Abidjan Tightens Rules to Bring Informal Transport Operators Into the Formal Economy
Public transport operators in Greater Abidjan must meet administrative requirements starting August 1. The campaign targets informal operators as part of a broader sector reform. Authorities aim to improve road safety, ease congestion, and modernize urban mobility. Public transport operators in Greater Abidjan will have to comply with administrative requirements. . .
Public transport operators in Greater Abidjan must meet administrative requirements starting August 1. The campaign targets informal operators as part of a broader sector reform. Authorities aim to improve road safety, ease congestion, and modernize urban mobility. Public transport operators in Greater Abidjan will have to comply with administrative requirements beginning August 1, as Côte d'Ivoire steps up efforts to formalize a sector that remains dominated by informal operators. Announced by the Ministry of Transport, the regularization campaign primarily targets Wôrô-Wôrô shared taxis and unmarked taxis. Operators will be required to hold the administrative documents needed to legally provide transport services. The initiative builds on previous enforcement campaigns targeting vehicles operating without valid roadworthiness certificates, insurance coverage, or compliant license plates. Beyond regulatory compliance, the campaign reflects the government's broader effort to bring a key segment of Abidjan's urban transport system into the formal economy. Improving road safety and easing congestionAuthorities say stricter enforcement is intended to improve road safety. Informal transport operators are frequently targeted during inspection campaigns, with the government arguing that failure to meet administrative and technical requirements contributes to traffic accidents. According to official figures released in February, Côte d'Ivoire recorded more than 500 road accidents in a single month, resulting in 164 deaths and nearly 2,000 injuries. The campaign also supports efforts to improve traffic flow in the country's economic capital. Chronic congestion on Abidjan's main roads and mounting pressure on transport infrastructure cost the economy between 4% and 5% of national income each year, according to the World Bank. Part of a broader mobility strategyThe operation forms part of a wider strategy to improve public transportation across Greater Abidjan. The government continues to expand the fleet of the state-owned Abidjan Transport Company (SOTRA). In July 2025, the company received 200 new buses under a broader program to increase its operating capacity. At the same time, authorities are investing in mass transit infrastructure, including Abidjan Metro Line 1, which is expected to carry up to 500,000 passengers a day, and the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system, with an estimated daily capacity of between 300,000 and 500,000 passengers. The tighter regulatory framework could, however, increase pressure on informal transport operators. The cost of complying with requirements—including vehicle inspections, insurance, registration, and permit renewals—may prove difficult for the least financially resilient operators to absorb or raise their operating costs. In the short term, the transition could also temporarily reduce transport availability in some neighborhoods before the sector gradually adapts to the new regulatory framework. Henoc Dossa