Traditional fishing communities in Porto Novo are at risk due to a green tourism project.

Born and raised on the lagoon close to Porto-Novo, Benin’s capital, Antoine Ababe Houssou always thought he would die on the banks of the water, where he made his home and livelihood. The 62-year-old retiree is currently facing disruption as a result of a green tourism development project supported by France, which is predicted to force him and other fishing villages off the land. If they take me out of here, I have nowhere to go,” Houssou declared.

With funding from the French Development Agency (AFD), the “Porto-Novo green city” aims to preserve the surrounding environment and increase tourism in the nation’s capital. However, the people who reside in the lagoon between Lake Nokoue, barely behind Lagos, the megacity of Nigeria, and Cotonou, the economic hub. The initiative will benefit everyone, according to AFD director in Cotonou Jerome Bertrand-Hardy, by improving and revitalising the areas along the lagoon.

The project is the result of various initiatives that Beninese President Patrice Talon has introduced since taking office in 2016 with the goal of increasing tourism in his country. However, the people who live along the lagoon banks at Porto-Novo and depend mostly on fishing are holding on for the time being. According to 44-year-old fish farmer Leopold Padonou, “ten months ago, city hall came to notify us that we have one month to leave and we formed an association to defend ourselves,” AFP was told. “We sent letters to everyone, but we never heard back.” He stated that estimates from the community place the number of affected households at about 1,000, or about 5,000 individuals overall.

“Nets on the pavement”
Born and reared in the community, Padonou stated that “no one gave us details” when city officials marked the houses to be demolished with a red cross two months ago. The fish farmer acknowledged that infrastructure improvement has been made feasible by the development of the lagoon banks. “We now have pedestrian crossings, lighting, and highways that come to us… For us to live comfortably, they have constructed infrastructure,” he remarked.

But since we’ve already been informed that we’re going to be evicted, we’re not allowed to enjoy it. And where is it going? Tite Kounasso, 52, a fisherman, claimed that the lake’s waters were essential to their livelihood. “We are not allowed to toss nets onto asphalt. Let us be left on the bank; we have not learned any other trade,” he uttered. However, Agathe Gandonou, a seafood and crab vendor, claims that she hasn’t given up the struggle just yet.

“We will fight to stay here because the water contains all of our strength.” Justice & Empowerment Initiatives, an international non-governmental organisation, assists locals in ensuring that their rights are upheld. “The community needs to be empowered to defend itself. Ange-Marie Esse remarked, “We want an agreement, a win-win partnership.”

“Modern village”
The initiative, according to the Porto-Novo municipality, was started to stop the banks’ disorganised settlement, although environmental preservation would also be taken into account. Mayor of Porto Novo Charlemagne Yankoty told AFP, “It is a climate change resilience project which aims to preserve the natural bank of Porto Novo while developing ecotourism.”

The mayor announced that 100 million CFA francs, or around $166,000, had already been released by the municipal council to assist the displaced residents. “Those who occupy this bank are not owners for the most part and they are also too exposed to water-borne diseases,” he stated. He replied that not everyone would have to go since the banks wouldn’t be able to function.

The mayor announced that a “modern fishing village” will soon be constructed, although he did not specify when or how many people would be moving there. “All the city’s tourist infrastructure is under construction to strengthen our tourist attractiveness,” he stated.

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