In Ivory Coast, two deaths in the demolition of a neighborhood last week

On Thursday, clashes broke out between police and residents of the working-class neighborhood of Adjamé village while construction equipment destroyed houses and businesses for the construction of a road.

“It is a shame that there were two losses of human lives and we would like to take this opportunity to offer our condolences to the grieving families,” declared Kobenan Kouassi Adjoumani during a press briefing.

“These are regrettable incidents,” continued the spokesperson for the Rally of Houphouëtists for Democracy and Peace (RHDP), without specifying the circumstances of these deaths.

These demolition operations, called "evictions", are not new but resumed massively in February in several neighborhoods of the Abdijan district.

The authorities justify them by the need to clean up the metropolis of 6 million inhabitants, but also by the construction of new infrastructure such as roads, bridges or the future metro through these districts.

The question of compensation for “displaced” people regularly comes up in public debate, with some claiming to have received nothing from the State.

"There are people who say 'we were compensated, we were made aware to leave', others stood their ground by wanting to stay," declared Mr. Adjoumani, believing that "when it comes to development, we need to declare certain areas of public utility.”

“It is certainly a bitter remedy, but a salutary remedy for our country,” he added.

Last week, a brigade made up of nearly 300 agents was also launched on the territory of the district, to fight against urban disorder by notably enforcing measures prohibiting begging or certain informal businesses.