INFLUENCE DU DÉGUERPISSEMENT SUR LES VOLS DANS LA COMMUNE DE KOUMASSI

Abstract : In the context of rapid urbanization and growing precarity in African cities, this article explores the effects of forced eviction operations on theft dynamics in Koumassi, a densely populated municipality of Abidjan (Côte d’Ivoire). It adopts a critical urban governance perspective, attentive to the spatial and social consequences of state-led clearance policies. The main objective is to assess whether the evictions initiated since 2019 have effectively reduced street-level crime, particularly theft, or simply displaced deviant practices while deepening the marginalization of vulnerable groups. This qualitative and quantitative study, conducted between January and February 2025, is based on a purposive sample of 150 participants from diverse backgrounds (residents, informal vendors, security officers, local officials, and youth). Data collection combined semi-structured interviews, focus groups, field observations, and a questionnaire, analyzed using an inductive approach. Findings show a perceptible decline in theft in redeveloped areas, attributed to improved visibility, lighting, and increased police presence. However, spatial crime displacement and new social tensions are also reported. The study argues that while eviction can enhance short-term security, it also generates economic and social vulnerabilities, raising concerns about the sustainability of its effects. This research contributes to West African urban criminology by demonstrating that spatial security policies must be complemented by social inclusion and spatial justice measures to avoid reproducing new forms of urban insecurity.

Keywords : eviction, urban insecurity, theft, situational prevention, spatial justice, local governance.