Mahajanga

Mahajanga is a major north-western port city at the mouth of the Betsiboka River, serving as a regional centre for trade, services and movement along Madagascar’s west coast. Its broad urban footprint and secondary-city role make reliable streets, drainage and port access important to both local life and regional connectivity.

Madagascar’s Urbanization Review identifies Mahajanga among the country’s growing secondary cities and highlights the wider problem of weak links between cities and insufficient space for efficient urban transport. A 2026 national multimodal transport programme adds a direct infrastructure intervention: rehabilitation of the Port of Majunga, including quays, access works and essential facilities designed for year-round operation and greater cyclone resilience. The port upgrade reinforces Mahajanga’s long-standing role as the principal urban and logistics centre of the north-west.