What is paratransit?

Paratransit is at the heart of mobility in many African cities, as it carries around 400 million people every day.

It refers to everyday transport services provided by a multitude of small operators, using vehicles such as minibuses, shared taxis, motorbike taxis or motorised tricycles, often organised in flexible ways, yet essential to urban and peri-urban mobility. Examples include the “gbaka” minibuses in Côte d’Ivoire, the “trotro” in Togo, the “taxi-be” in Antananarivo, and the “tuk tuk” motorised tricycles and “boda-boda” motorbike taxis.

Long viewed as a mode of transport to be eradicated, paratransit is now recognised by African governments and donors as an essential component of urban and peri-urban mobility. The challenge is no longer to eliminate it, but to modernise and professionalise it.

In light of these challenges, the 1st African Paratransit Fair aims precisely to drive a broad drive to modernise the sector in Africa by bringing together operators, public authorities, manufacturers, technology providers, financial institutions and experts to exchange ideas, share best practices and build the sector’s future together.

The First African Paratransit Fair, co-organised by CODATU and AMUGA, will take place on 20–21 October 2026 at Hôtel Ivoire in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire.

Join the stakeholders shaping the future of mobility in Africa.

More information: www.paratransitfair.com