Sun, G., Zhao, K., 2026.

The road divides: When funding shapes form - Assessing the connectivity impacts of China-financed light rail in Addis Ababa

African cities like Addis Ababa face a major transport infrastructure deficit that hinders socioeconomic development. While China has responded with extensive investment, the outcomes of these projects remain contested. This paper examines the Addis Ababa Light Rail Transit (AALRT)--the first of its kind in Sub-Saharan Africa--to evaluate the long-term impacts of infrastructure financing and planning on urban mobility. Using network analysis and open data, we introduce a replicable evaluation protocol that quantifies changes in connectivity before and after the new light rail transit and employ statistical models to assess its impact on network-wide traffic congestion. Our findings reveal that political ambitions and budget constraints led to the decision to construct a long, segregated track and eliminate multiple level crossings, resulting in extensive road closures, narrowing of arterial roads, and reduction of intersections in the city's development corridors. The increased network detour and heavier traffic highlight that the new rail transit might have decreased the overall travel efficiency. This study underscores how funding arrangements, particularly China's loans, have shaped the physical form and connectivity of Addis Ababa's light rail, offering important lessons for other African cities. We recommend measures such as improving elevated crossings, integrating bus networks, and prioritising long-term maintenance to address current challenges. The road divides created by China-financed infrastructure expose a crucial tension between ambitious development goals and sustainable urban mobility in developing countries.