Conurbation and Urban Sprawl in Africa: The case of the City of Addis Ababa

Abstract

This paper presents the current situation of conurbation and urban sprawl in Ethiopia highlighting on the city of Addis Ababa. The paper has a purpose to assess the situation, rate and nature of urban sprawl and its role for metropolitan linkage. With regard to both the rate and nature of conurbation and urban sprawl of the city, the high growth rate has been seen along Mojo outlet that stretches up to Dukem and Debre Zeit towns and Jimma outlet (Alem Gena town). The lesser extent is distinguished along Dessie, Gojam and Nekemte outlets. The factors for perceived rise or reduction of both conurbation and urban sprawl are the fact that of the presence of industry, population pressure, landscape and geographic advantage, and infrastructure access. The finding showed that, up to 2010, the city stretched averagely for about 1 kilo meter radius per year in all directions but in 2020 and onward the rise will show reduction by half (in 0.5 km) radius because of vertical growth. But the growth rate of the city has spread in double rate along main outlets than at all side. At present, the existing catchment of the city grows and expands in the radius of 30 km along the five highway routes, but the city on average expands about 15 km radius in all sides. Thus, the rate of both conurbation and urban sprawl along the five outlets doubles more than that found within all directions. The ideal strategy to bring formal growth in and around the city should need strong integrative work with the heads of sub-cities and proximate rural areas with timely and proper supervision to bring the required growth of the city as intended in the master plan. 

Key terms: Conurbation, Metropolis, Metropolitan Linkage, Corridor and Urban Sprawl