African Mayors Gather to Forge New Paths for Urban Development

Addis Ababa, October 12, 2026 (ENA) — City leaders from across Africa have convened in Bishoftu, Ethiopia to exchange strategies on urban governance, digitalization, and economic expansion.

The African Mayoral Leadership Initiative (AMALI) Leadership Forum, jointly hosted by the cities of Addis Ababa and Bishoftu, centers on strengthening municipal leadership, sharing innovative approaches to urban development, and improving public service delivery.

Yared Teshome, Policy Director at the Ministry of Urban and Infrastructure Development and Ethiopian Cities Program Lead, explained that the initiative focuses on visionary municipal leadership, digitalization, and increased local revenue. 

By developing cities into economic and innovation hubs, the strategy aims to create jobs, strengthen local economies, and ease population pressure on major urban centers, he added.

Yared noted that Ethiopia is expanding urban development beyond Addis Ababa through corridor development projects across many cities. 

These initiatives are designed to improve infrastructure, enhance public services, and generate new economic opportunities.

Meanwhile, Bishoftu City Mayor Alemayehu Asefa shared that Bishoftu aspires to become a premier tourism destination in Oromia, Ethiopia, and East Africa, leveraging its seven natural lakes and growing hospitality sector.

“We envision Bishoftu becoming the premier tourist destination of Oromia, Ethiopia, and East Africa, and we are going to make it happen,” Alemayehu said.

The city administration aims to attract more than 12 million tourists, create 60,000 local jobs, and double its annual revenue. 

Achieving these ambitious targets will require improved lakeside infrastructure, expanded visitor services, and greater investment in tourism facilities, the mayor noted.

To strengthen its appeal to domestic and international travelers, the administration has focused on expanding accommodations, resorts, recreational centers, and convention infrastructure. 

Addressing plans for the upcoming Bishoftu International Airport, Alemayehu emphasized that the project will be vital to the city's broader growth, noting that the airport is designed to handle more than 110 million passengers annually upon full development.

Mayor Alemayehu also underscored the significance of the mayoral forum, which allows African city leaders to exchange insights and evaluate urban development progress.

“Therefore, when these African city mayors come together, they share their experiences not just for the sake of sharing, but also to evaluate how countries are progressing,” he said.

Following a previous gathering in Cape Town, South Africa, the event was organized by the African Mayoral Leadership Initiative. 

The program supports municipal leaders through professional development, technical assistance, and peer learning to strengthen urban governance and city management.