Batch 5 – Regional Changes – African Countries

As we continue progressing with the regional changes process, we are now approaching Africa. The updates below are based on our Roadmap and the NomadMania Optimal Score methodology.

African countries where ONE NEW region is being added: Angola – Benin – Côte d’Ivoire – Ghana – Kenya – Mauritania – Nigeria – Senegal – Tanzania – Uganda – Zambia.

While Cameroon is technically due for two additional regions according to the Optimal Score 5.68 we are not entirely sure it is worth doing. We would therefore appreciate your feedback. Please vote separately here.

Let’s get down to the details!

Angola

The new region is Northeast (Lunda Sul, Lunda Norte).

Benin

Southern region is split in two: Central (Abomey, Savalou) and Coastal (Cotonou, Porto Novo) which inherits a point.

Côte d’Ivoire

Eastern is split in two: East Central (Yamoussoukro, Bouaké) and East Coast (Abidjan, Grand Bassam) which inherits a point.

Ghana

Ghana experienced a fundamental change.

Before (3 NM regions)	After (4 NM regions)
Greater Accra, Central, East, Volta (Cape Coast, Koforidua, Ho) Ashanti, Brong-Ahafo, West (Kumasi, Sunyani, Sekondi) North, Upper East, Upper West (Tamale, Bolgatanga, Wa)	Coastal (Accra, Cape Coast, Takoradi) Ashanti, West (Kumasi, Sunyani, Atebubu) North (Tamale, Wa, Bolgatanga) Volta (Ho, Yendi)

Kenya

Kenya also sees a fundamental change based on the geography and the travel reality.

Before (6 NM regions)	After (7 NM regions)
Nairobi and Central (Kiambu) Coast (Mombasa, Malindi, Lamu) East (Embu, Meru, Kitui, Machakos) Northeast (Garissa, Wajir, Gandera) Nyanza and West (Kisumu, Kakamega, Migori) Rift Valley (Nakuru, Eldoret, Lodwar, Kitale)	Greater Nairobi Rift Valley – South, Masai country Rift Valley – Central, Highlands Rift Valley – North, Arid North West (Nyanza + Western Province) North-Eastern (original NM region) Coast (original NM region province)

Mauritania

Some qualitative fixes apply with one new region.

Before (3 NM regions)	After (4 NM regions)
Nouakchott, Dakhlet Nouadhibou, Inchiri, Trarza North – Adrar, Hodh Ech Chargui, Tiris Zemmour South – Assaba, Brakna, Gorgol, Guidimaka, Gharbi	North Coast (Nouadhibou) South Coast (Nouakchott, Aleg) Northeast (Atar, Zouérat) Southeast (Kiffa, Néma)

Nigeria

Abuja Capital Territory becomes a new region.

Senegal

Casamance (Kolda, Sédhiou, Ziguinchor) becomes a new regios which inherits a point.

Tanzania

We are splitting the coast in two with Coastal South (Mtwara, Lindi) becoming a new region while the coastal part of former Northeastern (Arusha, Kilimanjaro, Manyara) goes to Coastal North (Dar es Salaam, Tanga, Mafia island).

Uganda

North and East region is split in two: North (Gulu, Arua, Lira) and East (Jinja, Soroti) which inherits a point.

Zambia

The new region is West (Solwezi, Mongu) which is carved out of the Copperbelt and South. This was advised by a local expert based on the cultural background of the area which is closely matching with the former traditional kingdom of the Lozi people, formerly an autonomous region within the country (called Barotseland).

Cameroon

We are debating between adding one or two regions. Please vote separately here.

As always, we highly value your feedback — especially from those with strong local knowledge.