Report
Ivory Coast: white march, following the collapse of a building in Abidjan
Audio 01:25
White march in memory of those who died in the collapse of a building in the Angré district of Abidjan, March 11, 2022. © S. Yansané/RFI
Text by: RFI Follow
2 mins
Abidjan is still in shock, after two building collapses in the space of two weeks.
In total, thirteen people lost their lives in the municipalities of Treichville and Cocody.
On Friday, the relatives of the victims organized a rally at one of the scene of the tragedy to pay tribute to the disappeared and challenge the government.
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With our correspondent in Abidjan,
Sidy Yansané
“
It's a procession in silence, in memory of our deceased.
»
“
Never again!
», «
No to buildings of death!
Signs that express the indignation and anger of the fifty people present in front of the rubble of the building that fell earlier this week in the Angré district of Cocody.
And the same portrait on the t-shirts, that of Marie-Esther, 14, who died in the collapse with five other residents.
It was her father Aimon Williams, known as the president of the Fondation des artistes de Côte d'Ivoire, who organized this short white march in memory of his daughter and the victims.
“
My granddaughter, my first, her life was cut short.
We lead our committee, which will be called
"no to the buildings of the dead".
»
► To read
and listen: Ivory Coast: deadly collapse of a building in Abidjan
The eyes redden, the sobs intensify.
Victims and injured testify to their misfortune.
Like Josiane Galy, who was sleeping on the 4th floor when the building fell.
“
Local residents came first and started to help us, and then the firefighters arrived.
We called the owner, she said she was going to come and see.
There were signs, we took pictures, we told her that things weren't right, that she had to come and do something for us.
But she did not come.
»
Abidjan is under permanent construction, but 80% of sites do not have building permits.
The government has just announced the establishment of a control brigade
►Read and listen: Ivory Coast: the development of Abidjan in the face of non-compliance with town planning rules
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