Ouagadougou: The National Land Coordination Authority (ANCF) launched a special operation on Wednesday to demolish illegal constructions located in the right-of-way of the bypass.
According to Burkina Information Agency, the technical secretary of the ANCF, Sibiri Hebi©, stated that the operation aims to clear the bypass right-of-way, which extends 100 meters on either side of the road and is marked by specific boundaries. “This morning, we proceeded with the demolition of commercial installations, plots of land, and houses used for residential purposes which encroached on the right-of-way,” said Hebi©.
He further emphasized the Burkinabe government’s vision to decongest traffic in Ouagadougou through the construction of the bypass, aiming to improve traffic flow. Hebi© also highlighted the need for real estate developers to be aware of the type of investments permissible along this high-mobility road to prevent future encroachments.
In a 2023 press release, Siko Yacouba, the Director General of the National Office for the Control of Development and Construction, urged those occupying the bypass right-of-way to vacate and remove their constructions. He warned that failure to comply would result in administrative action to clear the area. Yacouba stressed the importance of respecting the 100-meter distance on either side of the road, noting that those who fail to relocate before the next inspection would bear the costs of demolition.
Yacouba also mentioned that any illegal investments would lead to demolitions at the expense of those involved, and legal action could be pursued if necessary. Prior to the installation of boundary markers, all individuals owning spaces within the right-of-way were compensated, with the total compensation amounting to approximately 9 billion CFA francs, according to Moumouni Ilboudo, the Director General of Transport Infrastructure.
The demolition operation, organized by the ANCF, is being conducted in collaboration with the General Directorate of Transport Infrastructure, the National Office for the Control of Development and Construction, and the General Directorate of Urban Planning, Development, and Topography.