Africa increased its representation in the IMD Smart City Index from six cities in 2019 to nine in 2026, although none has yet entered the global top 100. The IMD report identifies governance and institutional capacity, rather than technology alone, as the strongest predictor of smart city performance. Rabat and Abuja improved through governance reforms, while Cairo, Lagos and Nairobi continued to face structural constraints despite digital investments. Africa has expanded its presence in the IMD Business School Smart City Index, increasing the number of ranked cities from six in 2019 to nine in 2026. However, the continent still has no city among the world's top 100, as governance and institutional capacity continue to lag behind technological investment. The annual ranking evaluates digital quality of life across major global cities through two dimensions: technology availability and structures, including institutions, public services and living conditions. In 2026, the African cities included in the index were Rabat in Morocco, Cairo in Egypt, Cape Town in South Africa, Algiers in Algeria, Abuja and Lagos in Nigeria, Nairobi in Kenya, Accra in Ghana and Tunis in Tunisia. The expanded representation reflects growing digital investment across the continent. However, none of the nine cities has entered the global top 100 during the seven editions of the index. The report consistently shows that most African cities score higher on technology than on institutional structures. The ranking concludes that institutional structures provide the strongest predictor of overall smart city performance. Consequently, African cities could accelerate their progress by investing as heavily in governance as they do in digital technology. Cities Making Progress Some African cities have already started to rebalance that equation. Rabat led the continental ranking in 2026 and continued its steady improvement from previous editions. The city achieved that progress through a long-term strategy launched