000 displaced individuals in the city’s northern suburbs, but many remain sceptical.
‘My job isn’t easy,’ Bacongo admitted. ‘I knew I would have to harm many people, but my vision is to create a modern city that rivals Dubai and Kigali—whatever the cost.’
As bulldozers continue to clear out neighbourhoods, displaced families remain in limbo, unsure of what the future holds. While the government presses ahead with its urban transformation plans, the question remains: at what cost to the people who call Abidjan home?
