Foundation Stone of Douala's Marche Congo Laid

Since the market was established in 1976, at least two fire disasters are recorded annually.

One of the greatest fire disasters that have befallen the economic capital occurred in Marché Congo. Today, even the slightest talk about the market hardly omits memories of the mishaps.

Yesterday's laying of the foundation stone for the construction of an ultramodern market by the Minister of Economy, Planning and Regional Development, Emmanuel Nganou Djoumessi, revived hopes to many a trader who had their goods lost to the recurrent disasters.

Although it is difficult to give an exact estimation of the damage caused, or losses incurred, many victimised business people have been compelled to turn their backs to the city and returned to their villages. Some of the people who decided otherwise have to negotiate life with very restricted availability of options.

However, since the market was created in 1976, immeasurable economic and financial losses as well as material waste have been recorded. Nsangou Mama, president of the market, estimates at least two fire incidents recorded yearly in the market during which various information technology equipment, textiles and cosmetics, among others, are burnt to ashes. There is usually a major and minor fire disaster but that could increase to about five in a year, destroying either a section of a shed, the whole shed or parts of the market.

Until last year, the disaster of 1980 was the worse. But the recent incident that provoked the construction of the market is rated the most expensive and disastrous incident, economically and financially, to have ever occurred in the market. Most often, there are no lives lost except minor human casualties like burns, bruises and trauma.