Ethiopia’s capital city is undergoing a transformation. Addis Ababa is being redeveloped as part of Ethiopia’s broader economic ambitions. Mega road projects, ambitious housing developments and infrastructural changes, all aimed at modernising one of Africa’s fastest-growing cities, are shaping its facade.
Over the past three decades, Addis Ababa has expanded in area and population. Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s rise to power in 2018 accelerated the city’s transformation.
But the promise of a shiny, new Addis Ababa comes with social costs. Many of the city’s residents, including marginalised communities and those living in informal settlements, have lost homes and social bonds. So, will Addis Ababa’s evolution serve its estimated 4 million inhabitants?
