🏗️ A City of Megaprojects and Urban Renewal
The Corridor Development Project: Creating a Cohesive Network
The hallmark of this transformation is the ongoing, multi-phase corridor development project. On August 24, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and Mayor Adanech inaugurated a new 8-kilometre corridor linking Meskel Square to Megenagna and extending to South Gate . This is the fifth of eight corridors to be completed in the second phase of urban development, designed to create a more cohesive urban network and a more livable, inclusive city .
The project is notable for its scope and public amenities. The new corridor features sports fields, recreation areas, playgrounds, and a main road with a width of 51 to 60 metres. It also boasts 16 kilometres of concrete pedestrian walkways, modern electric lines, roadside smart poles, and dedicated cycling lanes, designed for the comfort of all residents, including people with disabilities .
“Arada GoodnessVillage”: Building Trust and Dignity
The city’s ambition extends beyond transport infrastructure. A key social housing and renewal initiative, the “Arada GoodnessVillage,” is also underway. This project, located behind the Mayor’s Office, is part of a wider winter volunteer service campaign to transform deteriorated neighbourhoods .
The plan involves constructing 2,500 housing units . As part of the first phase, eight nine-story residential buildings and two four-story commercial centres are being built to replace aging homes . Mayor Adanech has framed this not just as a physical construction project but as an effort to build “trust, resilience, solidarity, brotherhood and sisterhood, dignity, and, above all, Ethiopia’s path toward prosperity” . The project is supported by major business groups, including MIDROC Investment Group and Ethiopian Electric Utility, who have each pledged to construct one residential building .
Green Ambitions: Planting 7.5 Billion Seedlings and Joining the Breathe Cities Network
Alongside this physical development, the city is also pursuing significant environmental goals. The “Green Legacy” initiative, operating under the theme “Rejuvenating Through Planting,” aims to plant a remarkable 7.5 billion seedlings across Ethiopia . In September, members of the Addis Ababa City Council joined Mayor Adanech in a tree-planting ceremony at Entoto Qusquam to contribute to the national goal .
In a further step, Addis Ababa has officially joined the “Breathe Cities” network, a global initiative supported by Bloomberg Philanthropies, the Clean Air Fund, and C40 Cities to improve urban air quality . This partnership, which involves a $45 million allocation from Bloomberg Philanthropies, will bolster Addis Ababa’s efforts to expand its green legacy initiatives, cycling lanes, and air quality monitoring infrastructure .
A €5 Million Riverside Project for a Greener Future
The focus on green spaces is also evident in the Kebena Tributaries Riverside Development Project, supported by a €5 million grant agreement signed with Italy . This 24-month project aims to restore two polluted tributaries of the Kebena River through infrastructure improvements, such as sewer lines and riverbank protection, to prevent erosion and create a natural area for the community . It is part of the broader “Beautifying Sheger” program, which aims to transform the city’s landscape.
🤝 Social Transformation: From Safety Net to Self-Sufficiency
A significant social achievement is the city administration’s success in transitioning more than 520,000 participants from its Food Security (Safety Net) programme into productive, job-creating roles . Mayor Adanech highlighted that this was achieved through job-creation initiatives across various sectors during the “years of change” under the current administration. To support this, the city has handed over four new production and sales buildings to former beneficiaries, with 976 operators, organised into 292 enterprises, provided with new manufacturing and sales spaces .
⚠️ Security and Travel Advisories
Despite these achievements, security warnings remain a key factor for residents and visitors. The U.S. Embassy in Addis Ababa has issued a travel advisory warning of petty crime, violent crime, and the risk of terrorist activity . The advisory notes that criminal and terrorist groups are active in Ethiopia and have targeted foreigners for kidnapping, with the highest risk in areas including the Gambella region and the Somalia border region .
While the capital itself is described as currently calm , both the U.S. and Bulgarian governments advise against travel outside the city due to high security risks and the potential for armed conflict, particularly in the North, West, and Southwest Shewa areas . Recent events, however, have been positive. The Ethiopian Federal Police confirmed that the Meskel Demera Festival in Addis Ababa concluded without incident, and they are preparing for the upcoming Irrecha festivals .
🔮 Conclusion
Addis Ababa in September 2026 is a city defined by grand ambition and contrasting realities. It is actively building a modern, greener, and more self-sufficient future through megaprojects, environmental initiatives, and social programs. However, these advancements are taking place under the shadow of security warnings and the complex challenges of rapid urbanization. The question for the city’s future will be whether it can successfully balance its ambitious development goals with the need to ensure the safety and well-being of its residents.
