Mfoundi Flood Canal
The Mfoundi Flood Canal is a major urban drainage and flood-control system located in Yaoundé, Cameroon. It is associated with the Mfoundi River basin, which crosses the capital city and is subject to frequent flooding.[1]
Hydrological system
The Mfoundi River flows through densely populated areas of Yaoundé, where natural drainage has been significantly modified by urban expansion.[1]The river basin is characterized by rapid runoff due to increasing impervious surfaces and reduced vegetation cover.[2]
Flood risk
Yaoundé experiences recurrent flooding events, particularly in low-lying districts situated along the Mfoundi corridor.[3]
Flooding is often intensified by blocked drainage channels and inadequate waste management systems.[2]
Infrastructure development
The Mfoundi flood canal was developed as part of urban drainage improvement initiatives aimed at reducing flood risk in Yaoundé.[3]
Engineering works include channel dredging, river straightening, and construction of stormwater drainage infrastructure.
Environmental challenges
Key environmental problems include:
- solid waste accumulation in drainage channels[2]
- riverbank erosion
- uncontrolled urban settlement expansion[3]
Economic importance
The canal protects critical infrastructure in Yaoundé, including roads, housing areas, and commercial districts.[3]
References
- 1 2 Bank, African Development (2026-02-13). "À Yaoundé, l'assainissement transforme durablement la ville et des vies" [In Yaoundé, sanitation is bringing about lasting transformations to the city and lives]. Banque africaine de développement (in French). Retrieved 2026-06-25.
- 1 2 3 Mashaly, Ahmed F.; Fernald, Alexander G. (18 May 2020). "Identifying Capabilities and Potentials of System Dynamics in Hydrology and Water Resources as a Promising Modeling Approach for Water Management". Water. 12 (5): 1432. Bibcode:2020Water..12.1432M. doi:10.3390/w12051432.
- 1 2 3 4 "Cameroon". World Bank Group.
Further reading
- Nsangou, Daouda; Kpoumié, Amidou; Mfonka, Zakari; Ngouh, Abdou Nasser; Fossi, Donald Hermann; Jourdan, Camille; Mbele, Henri Zobo; Mouncherou, Oumar Farikou; Vandervaere, Jean-Pierre; Ndam Ngoupayou, Jules Remy (March 2022). "Urban flood susceptibility modelling using AHP and GIS approach: case of the Mfoundi watershed at Yaoundé in the South-Cameroon plateau". Scientific African. 15 e01043. Bibcode:2022SciAf..1501043N. doi:10.1016/j.sciaf.2021.e01043.
- Shiwomeh, Desmond N.; Kantoush, Sameh A.; Saber, Mohamed; Sumi, Tetsuya; Fantong, Wilson Y.; Nguyen, Binh Quang; Abdrabo, Karim I.; Mabrouk, Emad (June 2025). "Machine learning-supported quantification and characterization of sediment plastic debris in an Anthropized Mfoundi River in Cameroon: Implications for the incidence of flood events". Science of the Total Environment. 980 179529. Bibcode:2025ScTEn.98079529S. doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2025.179529. PMID 40306082.
- Nsangou, Daouda; Kpoumié, Amidou; Mfonka, Zakari; Bateni, Sayed M.; Ngouh, Abdou Nasser; Ndam Ngoupayou, Jules Remy (January 2022). "The Mfoundi Watershed at Yaoundé in the Humid Tropical Zone of Cameroon: A Case Study of Urban Flood Susceptibility Mapping". Earth Systems and Environment. 6 (1): 99–120. Bibcode:2022ESE.....6...99N. doi:10.1007/s41748-021-00276-9.
- Djuikom, E.; Njine, T.; Nola, M.; Sikati, V.; Jugnia, L-B. (November 2006). "Microbiological water quality of the Mfoundi River watershed at Yaoundé, Cameroon, as inferred from indicator bacteria of fecal contamination". Environmental Monitoring and Assessment. 122 (1–3): 171–183. Bibcode:2006EMnAs.122..171D. doi:10.1007/s10661-005-9172-7. PMID 16770500.
- Irma, Kame-Ngasse Ginette; Thierry, Ebogo-Belobo Jean; Isaka, Kamwa-Ngassam; Vanelle, Watat Stella; Efietngab, Atembeh-Noura; Emilie, Tchinda-Tiecheu; Judith, Tsafack; Lucia, Nkengazong (August 2023). "Parasitological assessment of some fruits and vegetables commonly sold in retail outlets in the Mfoundi Division of Cameroon". Parasite Epidemiology and Control. 22 e00313. doi:10.1016/j.parepi.2023.e00313. PMC 10320589. PMID 37416760.
- Zogning Moffo, Maurice Olivier; Tsalefac, Maurice; Ursu, Adrian; Iatu, Corneliu (June 2016). "Contribution of Geographic Information Systems for the Mapping of Flooding Factors in Yaoundé: The Case Study of Mfoundi Upstream Watershed". Present Environment and Sustainable Development. 10 (1): 217–234. doi:10.1515/pesd-2016-0019.