• Senegal moves to regulate ride-hailing platforms with new decree
• Reform defines VTCs as intermediaries, taxis as service providers
• Framework aims to ensure safety, fair competition, and innovation

Senegal's Ministry of Land and Air Transport has held a consultation workshop with industry stakeholders to finalize a draft decree governing ride-hailing companies, known as VTCs. The move marks a key step in a long-running dispute between conventional taxis and digital platforms.

The arrival of digital transport platforms has disrupted the traditional market, drawing resistance from established operators. Conventional taxi drivers have denounced what they see as unfair competition because there is no clear legal framework for VTC operations.

The reform draws a clear distinction: taxis remain the operators directly providing transport services, while VTCs are recognized as digital intermediaries that connect drivers and passengers.

The reform is intended to end the legal uncertainty surrounding the platforms and create a framework allowing different business models to operate side by side under clear rules. “We reviewed the draft and are satisfied. The main concerns raised by stakeholders were addressed,” Ababacar Fall, director-general of road transport, said at the end of the discussions.

The draft decree has three main aims: passenger and driver safety, fair competition between taxis and digital platforms, and support for innovation in the digital economy. Senegal’s case reflects a challenge shared by many African cities, driven by the growing reach of ride-hailing services and rising demand for urban mobility.

In South Africa, a reform of the land transport law adopted in 2024 reorganized the carpooling and ride-hailing sector by tightening authorization requirements and platform compliance obligations.

In Côte d’Ivoire, regulations introduced last year provided a clearer framework for the sector. They included taxes on ride-hailing activities and obligations for operators, including driver training, possession of a valid driver’s license, and compliance with specific requirements for working in the sector.

Henoc Dossa