urban

France's National Rally (RN) fell short of its ambition to capture Marseille and Toulon in yesterday's municipal ballots, a setback that offered a boost to embattled mainstream parties as they eye next year's presidential contest. In a separate high-stakes race, Socialist Party candidate Emmanuel Gregoire prevailed in the Paris mayoral contest, defeating conservative ex-minister Rachida Dati and keeping the French capital under left-wing control. These municipal votes were watched nationwide for signals ahead of the 2027…

At the 12th World Urban Forum held in the vibrant city of Cairo, Egypt, an important step towards a fairer transportation future was unveiled. During this event, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), UN-Habitat, and the World Health Organization (WHO) introduced the Pan African Action Plan for Active Mobility (PAAPAM). In crafting this action plan, over 1,300 diverse stakeholders from across Africa provided invaluable insights. This strategic framework emphasizes the urgent need to invest in alternatives to…

‘The development in Mogadishu is promising – but we just want to be part of it.’ MOGADISHU - The city is undergoing a massive construction boom that's reshaping its skyline. However, while investors pour their funds into new apartment complexes and shopping hubs, the wealth gap is also widening dramatically. This is a harsh reality for the hundreds of thousands displaced by war and drought, struggling to eke out an existence. After clan-based violence tore apart the coastal city in the '90s, Mogadishu hit a developmental…

With its millions and a half inhabitants, the city of Brazzaville is not immune to the phenomena of urban violence. Attacks by gangs often called "black babies" operating with leaf weapons are gaining ground in remote neighborhoods. These gangs are oppressed by the police, far from overcoming them. Civil society offers long-term solutions that go beyond oppression. .