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Abstract

In a global context marked by uncertainty, multiple crises, and the reconfiguration of power relations, rethinking development requires a critical reassessment of modes of public action and of local capacities to shape future trajectories. Situated within this broader framework, this study examines urban governance in Africa through the lens of the tensions between security, participation, and resilience, in cities confronted with rapid urbanization, structural informality, and the intensification of climatic and social risks. The central problem addressed concerns the capacity of existing governance arrangements to strengthen local action while reconciling security imperatives, population inclusion, and the sustainability of urban responses. The research seeks to address a persistent gap in the literature, characterized by the limited consideration of power relations and local forms of organization, as well as by an insufficiently critical reading of approaches associated with “smart cities.” The study is based on a documentary and conceptual analysis, drawing on scholarship in African urban geography, political science, and critical development studies, complemented by the examination of illustrative frameworks and tools of participatory governance and community resilience. The findings indicate that participation contributes effectively to the strengthening of urban resilience only when it is accompanied by a genuine sharing of decision-making power, the reinforcement of local institutional capacities, and robust accountability mechanisms. The main contribution of this research lies in proposing an integrated reading of urban governance in Africa, shedding light on the conditions under which local action can become a credible lever for development in an uncertain world.