The accumulation of household waste in Abidjan is prompting a reaction from the political class. Jean-Louis Billon, a member of the PDCI-RDA party, is sounding the alarm: according to him, unsanitary conditions are now suffocating all Ivorian cities and demand a comprehensive response from the State.

A health crisis that transcends the borders of Abidjan

As the streets of the economic capital continue to overflow with waste, Jean-Louis Billon sought to broaden the debate during his speech on Tuesday, June 9, 2026. The former presidential candidate refuses to see this problem as a simple local crisis.

"This isn't just about Abidjan, it's about the whole of Ivory Coast. Our cities are suffocating under garbage. It's become a real calamity." — Jean-Louis Billon

Faced with this situation, the politician calls for a genuine national awakening to stem what he describes as a widespread health crisis.

Cleanliness: a reflection of good governance

For Jean-Louis Billon, the cleanliness of a country is the primary indicator of its governance quality. He argues that waste management should be immediately elevated to the status of a national priority .

To support his vision, he draws on his ten years as mayor of Dabakala. During this decade, he made public hygiene a central focus of his local policy, relying on strategic partnerships with:

1. German cooperation
2. The World Bank

These collaborations had notably enabled the municipality to be equipped with modern collection equipment and a functional waste disposal site.

Waste: an underutilized economic lever

Beyond the health aspect, the PDCI-RDA framework emphasizes that waste represents a major economic opportunity. Today, waste management is a full-fledged industry based on:

1. Selective sorting at the source.
2. The valorization of organic and industrial materials.
3. Plastic recycling .

"Behind every ton of well-managed waste, there are jobs, businesses, and wealth created," he points out.

A status quo that exasperates the population

Despite recent crisis meetings between the Minister of Sanitation, Amédé Koffi Kouakou, and waste collection companies, the daily lives of Ivorians remain unchanged. Piles of garbage continue to accumulate, illustrating, according to Jean-Louis Billon, the structural flaws in a sanitation policy that struggles to be effectively implemented across the country.