Yalinga, a sub-prefecture located in the Haute-Kotto prefecture of the Central African Republic, faces a severe water shortage as infrastructure projects fail to meet local needs. The geographic isolation of the sub-prefecture exacerbates the current situation, as the population struggles to secure basic resources necessary for daily survival. Only one functional potable water point remains operational in the center of Yalinga, leaving the majority of the population without access to clean supplies. This singular point of access is insufficient for the needs of the community, creating long queues and intense competition among residents.
Residents are now forced to collect water from a natural source, which frequently causes skin irritation and itching among those who rely on it. The reliance on this untreated water source poses a significant public health risk to the community members who have no other alternatives. Natacha Gwladys Akani, sous-préfète de Yalinga, attributed these ongoing difficulties to negligence by contractors. "Les gens qui ont le marché de venir creuser les puits à Yalinga ne font pas bien leur travail," she said. Her assessment notes a systemic failure in the oversight of public works projects intended to serve the local population.
Failed Infrastructure and Accountability
Official records from the government indicate that projects for the construction of water wells in Yalinga were officially validated and funded to address the escalating shortage. These initiatives received approval through administrative channels in Bangui, with specific allocations designated for the Haute-Kotto prefecture to improve local sanitation and health outcomes. Moïse Banafio confirmed that the funding was processed for these infrastructure developments to ensure the deployment of drilling equipment and necessary materials to the sub-prefecture.
Contractors and service providers subsequently failed to deliver functional water wells despite receiving payment for the projects. This failure to perform has left the residents of Yalinga in a precarious position, as the promised improvements have not materialized. Investigations into the execution of these contracts reveal that while the financial transfers were completed, the physical installations remain incomplete or non-operational across Yalinga. Local officials report that the service providers left the sites without finalizing the pump mechanisms or the required concrete reinforcements. Many of the designated locations currently contain only abandoned boreholes that provide no access to potable water. Residents attempting to use these sites have found that the equipment either never arrived or was removed by the contractors shortly after the initial site assessment. The lack of operational infrastructure has left the planned water points in a state of disrepair, directly impacting the ability of the community to mitigate the current water crisis. The ongoing absence of functional wells continues to force the community to rely on the natural source that remains the only, albeit hazardous, supply of water for the region.
