Cyprien Coffi Aholou

Although the green belt around Greater Lomé (GBGL) is a vital ecological buffer, it is currently facing significant degradation. This decline appears to be associated with a combination of various socioeconomic uses by the local community and formal operations of established businesses. Grounded in the cultural materialism framework, this study aims to contribute to a better understanding of the dynamics of the socioeconomic uses of the green belt around Greater Lomé in a context of degradation and investigates the dynamics of these socioeconomic uses and their environmental impacts through a multidisciplinary methodology. This approach combines anthropological analysis based on field observation, 53 semi-structured interviews and 5 focus groups, a quantitative questionnaire survey (n = 384) and an analysis of land use and land cover (LULC) dynamics derived from Landsat imagery (2003–2023). The results reveal six main types of socioeconomic uses of the GBGL (notably land transactions, agriculture, breeding and grazing, exploitation of wood energy, timber and utility wood, sand mining, and waste disposal), which lead to complex social dynamics ranging from conflicts to alliances among stakeholders. The LULC dynamics analysis indicates a staggering 468.26% expansion in built-up areas over the last 20 years, at the expense of swamp vegetation/gallery forest (−76.79%), tree-and-shrub savanna (−53.47%) and plantations (−49.43). This study provides a scientific basis supporting the urgent necessity to establish the GBGL as a legally protected entity and argues in favour of an inclusive management model that is designed to reconcile the socioeconomic survival needs of local populations with sustainable preservation of essential ecosystem services.

In Greater Nokoué (Benin) and Greater Lomé (Togo), there is a lack of access to formal and affordable housing. The objective of this paper is to examine the daily resilience strategies developed by tenants in Greater Nokoué and Greater Lomé to gain access to housing. It is based on a mixed methodological approach combining tenant surveys (159 in Greater Nokoué and 251 in Greater Lomé) and semi-structured interviews (28 in Greater Nokoué and 17 in Greater Lomé). The results reveal various coping mechanisms used to secure housing, maintain livelihoods, and foster a sense of belonging in environments marked by exclusion and informality. The field results also show that, in Greater Nokoué, strategies are based on occupying precarious housing characterized by poor hygiene and sanitation. In Greater Lomé, in addition to occupying makeshift housing, cohabitation is marked by tense relations and neighborhood conflicts. These findings show that, while these strategies allow for short-term adaptation, they often reproduce spatial inequalities and expose these populations to social and economic instability. Given this imperative, it is urgent to take into account these difficulties in accessing housing when promoting resilient and accessible cities for all, an important criterion in the definition of a sustainable city.

This study analyzes the impact of urban sprawl on accessibility to downtown Lomé, with a particular focus on mobility issues and socio-spatial inequalities. By adopting a mixed-methods approach that combines field surveys and cartographic analyses, the research shows that the centralization of economic and administrative services, coupled with uncontrolled spatial expansion, exacerbates traffic congestion and limits access to essential services. The results reveal a strong dependence on individual transport modes in suburbs, reflecting the lack of effective public alternatives. The findings highlight major issues for territorial equity and the sustainability of urban mobility and emphasize the need for polycentric planning as well as targeted improvements in transport infrastructure.

Foumbot, an important agricultural hub in Central Africa, faces many challenges linked to its rapid urban growth. This study aims to analyze the determinants of Foumbot's spatiotemporal dynamics between 1990 and 2020. The methodology used focuses on the analysis of Landsat satellite images and socioeconomic data, as well as documentary analysis, direct observation, and interviews with key informants. The results reveal that the built-up area increased from 138.19 hectares (ha) in 1990 to 671.31 ha in 2020, an almost fourfold increase. In contrast, water bodies, bare land, and vegetation have decreased significantly, from 430.58 ha, 342.07 ha, and 184.81 ha in 1990 to 116.86 ha, 143.78 ha, and 163.69 ha in 2020, respectively. These spatial and temporal changes, which underline the influence of urbanization on the natural environment, were mainly driven by factors such as population growth, the crisis in the coffee economy and the boom in food crops during the 1990s, and the city's administrative and commercial functions. This spatial dynamic increases pressure on natural resources. Consequently, integrating environmental issues into sustainable urban planning policies is crucial to reconciling urbanization with environmental preservation and promoting a sustainable transition in land use.

Traditional housing is a type of housing that emerged during a specific era in history, when inhabitants designed and built their own houses with the help of the entire community. In Togo, a West African country, and specifically in the urban area of Kara, traditional housing is characterized by a variety of styles due to socio-temporal changes. This study aims to analyze the dynamics of traditional housing in this urban area following these changes. The results were obtained using a methodological approach based on documentary research, interviews, field observations, GPS surveys and sketches of existing traditional buildings in the urban agglomeration of Kara. Qualitative and quantitative data were also collected. According to the methodology adopted, a total of 327 households out of a total of 24,512 were surveyed and 34 interviews were conducted. This approach reveals that the urban agglomeration of Kara has three (03) types of traditional housing depending on changes and evolution within the community. The first type, known as the original type, is characterized by round-shaped houses covered with straw and built using purely traditional methods. The second type is marked by a change in the original forms. In addition to the original round shapes, rectangular or square shapes are added, using traditional materials and techniques, with the beginning of the use of imported materials. The third type is characterized by the use of modern materials, creating a mix of shapes and materials.

