Côte d'Ivoire: PMUA expected to generate over 6,000 jobs in Grand Abidjan

The Yopougon-Bingerville Bus Rapid Transit (BRT), an integral part of the Projet de mobilité urbaine d'Abidjan (PMUA), already mobilizes over 400 workers on its construction sites, a figure set to rise to between 1,000 and 1,500 direct jobs once the system becomes operational, according to figures presented on September 21, 2026 in Abidjan by PMUA deputy coordinator Aly Coulibaly. Beyond construction, the PMUA is training approximately 5,000 drivers and managers of artisanal transport companies, assisting them with their affiliation to the Caisse nationale de prévoyance sociale (CNPS). "In total, more than 6,000 jobs are directly concerned by the various PMUA interventions," specified Aly Coulibaly during an open house organized by the World Bank Group at the Sofitel Hôtel Ivoire. Participating companies must comply with Ivorian regulations regarding employment, CNPS affiliation, leave, and staff representation. On mobility, Romain Kouakou, PMUA coordinator and general manager of the Autorité de la mobilité urbaine dans le Grand Abidjan (AMUGA), indicated that the commissioning of the BRT will reduce travel time between Yopougon and Bingerville to less than 45 minutes. The project is co-financed by the State of Côte d'Ivoire, the World Bank, and the Agence française de développement (AFD). For artisanal transport drivers and managers, training and affiliation to the CNPS pave the way for the gradual formalization of a historically informal sector.