African cities are complex and dynamic, frequently experiencing contested political systems and rapid growth. We’re working in a range of focus cities within sub-Saharan Africa with the potential and need for urban reform, building on extensive research, networks and experience.
![Accra_Ghana The University of Manchester](https://www.african-cities.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Accra_Ghana.png)
Accra
Ghana
Accra is the capital city of Ghana, the national economic centre and the country’s main connection with the global economy.
![Addis Ababa_Ethiopia The University of Manchester](https://www.african-cities.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Addis-Ababa_Ethiopia.png)
Addis Ababa
Ethiopia
Addis Ababa is Ethiopia’s capital, located in the geographic epicentre of the country and surrounded by the regional state of Oromia.
![Bukavu_DRC The University of Manchester](https://www.african-cities.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Bukavu_DRC.png)
Bukavu
Democratic Republic of Congo
Bukavu has more than 1 million residents and is one of the most populated cities in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
![Dar es Salaam_Tanzania The University of Manchester](https://www.african-cities.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Dar-es-Salaam_Tanzania.png)
Dar es Salaam
Tanzania
Dar es Salaam is Tanzania’s largest city by far, at almost three times the size of the second largest, Mwanza.
![Freetown_Sierra Leone The University of Manchester](https://www.african-cities.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Freetown_Sierra-Leone.png)
Freetown
Sierra Leone
Freetown is the capital of Sierra Leone and a city of more than 1 million inhabitants, whose population is expected to double in size over the next 20 years.
![Harare_Zimbabwe The University of Manchester](https://www.african-cities.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Harare_Zimbabwe.png)
Harare
Zimbabwe
Harare is the capital city of Zimbabwe, positioned in the northeast of the country, and has an estimated population of 1.4 million.
![Kampala_Uganda The University of Manchester](https://www.african-cities.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Kampala_Uganda.png)
Kampala
Uganda
Kampala is the capital city of Uganda and one of the largest and economically most important cities in East Africa.
![Lagos_Nigeria The University of Manchester](https://www.african-cities.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Lagos_Nigeria.png)
Lagos
Nigeria
Lagos is a coastal city on West Africa’s Atlantic seaboard, and became Nigeria’s first capital city in 1861.
![Lilongwe_Malawi The University of Manchester](https://www.african-cities.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Lilongwe_Malawi.png)
Lilongwe
Malawi
Lilongwe, named after the river that runs through it, is located on the inland plains of Malawi and is the country’s largest city.
![Maiduguri_Nigeria The University of Manchester](https://www.african-cities.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Maiduguri_Nigeria.png)
Maiduguri
Nigeria
Maiduguri is the largest city in northeast Nigeria and the capital of Borno State.
![Mogadishu_Somalia The University of Manchester](https://www.african-cities.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Mogadishu_Somalia.png)
Mogadishu
Somalia
Mogadishu is Somalia’s capital city and largest port, with population estimates ranging from 1.7 million to 2.9 million.
![Nairobi_Kenya The University of Manchester](https://www.african-cities.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Nairobi_Kenya.png)
Nairobi
Kenya
Nairobi was founded in 1899 and is today the economic and political capital of Kenya, and a thriving cultural hub.