Guinea: Informal commerce obstructs pedestrian paths in Koloma and Sonfonia

Pedestrian safety and urban order are under threat in Guinea due to the expansion of informal commerce into public infrastructure. In Koloma, near the central market, vendors have installed wooden and metal kiosks on sidewalks, reducing walking space to just a few centimeters. Residents report being forced to walk in the road alongside vehicles, creating significant risks for the elderly and parents with strollers.

Similarly, in Sonfonia, a pedestrian footbridge designed to provide safe passage over a busy road has been occupied by vendors. Goods such as clothing and footwear are lined along the railings, leaving only narrow corridors for commuters. This congestion often forces pedestrians to abandon the bridge and attempt to cross the dangerous roadway on foot.

Vendors in both locations justify the occupation by citing a lack of space within official markets and the high visibility provided by these public thoroughfares. While local authorities in Koloma have acknowledged the issue and expressed a desire for a concerted solution, no clear timeline for dismantling illegal structures or reorganizing the markets has been established.