By Africa Front Staff

Addis Ababa's building boom leaves long-time residents behind

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As Ethiopia's capital transforms into a gleaming modern city, many long-time residents face displacement, rising costs and a fading sense of home.

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This report was originally reported and written by the Africa Front newsroom, published on July 1, 2026.

July 1, 2026

Ethiopia's capital, Addis Ababa, is undergoing a dramatic transformation into a modern city of new roads, riverside parks and high-rise developments — but the building boom is leaving many long-time residents behind.

Ambitious government-led projects have reshaped parts of the city, clearing old neighbourhoods to make way for corridors of new construction. For some residents, the changes have meant displacement, rising housing costs and the loss of tight-knit communities built over generations.

The redevelopment is central to the government's vision of a revitalised capital that can serve as a showcase for the country and a hub for the region. Officials have promoted the projects as a source of jobs, investment and civic pride.

But critics and affected residents say the pace and scale of the changes have come at a human cost, with families relocated to the city's edges, far from their livelihoods, and a growing sense that the new Addis is being built for some at the expense of others.

The tensions reflect a broader dilemma facing fast-growing African cities, where the drive to modernise and attract investment often collides with the needs of poorer residents and the character of established communities.