Urban Growth Threatening Africa's Cities

Migration of rural residents to urban centers in Africa is threatening to create 'mega-cities' across the continent with potentially devastating consequences.

"With more than half of Africa's 800 million people predicted to live in metropolitan areas by 2020, local authorities were facing severe strains in providing housing, services and security, experts said.

And, with the influx of largely impoverished rural people to cities continuing unabated, the number of African slum dwellers - already estimated at 72 percent of urban residents - would rise exponentially, they said.

The alarming predictions and dire warnings came at the opening of the fourth Africities meeting of African city planners in the Kenyan capital of Nairobi, itself one of the metropolises endangered by rapid and unchecked growth."