President Doumbouya Restores Land Justice in Wanindara and Kassa

On October 16, 2026, President Mamadi Doumbouya signed a decree to declassify land reserves in Simbaya-Wanindara and Kassa, marking a significant step in land management in Guinea. The move is expected to bring relief to thousands of citizens who have faced uncertainty over their places of residence for years. The decision affects over 750 hectares of land, with more than 315 hectares in Simbaya-Wanindara and over 435 hectares on the island of Kassa.

The decree paves the way for restructuring, regularization, and development operations for current occupants, in line with the Land and Domain Code and the Urban Planning Code. However, certain areas already covered by leases and public infrastructure, such as schools, health centers, places of worship, and road networks, will be excluded from the new arrangement. This decision is particularly significant for residents of Wanindara, who have long lived in fear of eviction.

For many families in Wanindara, the land situation has been a source of permanent anxiety, recalling the traumatic events of Kaporo Rail, where homes were destroyed in 1998 and 2019. The prospect of regularization offers a new horizon, allowing residents to look to the future with greater serenity. This decision demonstrates the human side of President Doumbouya's approach to governance, prioritizing the well-being of citizens.

The history of Kaporo Rail serves as a reminder of the social consequences of eviction operations that leave families without sustainable solutions. However, under President Doumbouya's administration, the government has initiated a land compensation process for former occupants of Kaporo Rail. On October 16, 2024, representatives of displaced persons were received by the Prime Minister, after being allocated alternative land.

This initiative is a step towards restoring the rights of affected families, although it cannot erase the past suffering. The connection between Kaporo Rail and the decision on Wanindara highlights the importance of learning from past experiences and prioritizing conflict prevention, rights clarification, and sustainable solutions. By opting for restructuring and regularization, the authorities can demonstrate that it is possible to balance state imperatives, urban planning, and citizen protection.

The challenge goes beyond securing existing occupations, as Wanindara and Kassa must be integrated into a more coherent territorial development policy. In Conakry, rapid urbanization, demographic pressure, and sometimes disorderly occupation of spaces make restructuring operations indispensable. Modernization must be accompanied by improved living conditions, organized circulation routes, preserved collective facilities, and facilitated access to essential services.

The decree's impact will depend on the administration's ability to translate it into clearly established rights, with rigorous, transparent, and equitable implementation. The reference to the Simandou 2040 program serves as a horizon for national transformation, where economic development is accompanied by concrete improvements in citizens' daily lives and progressive securitization of land rights.

Key points

• President Doumbouya's decree affects over 750 hectares of land in Wanindara and Kassa.
• The decision aims to bring relief to thousands of citizens who have faced uncertainty over their places of residence.
• The decree paves the way for restructuring, regularization, and development operations for current occupants.