• SOTRACO received 375 new buses on January 27, 2026, bringing total acquisitions to 530 units.

• The investment is part of the PMUGO and the presidential education initiative.

• The state has taken full control of SOTRACO after buying out private shareholders.

Burkina Faso’s public transport company SOTRACO (Ouagadougou Urban Transport Company) received a batch of 375 buses on January 27 to strengthen its fleet. The investment, carried out under the Greater Ouaga Urban Mobility Project (PMUGO) and the Presidential Initiative for Quality Education (IPEQ), aims to improve mobility across the country, according to the government.

The new delivery follows a first batch of 155 buses received in August 2025, bringing the total number of buses acquired under the two programs to 530.

The purchases are part of a broader strategy to expand public transport services and improve the competitiveness of the state-owned operator. In line with these objectives, the Burkinabè authorities adopted two decrees on November 27, 2025, granting the state full ownership of SOTRACO.

A total of 36,075 shares, representing 8.39% of the capital previously held by private shareholders, were bought back, making SOTRACO a fully state-owned company. The shift could intensify competition with private transport operators, including bus companies, metered taxis, “green taxis,” and informal minibuses.

The success of the reforms will depend in part on the state’s long-term commitment to fleet maintenance, sound governance, and sustainable financing.

Henoc Dossa