At a press conference held on Thursday, April 30, 2026 , representatives of the landowners of Bouley Island expressed their deep concern about what they consider a direct threat to their land. Georges Akré , Secretary General of the Island Management Committee, officially appealed to the Ivorian authorities to demand respect for customary rights.

1. Land pressure deemed "illegal"

Despite several approaches to the administration and attempts at mediation by bailiff (Me Zakpa Modeste), the Management Committee denounces the continuation of work on the site.

1. Observation: Presence of machinery and construction of fences without known legal basis.
2. Demand: The immediate cessation of all ongoing work.
3. Feeling of abandonment: The owners lament that their letters addressed to the Prime Minister's office and the Ministry of Construction have gone unanswered, despite the presentation of historical property documents.

2. "Urban Planning Plan No. 5": A lack of transparency denounced

The conflict crystallized around an urban planning project covering Yopougon and Songon, effectively including Bouley Island.

"A public inquiry was published in an impenetrable technical language, bordering on contempt for the local population," Georges Akré criticized.

The Committee considers this urban unit development project No. 5 to be a "disguised expropriation." They fear a repeat of past land crises (such as the Komé Bakary case) and reiterate that the island is their only land reserve for future generations.

3. A call for dialogue and justice

Community leaders, notably Abroh Franck Djoman (Locodjro) and Théophile Mambé (Orion Assoindin), wanted to clarify their position:

1. No to the sale: They firmly deny the rumors of the sale of their land.
2. Rule of law: They call for a peaceful and judicial resolution, invoking justice and fairness.

4. Historical background: A long-standing dispute

Bouley Island, covering 20 km² , has long been the object of state covetousness:

1. 2010: A decree by Laurent Gbagbo classifies 1,800 hectares as public utility for the expansion of the Autonomous Port of Abidjan.
2. Incomplete compensation: Although coconut planters were compensated at the time, the Committee points out that customary rights related to land ownership have never been settled.

The current issue: Between modern urban planning projects and ancestral rights, the owners of Bouley Island still hope that a sincere dialogue will open with the State to avoid an escalation of tensions.