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.
Hydrological system The Mfoundi River flows through densely populated areas of Yaoundé, where natural drainage has been significantly modified by urban expansion.The river basin is characterized by rapid runoff due to increasing impervious surfaces and reduced vegetation cover.
Flood risk Yaoundé experiences recurrent flooding events, particularly in low-lying districts situated along the Mfoundi corridor. Flooding is often intensified by blocked drainage channels and inadequate waste management systems.
Infrastructure development The Mfoundi flood canal was developed as part of urban drainage improvement initiatives aimed at reducing flood risk in Yaoundé. 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 riverbank erosion uncontrolled urban settlement expansion
Economic importance The canal protects critical infrastructure in Yaoundé, including roads, housing areas, and commercial districts.
References
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.
