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West Africa's coastal boom: glitzy cities grow fast, but many are left behind

By Emmanuel Akinwotu
Published January 23, 2026 at 2:53 PM MST

In the last installment of our correspondent's journey along West Africa's rapidly expanding urban coast, we arrive in Abidjan, Ivory Coast — at the heart of a region where promise and strain collide.

Copyright 2026 NPR
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All Things Considered
Emmanuel Akinwotu
Emmanuel Akinwotu is an international correspondent for NPR. He joined NPR in 2022 from The Guardian, where he was West Africa correspondent.

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