Landfill collapse kills 30 in Guinea’s capital after heavy rains

# Why This Matters The collapse of Conakry's landfill represents a critical failure in urban waste management infrastructure that disproportionately affects the poorest residents of developing cities. In Guinea's capital, as in many Sub-Saharan African cities, informal settlements cluster around waste disposal sites where residents scavenge for recyclables or livelihood opportunities, placing them directly in harm's way when basic safety measures fail. This disaster exposes how insufficient investment in sanitation infrastructure—combined with rapid urbanization and inadequate regulation of landfill operations—creates deadly hazards that could be prevented through relatively modest infrastructure improvements and enforcement of safety standards. The deaths in Conakry will likely accelerate pressure on Guinea's government to upgrade waste management systems and relocate vulnerable communities, while also serving as a warning signal to other developing cities where similar conditions exist.