The deadline given to the occupants of the green network of sector 25 of Bobo-Dioulasso expired on February 28, 2024. Today, February 29, we made the observation on the site. While some activate to release, others are still installed, as if they are not affected.
This observation is obvious to users of sector 25, especially those who use the route which houses the green network. Shops, kiosks, etc. that lined the road are being removed by the owners. This is to comply with the press release from the president of the special delegation of district 5 of the commune of Bobo-Dioulasso who invited them to leave the premises no later than February 28, 2024. According to the press release, PDS Etienne Bako “informs all the population of its territorial jurisdiction, mainly those occupying the green network, located in sector 25 of Bobo-Dioulasso, that the date of release of the said network, initially scheduled for Wednesday December 13, 2023 is reduced to Wednesday February 28, 2024, deadline of rigor “. The press release still provides information by saying that “This extension of the deadline follows the concerns and grievances expressed by the stakeholders and is part of the logic of intervention of the Special Delegation of District No. 5 which aims to reconcile the constraints and the satisfaction of the general interest for collective well-being.” Logically therefore, after February 28 all the occupants of the site should have already left. If some are working to comply with the press release, others are still on the site. Are they waiting to be forcibly removed? The next few days will tell us more.
“We are working to free the places as you see”
Seydou Ouattara, a mechanic who has been working on the site for 8 years, says he complies with the press release but wishes to have another site to be able to continue working. “I have been working here for 8 years. And suddenly we are asked to leave the premises because it is a major road and the work will begin soon. We did not stand up and we are working to liberate the place as you can see. We are moving home, as it is the only way out at the moment. We are looking for a place to work. We have been counted, we hope that things will go quickly,” he will let us understand. Like Seydou Ouattara, Salgo Ousmane, seller of cosmetic products, is also working to free the site. For him, “it was really abrupt. We get disorganized without even knowing where to go. We knew that one day we were going to leave but not suddenly. Note that it is very difficult to have a store today. In my opinion, he should first direct us to premises, even for rent, before telling us to leave. The market is full of resourceful people. After that, I wonder how we’re going to get through this.” Note that this municipal decision is part of the implementation of the government urban mobility project for secondary towns and only concerns occupants of the green network practicing activities other than agricultural or gardening.
Aymeric THIS
Jemima WARMA/Intern
