The municipality of Cotonou, Benin, has begun a major operation to free public spaces in the city from illegal occupations, including garages installed on public roads and abandoned vehicles. The operation, which started on September 21, 2026, is part of the city's development plan, "Changer d'échelle," aimed at making Cotonou a more attractive and better-governed city by 2033. The plan was presented to media professionals on September 18, 2026.
According to Arlette Bello Saïzonou, First Deputy Mayor of Cotonou, the operation aims to restore public spaces to their original purpose and improve the city's functionality. She emphasized that the goal is to make Cotonou a city where public spaces are truly public, with accessible streets, walkable sidewalks, and secure roads. Saïzonou stressed that the operation is not just about undertaking projects, but also about changing the way the city is managed and viewed.
The operation will start with garagists, followed by exploitants of public domains and constructors without permits, according to Urbain Kpatchia, Head of Technical Services at the Cotonou municipality. The decision was not taken in haste, as the mayor, Luc Gnacadja, had invited owners of abandoned vehicles and garagists to vacate public spaces on April 13, 2023, and a 90-day deadline was given for compliance.
The municipality has assured economic actors, particularly those in the informal sector, that the operation is not aimed at excluding them. Authorities recognize the importance of their activities in the local economy and emphasize that the goal is to reorganize public spaces, not to banish them. The operation is a measure to restore order to public spaces, not an exclusionary policy.
Saïzonou insisted that the occupation of public spaces by garages, abandoned vehicles, and other structures alters the city's functionality. She argued that when a street becomes a storage area for abandoned vehicles or a garage occupies a space meant for circulation, it is not just a physical occupation issue, but a problem that affects the city's essential functions.
The municipality has given a deadline for concerned parties to vacate public spaces, and the operation is expected to improve mobility and road safety in Cotonou. Authorities hope that the operation will help to transform the city and make it more attractive to residents and visitors.
The "Changer d'échelle" plan is a comprehensive development plan aimed at transforming Cotonou into a modern and well-governed city. The plan includes several initiatives aimed at improving the city's infrastructure, services, and overall quality of life. The liberation of public spaces is a key component of this plan, and the municipality is committed to its successful implementation.
Key points
- The Cotonou municipality has started an operation to free public spaces from illegal occupations, including garages and abandoned vehicles.
- The operation is part of the city's development plan, "Changer d'échelle," aimed at making Cotonou a more attractive and better-governed city by 2033.
- The municipality has assured economic actors that the operation is not aimed at excluding them, but rather at reorganizing public spaces.
