Yaounde City Council Begins Demolition of Houses Built on Marshes

Walk a few meters into the Fanta citron neighbourhood opposite the mvogada market, in Yaounde, and the grim reality hits you. Water greets your feet, even though it hasn't rained. The marshy area is home, to about fifty families. The houses seem shorter than usual, gradually absorbed by the earth. Toilets are perched on the edge of a stream,
the stream is littered with garbage, garbage which is the main culprit for flooding.
For these reasons, the Yaounde City Council, has begun demolishing houses in this neighbourhood. Despite their living conditions, inhabitants are reluctant to leave. Jacques Sob, a father of 12, told me he has been living in Fanta Citron since 1971, and has no where else to go.

The demolition squad of the Yaounde City Council, does the rounds of the neighbouhood to inform inhabitants that their homes will be razed. A portion of the area was already demolished at the start of the week. The squad tells the remaining inhabitants that their homes will follow suit. They seem resigned to their fate, but the head of the Demolition Brigade at the Yaounde City Council, Francois Etotogo, insists that they have been aware of the impending demolition for years.

Some inhabitants choose not to wait, and begin dismantling their homes,so the materials can be recycled . The demolition squad's next moves be in Corniere (Mvogada), Mvogbetsi, and Nkoleton.
In fact, the demolition man says no home built on marshes, will, be left erect, in Yaounde.