Vridi 3 residents demand dialogue and relocation after demolitions

Families displaced from the Vridi 3 area, commonly known as Zimbabwé in Port-Bouët, are calling for government dialogue and relocation solutions four months after demolition operations began. The Collectif des déguerpis held a press conference on October 4, 2026, to highlight the social and economic hardships facing the community.

Spokesperson Traoré Saïdou noted that the community has occupied the site since 1963, originally established for fish smoking activities. While the Autonomous District of Abidjan justified the demolitions, which started on June 2, 2026, as necessary to protect residents from environmental and health risks, the collective emphasizes the severe human cost. The group reports that the displacement has led to difficulties in housing, schooling, and loss of livelihoods, and claims there have been ten deaths since the crisis began.

The collective has conducted its own census, identifying 289 owners and 500 tenants, totaling 789 individuals, though this count is ongoing. They are seeking a formal framework for discussion with competent authorities to address the future of the displaced population.