Douala: Waste Crisis Chokes Sandaga Market

By Synthia Lateu

For several days now, Sandaga market, a major fresh food market in Douala, has resembled a dumping ground. Navigating through the market without stepping around or over piles of rotting waste has become nearly impossible. Runoff water mixes with decomposing food, creating stagnant, foul-smelling pools. It’s a grim and disturbing sight, and traders fear an outbreak of disease.

“We are exposed to cholera. In a market like this, they can’t even clean up at least once a week?” lamented Serge Nkuam, a trader. “For a market as important as this one, the situation shouldn’t be like this.”

“This tarnishes the image of Cameroon,” another trader added, blaming local hygiene and sanitation services for failing to do their job.
In the vegetable section of the market, the stench is overwhelming, and the garbage pile grows larger with each passing day. Vendors report that waste has not been collected in over two weeks, which is scaring away customers and severely impacting sales.

“Clients complain all the time. They’re bothered by the piles of waste. There’s nowhere clean to eat or even to sell,” said a food vendor, pointing to her pots of cooked food just a few meters from a mound of garbage.

The situation has worsened to the point where some vendors are now displaying their goods directly on or beside the trash. “We are selling right there — look, there are dead flies and maggots. This can make people sick,” said a vendor, Valorine. “Many of us don’t have stalls. We’re selling on bare ground, and it’s harmful.” She added.
Some traders have closed their stalls entirely as the trash reaches their doorsteps.
“The market is dirty and nasty,” said Mbu Randolf, another trader. “There’s no place to park. This is making us sick. We can’t take it anymore. It’s too much. We need a solution.” He went on
Despite rising complaints and calls for action, the deplorable conditions at Sandaga Market persist, with no sign of meaningful intervention.