The city of Boffa, located about 150 km from Conakry, is facing an unprecedented drinking water crisis. For several weeks, taps have run dry in many downtown neighborhoods, forcing residents to find ways to obtain water under precarious conditions.

In Boffa-centre, the situation is alarming. Families now pay between 3,500 and 4,000 Guinean francs for a 20-liter jerrycan of water, an expense that has become unsustainable for the majority of low-income households.

“We pay a lot for water, between 3,500 and 4,000 Guinean francs, even though it’s a vital necessity. From 6 a.m., my children and I have to walk a long distance to queue around a well. Every day, I have to choose between buying water or food. We just want to drink clean water without going broke,” laments Mariama, a mother of four.

Beyond the lack of water, residents are pointing the finger at the mismanagement and unsafe conditions of the spring used by the Guinean Water Company (SEG) to supply the city. According to several accounts, the supply site is not protected.

"We often see oxen and goats approaching the river from which SEG draws water. There is no fence or protective device," testifies a resident of the Thia district, worried about the risks of contamination.

Faced with this situation, anger and despair are rising. "We pay our bills, but we have no water. We ask the authorities to find a lasting solution," says a young man from the Bolondé 1 neighborhood.

The consequences of this crisis are numerous: children miss school to fetch water, waterborne diseases such as diarrhea and typhoid are multiplying, and women, primarily responsible for the water-fetching chore, are exhausted.

Residents are calling on local and national authorities to take urgent action to secure the water source, rehabilitate aging facilities and ensure regular and affordable access to clean drinking water.

It should be noted that despite several attempts, our editorial team was unable to reach the director of the SEG agency in Boffa. According to local sources, he has been ill for several months, which could partly explain the service's lack of responsiveness.