Hormuud is Mogadishu: New cities, hybrid governance, and the role of telcos in urban world-making
From ambivalent administrators to controlling cartels, hybrid governance is an enduring characteristic of African cities. Those seeking to engage Africa’s urban governance - whether conceptually or pragmatically - have had to contend with a wide range of actors, operating through often obscure power geometries. Frequently ignored, however, is the central and expanding role of telecommunications companies (telcos) in shaping urban space. The power of telcos has risen exponentially in the recent decades, particularly as the “digital transition” and mobile technology have rapidly advanced.
Today, telecoms are not only household names, but are also moving up in rank on most African stock exchanges. Moreover, telcos are expanding their portfolios beyond traditional communications services to include finance, real estate, energy and many other urban service offerings. In this presentation I focus on a specific Somali telco - Hormuud.
Over 25 years, Hormuud has gone from predominantly focussed on telephony, to being involved in a wide range of urban services in Mogadishu and beyond.
I focus on a new city to the north of the capital, built by Hormuud’s affiliates and aimed at the Somali diaspora. Using this case, I show how telcos act as urban speculators, not only developing infrastructure, but prefiguring urban worlds.
Liza R. Cirolia is an Associate Professor at the African Centre for Cities, University of Cape Town. Her work focuses on the relationship between hybrid infrastructures and governance, with a specific interest in technological transitions, urban statecraft, and fiscal assemblages. She serves on the editorial boards of Urban Studies, Finance & Space, Economic Geography, and Platforms & Society.
Liza R. Cirolia will be in conversation with Zachary Jones, DIST department.
Organization by Andrea Pollio, DIST department.
Fore more info:
- andrea.pollio@polito.it
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