The development of road infrastructure is one of the main objectives of the Ivorian government aimed at improving the mobility of the population. Thus, the continuous investments made in the road sector have allowed, during the period 201-2023, the construction of 1,452 km of new paved roads.

As of the end of December 2023, the length of the intercity network is approximately 82,000 km of classified roads, including 7,731 km of paved roads, of which 7,361 km are national roads and 370 km are highways. The country has a total of 1,500 concrete structures.

Regarding the unclassified network, consisting of rural tracks, it is estimated to be over 200,000 km as of the end of December 2020.

Furthermore, infrastructure reinforcement works are underway, particularly focusing on:

• the completion of access roads to the fourth bridge (connecting the municipalities of Yopougon and Plateau);

• the development of the bypass highway around the city of Abidjan "Y4";

• the construction of 10 metal bridges.

Improvement of Transport Services

Moreover, the Ivorian government has been committed since 2017 to the development and improvement of road transport services through the implementation of a series of reforms and structuring projects.

This includes:

• the creation of the Road Transport Development Fund, by decree N°2014-96 of March 14, 2014, to lead the policy of renewing the vehicle fleet of private transporters;

• the increase in the number of buses and service lines in public transport;

• the launch of the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Project in Greater Abidjan, namely the East-West BRT connecting the municipalities of Yopougon and Bingerville (20 km), which will improve access for the population of Greater Abidjan to efficient and inclusive collective transport and significantly increase traffic flow.

Thus, 550 metered taxis, 48 mini buses (assembled in SOTRA industry workshops), and 832 new minibuses have been acquired and distributed to economic interest groups of transporters both in Abidjan and in the interior of the country between 2019 and 2023.

In addition, urban public transport services, concentrated in the city of Abidjan, are provided by the state through a public service agreement with SOTRA, and by the private sector.

SOTRA's services have significantly improved during the period 2018-2023 thanks to a 20.3% average annual increase in the vehicle fleet and the opening of 43 new lines in Abidjan to meet the growing needs of the population. Thus, as of December 31, 2023, SOTRA operated 139 lines in Abidjan, with 1,560 buses transporting a total of 285,863,258 passengers compared to 96 lines and a fleet of fewer than 482 buses in 2017.

Furthermore, as part of the expansion of its urban transport network in major cities in the interior of the country, SOTRA has deployed in the city of Bouaké since September 2021, followed by the cities of Yamoussoukro in December 2022, and Korhogo and San Pedro in December 2023.

Evolution of Passenger Traffic Transported in Abidjan by SOTRA (Buses)

Source : Ministry of Transport, SOTRA

Apart from SOTRA, urban transport services in Greater Abidjan are mainly provided by private companies through minibuses "gbaka", five-seater vehicles including the driver (metered taxis and other "woro-woro").

In the interior of the country, urban transport services are mainly provided by "woro-woro" and motorcycle taxis.

However, private urban transport is marked by the aging of minibuses and the incivility of their drivers.

As for intercity road transport, it is provided by private companies whose vehicle fleet mainly consists of buses and minibuses (Gbaka).

In terms of prospects, it is planned to continue:

• the renewal of the vehicle fleet (buses, boat buses, taxis, trucks, etc.);

• the continuation of the works on the East-West BRT line connecting the municipalities of Yopougon and Bingerville (20 km);

• the creation of new Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) lines in Greater Abidjan, namely the BRT on Latrille Boulevard (10 km), the BRT on Alassane OUATTARA Boulevard in Yopougon (5 km), the BRT on the Y4 bypass (26 km), the BRT on Zoo Road (8 km), the BRT on the Grand Bassam expressway (7 km), the BRT on Vridi Boulevard (10 km), the BRT on the lagoon boulevard (7 km), the BRT on the Yopougon expressway (10 km), the BRT on the main avenue of Bel Air in Yopougon (5 km);

• the construction of modern bus stations in several major cities (Abidjan, Yamoussoukro, Bouaké, Daloa, Korhogo, San Pedro);

• the construction of ten (10) modern driving license examination centers (theory and driving) in regional capitals (Abidjan, Bouaké, San Pedro, Yamoussoukro, Korhogo, Daloa, Odienné, Man, Gagnoa, Abengourou);

• the construction of 40 Multimodal Exchange Hubs (modern stations and park-and-ride facilities) and 200 stopping points in Greater Abidjan.