The Abidjan Urban Mobility Project Coordination Unit (PMUA) launched, on Tuesday June 30, 2026, the submission of files from the carriers concerned by the pilot phase of test trips of the program to renew the artisanal transport fleet, bringing together professional organizations, the Urban Mobility Authority in Greater Abidjan (AMUGA), administrations and technical partners. Gone are the days when municipal taxis and faded gbakas symbolized Abidjan's road disorder. This Tuesday, under the watchful gaze of drivers who came to inquire, the countdown towards a modernized vehicle fleet was probably started on the pilot lines of Greater Abidjan.

This step is part of the implementation of the reforms initiated by the Government to modernize and professionalize artisanal transport, with the financial support of the World Bank and the Agency French Development Agency (AFD). Initially, around a hundred carriers already listed on the pilot lines are invited to submit their files, a test phase which should allow the PMUA to correct possible inadequacies before extending the operation to all targeted vehicles. The transporters present were informed of the eligibility criteria, the registration procedures on the digital platform of the Road Transport Development Fund (FDTR), as well as the different stages of the renewal process. The meeting also made it possible to respond to the concerns of stakeholders and to recall the commitments expected from beneficiaries throughout the system.

Ultimately, this operation will allow the renewal of more than 3,000 vehicles for eligible carriers and the training of 5,000 drivers. The program aims to improve the working conditions of professionals, strengthen road safety and raise the quality of transport service in Greater Abidjan thanks to new, more reliable and more environmentally friendly vehicles. With this launch, the Ivorian artisanal sector takes a decisive step towards its professionalization, within a tight timetable before the planned extension to the district level.