Mobility is defined as "the ability to move, change place or position, thus opposing immobility." Essentially, it refers to movement. When applied to the "urban" factor, it encompasses "all movements of people and goods within a city through public or private transportation." Metropolitan expansion, as observed in African cities—particularly Greater Lomé—exacerbates various urban planning issues, including urban sprawl, increasing mobility demands, rising nuisances (pollution, congestion), and social injustice, especially through the gentrification of central and peripheral working-class neighborhoods. Solving these issues requires identifying their causes to find appropriate solutions. This study focuses on "Practices and Challenges of Mobility in Greater Lomé: An Analysis of Urban Dynamics." This study analyzes urban mobility dynamics in Greater Lomé through a participatory methodology, with a particular focus on home-to-work travel and modal choices influenced by socio-economic factors. It has thus involved one or more identified target groups, such as the general public, a specific demographic group, or stakeholders, to achieve the objective and collect data— which is the case here. Through a survey conducted among 450 households, findings reveal that walking remains the primary mode of transportation (over 50%), while personal motorcycles and motorcycle taxis account for 80% of motorized trips. Public transport, dominated by the Lomé Transport Company (SOTRAL), remains marginal (less than 3% of trips). Furthermore, statistical tests, such as the Chi-squared test to measure the association between transport modes and household socio-economic characteristics, as well as variance analyses (ANOVA) and logistic regressions, helped refine the interpretation of the results. All analyses were conducted using SPSS software version 26. The analysis reveals that urban mobility in Lomé faces major challenges, including the lack of adequate infrastructure, the predominance of informal transport, and the inefficiency of public transport. Compared to other African cities such as Accra, Dakar, Ouagadougou, and Cotonou, Lomé exhibits significant disparities that require structural reforms. Among the recommendations proposed are the improvement of pedestrian infrastructure, the regulation of informal transport, and the integration of sustainable transport solutions such as Bus Rapid Transit (BRT). The study also highlights the role of digital innovations, such as mobile booking applications, in optimizing urban travel. By incorporating these solutions, Greater Lomé could significantly enhance the accessibility, safety, and efficiency of its transport system.

Contemporary cities are shaped by the intricate interplay of material and immaterial flows operating within non-linear urban metabolisms. In the face of escalating global challenges—most notably climate change and rapid urbanization—their governance has become increasingly complex, exposing the limits of conventional sectoral approaches to urban sustainability decision-making. This complexity is especially pronounced in sub-Saharan African cities, where limited adaptive capacity, financial constraints, and weak governance hinder effective responses to ongoing transformations. In this context, a systemic approach to urban governance offers a compelling framework for strengthening public decision-making. This study applies the MICMAC method (Matrix of Crossed Impacts—Multiplication Applied to a Classification) to identify patterns of influence and dependency among variables. It then uses dynamic systems modeling via Vensim (version 8.2.1) to simulate interactions among twenty interdependent indicators of urban sustainability. The systemic analysis highlighted the strategic relevance of the following indicators: rational land use, accessibility and mobility, urban vegetation density, flood management, and access to health services. Six structuring feedback loops were also identified: the spatial-functional loop, ecological resilience loop, civic cohesion loop, regulatory-economic loop, social inclusion loop, and health–productivity loop. These dynamic interrelations highlight the need for systemically informed urban governance capable of enabling integrated and evidence-based decision-making for sustainable urban development.

Green belts, consisting mainly of natural forests, woodlands, and agricultural areas surrounding major cities, play an essential role in regulating urban development and controlling the expansion of metropolitan areas. Although this concept has been extensively studied in the world’s major metropolitan areas, it remains relatively unknown in many countries, particularly in Africa. There is a great need for research to better understand urban vegetation cover on the continent. This article proposes a systematic review of African publications on green cover for the period 2010 to 2024. A descriptive and thematic analysis of the selected scientific papers was carried out using a database established to examine the state of existing research and understanding of the management of these plant formations in Africa. The results of these analyses highlight several major challenges facing urban forestry, including increasing anthropogenic pressures, lack of urban planning that integrates urban forestry, and shortcomings in the management of existing forest landscapes. The thematic analysis has also helped to identify the topics addressed by African researchers, identify gaps in research, and suggest directions for future studies. Three priority areas emerge from this analysis: the conservation of natural or artificial green belts around cities, the impact of these forest landscapes on urban heat islands (climate impact), and the sustainability of ecosystem management in the context of sustainable urbanization. These guidelines will enable a better understanding and valorization of green belts in Africa, thus contributing to the construction of more sustainable cities and the efficient management of forest landscapes.

Faced with environmental challenges posed by traditional building materials and the management of agricultural waste, this study uses dwarf hulls, an abundant waste product in West Africa, as a natural stabilizer for earth bricks. Three mixtures were studied: soil + water (reference), soil + néré husk decoction, and soil + decoction with weekly sprinkling. The results show a significant improvement in compressive strength with the decoction. At 28 days, it increases from 0.967 MPa (reference) to 1.251 MPa with decoction and 1.360 MPa with sprinkling. At 90 days, these values reach 1.060 MPa, 1.39 MPa, and 1.502 MPa, respectively, confirming the beneficial effect of tannins and humidification. On the other hand, the tensile strength decreased from 0.10 MPa for the reference mixture to 0.08 MPa and 0.08 MPa with decoction and sprinkling. This study highlights the potential of using néré husk as a durable stabilizer. However, further research is needed, particularly on the addition of plant fibers, to improve tensile strength.