Ever since its foundation at the end of the 1990s, Addis Ababa has been the capital city of Ethiopia. History tells us that it was founded by Emperor Menelik and his spouse, Taitu. It was labeled ‘Addis Ababa,’ meaning ‘new flower,’ maybe to depict its future as a city that would be developed and built to be a kind of new phenomenon worthy of its name. Its strategic location and the fact that there were ample water resources and wood for the inhabitants must have been among the factors that made it chosen to be the capital of the empire.
Addis Ababa, through its relatively recent formation, is preceded by many cities in the country that have lived for centuries. To name just a couple, Gondar and Harar can be cited. But there are many urban areas that have lived for centuries more than Addis. This city has hence become the centre of the empire to then become the biggest commercial centre of the country.
Eventually, it also became the ‘capital city of Africa’ because it is the venue of the African Union Commission and can be considered among the most important cities of the African continent. It was the place where Emperor Haile Selassie, the last Ethiopian monarch, invited the heads of state and government of African countries to establish the Organisation of African Unity (OAU), later to be re-baptized as the African Union (AU), to bring together the continent so that it can be represented at the international arena and make the voices of Africans better heard rather than act individually. It was logical that in unity there would be more power and authority so that the continent could decide its fate on its own and not be run by other powers. It was also intended to help the struggle against colonialism and the discriminatory regimes in the southern part of the continent, where racism was the official policy of the governments in power.
Through the years, Addis Ababa has grown a lot, becoming an attraction to millions of Ethiopians to come and live here. Given that it has become the centre of the economy of the country where the major industries were also established and have taken root and expanded, it was natural that it had a pull factor. Besides, all of the major educational establishments were situated in Addis, as well as the most modern hospitals and health facilities.
Addis Ababa also has a long history of political actions and it was the centre the major political shifts in the country, including the formations of the various governments that took place in the country beginning with the coronation of the late Emperor Haile Selassie as well as his demise and the change from an old monarchical system to first a military administration and then become a federal state.
In the meantime, Addis was to undergo various transformations. From a small village, it has grown to a bustling metropolis with millions of inhabitants. It continued to be an inspiration for the other cities of the country because the major events of the country were carried out in it. It easily became the preferred destination of all Ethiopians.
Over the years, Addis has had many mayors who have run the city and tried to modernize it with the introduction of master plans, as it was initially built haphazardly. From the hills of Entoto and the higher grounds of the city, it expanded to the nearby lowlands, and it continued to sprawl with extensive buildings and residents built. The number of residents began to increase by leaps and bounds, and it has now reached several million, becoming one of the largest cities on the African continent.
But Addis has always been criticized for not being up to the standards of modern cities because it lacks many things. The roads were not large enough, and the sewerage facilities were not adequate, with residents disposing of their waste as they felt convenient. Its vegetation began to disappear in the wake of relentless deforestation to make space for the millions of homes, most of which were constructed with wood and mud. Many then began to label Addis as ‘a huge village’. Moreover, it was evident that it lacked well-organized waste disposal facilities. In short, it was not a city that was up to its name. And yet it had all the potential of the world because it had become one of the huge diplomatic centers of the world with hundreds of international organisations stationed in Addis, including more than a hundred foreign missions.
In fact, Addis has been among the first places where foreign embassies established their offices in Africa. Many international diplomatic missions are stationed in Addis as their base and then run their affairs with other countries. Addis is also a major international hub for transport facilities with air linkages to many international flights, besides the expanding Ethiopian Airlines, the largest in Africa.
Addis’ security is reliable because it has much less criminality than any other metropolis, which is infested with widespread crimes and criminal gangs. People have always admired the fact that Addis is a safe city where people can walk in the evenings without the dangers of being attacked by criminals, and the presence of huge security facilities discourages potential criminals from engaging in attacks. The probability of crimes is low, particularly compared to the presence of so many who live below poverty levels. Like many other African metropolises, Addis has its share of unemployed youth, and despite the efforts of the city administration, the increase in population has become a challenge to meet the ever-increasing number of people who flock to Addis in search of job opportunities. And it is hard to blame them because Addis does present a better opportunity for employment than other Ethiopian cities. Particularly in the ever-expanding construction industry, with lots of infrastructure being built, Addis presents lots of job opportunities for youths.
