Reporting from Yaoundé, Emmanuel Jules Ntap

The municipal authorities in Yaoundé are seizing a crucial opportunity to bring order to the city’s taxi transport sector.

« This registration process for taxi owners and drivers operating in Yaoundé, established by a municipal decree on June 25, 2026, is not optional. It is mandatory, and the unique door number assigned to each taxi upon registration will be the only valid one going forward, » affirmed Luc Messi, the Mayor of Yaoundé.

Previously, taxi door numbers were painted by screen printers, lacking any real security guarantees or official oversight.

This situation is set to change, according to Catherine Kalisa, a technical advisor for the Yaoundé Green Mobility project, which spearheaded the digital platform. She explained, « The platform will equip the city of Yaoundé with a comprehensive database, enabling better security and regulation of urban transport. »

At the launch of this initiative, approximately ten taxi drivers complied with the new registration requirements.

digital registration deadline: october 5

However, not all drivers are welcoming the change. Jacques Didi, a taxi driver, expressed his disapproval, viewing it as a governmental diversion. « Instead of addressing the dire state of our roads, the authorities are introducing something else entirely – a QR code that supposedly controls and secures taxi drivers. I assure you, this will not succeed, » he stated.

In contrast, Patrice Samen, a prominent figure in Cameroon’s transport unions, holds high hopes for the initiative, anticipating an end to the rampant illegal transport activities long criticized in Yaoundé. « Finally, the government has heard our appeals. We consistently urged them to tackle clandestine drivers and unauthorized transport. We will now call upon all taxi drivers to get identified, » Samen declared.

The digital registration period for taxis is scheduled to conclude on October 5. Following this deadline, the Mayor of Yaoundé announced that sanctions would be imposed on non-compliant taxi drivers and owners.