The modernisation of cities is commonly seen as a key strategy for competing the global economic arena. However, in developing countries, modernisation can negatively impact on both sustainable urban planning and population’s living conditions. With regard to that, informal settlements represent one of the main challenges city planners must meet. Such is the case in Kigali: although the city is undergoing a drastic urban renewal, it is still confronted with uncoordinated urbanization. Through an analysis of different land use and housing processes, this study reveals that the informal settlements result from the urban planning schemes. In fact, such schemes are too demanding for the majority of urban dwellers who intent to secure their housing needs. The urban divide and different living environment observed through poor and rich neighborhoods also appear as a result of urbanisation strategies. By way of tackling the issue, this study proposes a viable inclusive framework for sustainable urbanisation and urban development.
Manirakiza, V. (2015). La problématique de l’urbanisation spontanée face à la modernisation de la ville de Kigali (Rwanda). https://hdl.handle.net/2078.5/190216