However, Addis needed to change its face because most of the quarters of the city were antiquated and built without a proper plan. Several slums have been sprawling because people who came from outside the city had few alternatives but to be added to those who came before them in the same residents and the city began to be congested. The living conditions in many areas were, to say the least, not decent and worthy of being homes. There are many makeshift ‘residences’ where the poorest of the poor took shelter, and the city council had little choice but to tolerate them because people had no choice but to live with their relatives and friends. Even those who managed to get educated and get employed with relatively decent salaries could not cope with the challenges they have to face daily, with scant housing and transportation commensurate with their expectations.
The city council is definitely aware of this situation, and the conception of this so-called Corridor Development project is one of the remedies to this and other multiple challenges that the city has been facing for decades. The Corridor project is not only about making big avenues and erecting street lights or constructing sidewalks, as many may have understood it. It is about changing the lives of residents for the better. It is about extricating many poor people from miserable residences and quarters to new ones that are up to decent standards. It is about changing the lifestyles of residents who were accustomed to living in congested and dilapidated houses with poor sanitary conditions. It is about opening up the city quarters with large and lighted streets, where, in cases of emergencies, such as fires or health issues, fire trucks and ambulances can easily reach them and save lives. It is about a new culture of work ethics because we have seen during the past eighteen months or so, since the launch of the Corridor project, that the habits of workers have changed. People now know they can work day and night efficiently to deliver what is expected of them. ‘Seeing is believing’ is a dictum that is very much used in our country. All those who have seen their city transformed from a huge village to a great smart city will appreciate what has been achieved and what is going to be achieved shortly.
We have heard very positive comments on this immense project because it involved thousands of residents who have been seen their lives have been changed. Tens of thousands have been relocated to new areas. The necessary care has been taken on the part of the city council to discuss the matter well in advance, and quarters such as the Piassa area, the Kazanchis area have been completely changed beyond recognition. The Arat Kilo area and the area that is around what is called CMC are also revolutionized.
In short, the Corridor project has transformed large parts of Addis into a smart city with up-to-standard roads, with large and comfortable sidewalks for pedestrians as well as people with disabilities. New parking areas for cars, new parks for people to pass their leisure, and adequate sanitation facilities, which were all scarce and in certain areas nonexistent, have been built. In this respect, Addis has undergone tremendous transformation.
We have heard feedback from residents but also foreigners, including tourists and diplomats, and even heads of state who have given emphatic remarks about the ‘new face of Addis’ commensurate with its reputation as the seat of many international organisations.
The city now has a new face, and it continues to change because the Corridor project continues in phases, and the upcoming phases are going to be even more extensive and deep, according to the city council. Now, many people have wondered where the money came from to embark on such a monumental work, unprecedented in the history of the city. The answer the prime minister gave was that whatever the city council collected in taxes from residents and whatever the government’s money is available it is used to engage and cover the expenses without squandering them or using them for corrupt government officials, who in the past enriched themselves. They invested in whatever they wanted, including transferring the country’s resources abroad. That is what the reform is all about, which came to life seven years ago, the premier has noted.
Addis needed not only wide roads and parks, but it also needed green areas so that there is breathing space for residents. This has facilitated traffic flow both for vehicles as well as pedestrians, and a new habit has developed with the transformation of the city that has resulted in many residents walking. It has encouraged residents to carry out physical exercises, and this would be a new development that contributes to a healthier life. Hence, in short, the Corridor project can only be admired and supported wholeheartedly because it is something we have to continue sustaining, and also be grateful for those who have been engaged in this transformative phenomenon that has also been expanded to scores of the country’s cities and towns.
People have been encouraged to support this project and not create obstacles because the long-term consequences are tremendous in terms of changing our cities and the way we live. It is also a heritage for the coming generations, as per the remark of the prime minister. And the mayors of cities have upheld the projects from very close range, trying to convince residents and support the schemes wholeheartedly and not be discontented because they were advised to change life lifestyle.
BY FITSUM GETACHEW
THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD SUNDAY EDITION 11 MAY 2025
