URBAN FRAGILITY AND SECURITY IN SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA

Abstract:
 The rapid growth of the cities and the urban societies around the World –especially in Africa- occupies a wide space in the Human Sciences studies. The “Urban Fragility” is a central issue in those studies. In this regard, the present paper attempts to ponder over the reality of the African city and its relationships to the types of security that the city should provide to its residents; to be considered as resilient and sustainable city. By following a Descriptive-Analytical method, this paper was able to identity seven characteristics of the African city which can be as feeding ingredients for the fragility of the African city. Also, seven other types of security were identified to be as criteria to measure the level of the African city fragility and resilience. In all cases, this paper found that the African city suffers from an acute fragility in terms of the urban security and sustainable development.