Kigali

After a long period of stagnation during the colonial era, the city of Kigali has embarked on a rapid urbanization process. Since the 1960s, its population has almost doubled every 10 years, mostly due to the large-scale rural exodus. Located in the center of the country and capital city where the bulk of the activities and the factors of development are concentrated, Kigali attracts many migrants. The extension of the city, endorsed by the administrative reforms which constantly pushed the limits of the urban agglomeration, increased also its population by transforming the rural inhabitants living in the suburbs into urban ones. Such a population dynamics contributes to the urban sprawl and exerts a negative impact upon the organization of space. The spatial growth has been attributable to the urban development activities in line with different urban master plans and mainly to the expansion of informal neighbourhoods in peri-urban areas. Currently, the bulk of efforts aims at restructuring and transforming Kigali into a more competitive economic hub at both the regional and the global level. The new business buildings reflect that endeavour. A few deficiencies remain, however, in the process of production of space, leading thereby to an urban fragmentation. In addition, the development of infrastructures and the distribution of basic urban services are also topical challenges, despite the commitment of the public authorities in that regard.