Demonstrations in front of the City Hall have become a platform for traders in Mahajanga to voice their grievances. On Wednesday, merchants previously stationed in front of the Mahabibo police station and the municipal police office held a sit-in at the City Hall to protest their eviction, which has been ongoing for a month.
These vendors, selling various goods including clothing and food, were removed from the area, which is designated as an administrative zone. During the gathering, they demanded that the municipality provide them with a new location to conduct their business.
“We have had nowhere to work for a month. We have no income, yet we owe money to our creditors. The municipality must relocate us,” the protesters declared. A meeting between municipal representatives and the traders eventually led to a temporary solution: the merchants will be relocated for one month to the municipal square in front of the Maeva housing estate and the regional sports directorate.
Guy Dolsain Arvely, President of the Special Delegation (PDS), explained that merchants must sign an agreement for this one-month stay. He noted that the municipality is preparing permanent sites, specifically the Ambovoalanana platform or the solar panel site in Fiofio, depending on availability.
The long-term presence of street vendors in Mahabibo had caused significant traffic congestion, petty theft, and general insecurity. The new municipal administration is now taking steps to restore order and is conducting awareness campaigns regarding urban sanitation projects. On Thursday, a delegation led by the PDS and Second Vice-President Amina Soalihi inspected areas from the sacred woods to Tsaramandroso, issuing warnings to illegal vendors and structures, with threats of demolition for non-compliance.
Captured & Published at: 2026-09-11 06:38:56 (Madagascar Local Time EAT)
Original Source: https://www.lexpress.mg/2026/09/mahajanga-la-commune-deplace-les.html