Tensions are rising in Gagnoa over the future of the information hall located in the Dioulabougou district. Faced with opposition from a citizens' group, the mayor, Yssouf Diabaté, took a firm stance during a press conference held at his office on Friday, May 23, 2026. His objective: to reaffirm loudly and clearly that this site is indeed part of the municipality's heritage.

The town hall brandishes its legal evidence

Dismissing accusations of "usurpation of public property," the mayor insisted on the legitimacy of the municipal action. To support his claims, Yssouf Diabaté relied on a solid case:

1. The official handover documents for 2018 ;
2. Formal cadastral documents ;
3. The initial actions related to the construction of the site.

"I affirm, reaffirm and confirm that the site housing the information hall is the property of the town hall. It is in no way a public space," he insisted.

As proof of this unique land status, the mayor pointed out that even a previous attempt by the Ministry of Communication to establish a regional office there had failed. Today, the municipality intends to develop this land, in accordance with a resolution passed by the municipal council.

A "political maneuver" according to the municipality

For Yssouf Diabaté, the current protest is nothing more than a "political maneuver." He points out that the management of this space—which has gradually deteriorated over the years—is not a recent issue, as a municipal decree already modified its use back in 2002. The mayor assures that all current procedures scrupulously comply with the law.

The citizens' group remains furious and is taking legal action.

This assurance is far from convincing the project's opponents. Earlier that same day, the Movement for the Safeguarding of the Information Hall , led by its spokesperson Amadou Sanogo, took to the airwaves.

The group defends a completely different vision:

1. A public space by nature: According to them, the site belongs to the community.
2. A lack of transparency: They believe that such a change of use necessarily requires prior consultation with the population.
3. Legal action: Denouncing an irregular procedure, the group announced that it had officially contacted the administrative and judicial authorities to block the project.

Work continues behind the scenes.

Despite the looming media and legal storm, the project is progressing on the ground. While the redevelopment work is currently experiencing a slight slowdown, on-site technicians describe it as a simple technical setback due to equipment breakdown. Officials have assured that operations will resume at full capacity in the coming days.