For years, families living next to Conakry’s towering municipal trash dump have endured thick, toxic smoke from the constant burning of waste. Now, residents of the densely populated Da Salam neighborhood say life has become a daily struggle to breathe, and they fear the long-term health consequences as the dump continues to expand, overshadowing their community.
The crisis unfolds even as Guinea’s military leader, General Mamady Doumbouya, continues to promote an agenda focused on national development and infrastructure upgrades following the 2021 coup. In Conakry, many youths have applauded recent road repairs long neglected by previous governments. Yet, for Da Salam, located in the city’s Kaloum district, a more fundamental threat persists just meters from their homes.
“I live in a very distressing condition,” said resident Da Da. “Simply sitting affects my lungs as if a fire was burning inside. Even more so when I take a walk for 20 to 30 meters, it becomes a real problem.”
Among the most vulnerable are children, whose developing lungs are particularly susceptible to the polluted air. One mother described the relentless toll on her son. “This child is often disturbed by the smoke coming from the dump. That’s what exhausts him,” she said. “Every time he goes outside and breathes in the air, he first suffocates and then has a crisis that lasts 2 days. When that happens, we’re forced to give him oxygen. It doesn’t even go outside anymore.”
Health experts warn that the long-term consequences for the community could be severe. A medical professional familiar with the area stated, “In the long term, the local population may develop cancer linked to the lung. The dump is slowly killing the nearby population.”
The situation highlights a stark contrast between visible public works projects and the unresolved environmental health emergency festering in Da Salam. As the municipal dump grows, so does the desperation of residents who are pleading for government intervention to address the toxic smoke they can no longer escape.