Mwene-Ditu, Democratic Republic of the Congo

With a population of 189,177, this city in the Democratic Republic of the Congo is no quaint backwater. Everything passes through Mwene-Ditu, a strategic hub that serves as the terminus of two national roads and a railway line. However, the bureaucracy is a persistent headache - the city was only established in 2003 by presidential decree, and locals are still uncovering remnants of its colonial-era history. For those willing to navigate the red tape, Mwene-Ditu offers proximity to the provincial capital and the promise of untapped agricultural and pastoral potential. But this is no place for the faint of heart.