Urban Transformations and Land Governance in Peri‐Urban Khartoum: The Case of Soba

Griet Steel,Salaheldin Abukashawa,Mohamed Osman Hussein

doi:10.1111/tesg.12372

Griet Steel, Salaheldin Abukashawa + Show 1 more

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https://doi.org/10.1111/tesg.12372

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Abstract

AbstractThe New Urban Agenda and SDG 11 promote inclusive urban development, but limited empirical knowledge exists on how such global rhetoric plays out on the ground. This paper contributes to the inclusive city debate by focusing on the case of Soba, a peri‐urban area at the fringes of the capital of Sudan. Based on an explorative study of secondary material, semi‐structured interviews and structured observations it aims to systematically analyse the dynamics of peri‐urban development. Findings show how the rising pressure on land results in commoditisation, (informal) land‐use changes and a multitude of other land transformations. The paper concludes that the mismatch of urban land policies has resulted in increasing fragmentation of urban space and socio‐spatial discrepancies between those who can afford to buy land or transform it into urban uses and those who cannot. It sheds fresh light on the challenges of the inclusive urban transition agenda.

Highlights

The world is urbanising at a rapid rate
Aiming to contribute to the inclusive city debate (McGranahan et al 2016), this paper focuses on the specific case of Soba, a peri-urban area at the fringes of the capital of Sudan where competing claims over land have resulted in very diverse urban dynamics
One of the main concerns surrounding urban transitions in the global South is the complex patchwork of land transformations taking place in and around cities and the implications this has for inclusive urban development (Steel et al 2017)

Summary

Introduction

The world is urbanising at a rapid rate. In 2050, more than 66 per cent of the world’s population is expected to live in cities (UN DESA 2018). Aiming to contribute to the inclusive city debate (McGranahan et al 2016), this paper focuses on the specific case of Soba, a peri-urban area at the fringes of the capital of Sudan where competing claims over land have resulted in very diverse urban dynamics. This paper has been co-produced by researchers and practitioners working on land-related issues, land governance and urban planning processes in the city of Khartoum.

Results

Conclusion