The United States has suspended its funding for a section of the Northern Highway in Abidjan due to dissatisfaction with the compensation process for populations affected by the construction. According to Africa Intelligence, U.S. authorities have accused Ivorian officials of a lack of transparency and consideration for displaced populations. Many people registered to receive compensation are still awaiting their dues, while the relocation conditions deemed “inhumane” by the United States have also been criticized.
The Northern Highway project, signed in 2017 between Ivory Coast and the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC), a U.S. development aid agency, includes the rehabilitation of several major roadways in Abidjan. The American funding amounts to USD 524 million and covers part of the construction work.
Once completed, the Northern Highway is expected to facilitate traffic in Abidjan, alleviate congestion in the city center, and improve connectivity between Ivory Coast’s economic capital and neighboring landlocked countries. The suspension of the project by the United States could delay these goals and negatively impact the region’s economic development.
Following discussions with the Ivorian government, the MCA-CI funds allocated to these road infrastructures will be redirected to other initiatives. Despite budget constraints, the Ivorian state has decided to continue the highway construction using its own resources.
