Coastal erosion in Conakry: bar owners on Lambandji beach in danger

The sea is advancing at Lambandji beach in Conakry, compromising the economic survival of bar and restaurant owners. They are forced to constantly move to save space. A space that is shrinking more and more. On condition of anonymity, one of the beach administrators says that the extent of the beach has been considerably reduced in recent years due to the sea gaining ground.

The operators of Lambandji beach quite often set up and dismantle their bars, at the risk of losing their investment. They are forced to move back to gain space, a space that is disappearing due to the evolution of the sea towards the shore.

Permanent displacements: the race against the sea

Several bar and restaurant owners have established themselves over time to support themselves, as this place is popular for its tourist appeal. Wedged between the Atlantic Ocean and the shallows on a long sandbar, this beach and its occupants face the challenges of the advancing sea.

Several of them have traveled three times in the last three years. “In the old days the bar was over there, where the pickets are,”shows Jean Ismo, bar manager, with his index finger the location of his bar, a few months ago.

Economic survival in danger

Having moved twice, Ismo finds himself in a situation of uncertainty, as he has little space at the back of his bar. He risks losing his bar if the sea comes in again.“And now we have made two trips, it affects our economy, ultimately we risk giving up,”he specifies.

Increasing numbers of trips endanger the financial stability of operators, also compromising their visibility. Éric Touré, another owner, moved to Lambandji beach in 2020. At the time, he had enough space to accommodate his customers. Today, due to the advance of the sea, it only benefits from a portion of sandy space. If the situation persists, he risks finding himself and his employees unemployed.“To go back, we are spending millions of Guinean francs. If you don't have these numbers, your bar fails, you lose, and that puts you out of work. Each bar employs at least two people,”he explains.

The travel necessary to avoid the advance of the sea generates considerable costs; unfortunately, they tend to occur frequently.“When the sea deteriorates, we lose visibility and customers. The trip costs 12 to 13 million Guinean francs,”he specifies. And, also“It’s difficult to adapt because it’s a natural phenomenon, we don’t have the means to fight against the advance of the sea,”he worries.

Origins of the crisis: global warming and embankments

Unanimity reigns among scientists regarding the anthropogenic origin of the causes. The melting of ice and the expansion of the oceans, caused by global warming, are frequently mentioned to explain the phenomenon.“Global warming depends on greenhouse gas emissions. These gases, expressed in the quantity of CO2 emitted into the atmosphere, warm the climate, leading to the thawing of glaciers at the poles. This phenomenon leads to an increase in the volume of water, disrupting the climate and salinity, causing wind movements and increasing sea levels.explained Professor Kandet Bangoura, Teacher-Researcher at the Conakry Rogbané Scientific Research Center (CERESCOR).

The continuing process therefore intensifies“Climatic phenomena, such as hurricanes and causes an increase in storm surges, raising the usual tides in our coastal areas,”he adds.

The advance of the sea causes a worrying situation for the operators of Lambandji beach, who are having difficulty dealing with this problem. “Slowing down will be difficult, because it is linked to climate change, but we can move in the direction of pushing back, delaying or reducing the scale” says a specialist. Very often, what do people do? “They are making dikes, these dikes will help break the waves and reduce the trenches, making it possible in any case to be less vulnerable to this rising water level.” suggests Professor Abdoulaye Fall, specialist in environmental protection.

In the meantime, sea levels are rising, amplifying the risks of coastal flooding, also endangering the stability of ecosystems and the financial security of these entrepreneurs at this beach.

Ibrahima Sory BAH