Manga: The Director General of SOTRACO, Drissa Sawadogo, presented on Tuesday to regional authorities the transport network project for Manga and surrounding communes for the benefit of the population.

According to Burkina Information Agency, during the presentation of a study on improving mobility in the Nazinon region, SOTRACO, led by Drissa Sawadogo, announced the imminent launch of service lines in Manga and municipalities along RN 29, including Guiba, Manga, Gogo, and Gom-Boussougou. The event was marked by a validation workshop themed "Improving Mobility for the Population of Manga and Surrounding Municipalities through Public Transportation."

The Governor of the Nazinon Region welcomed the operationalization of this project and expressed hope for its fruition. She emphasized the eagerness of the population for this initiative, noting the President of Burkina Faso's involvement. She encouraged the community to support the project for its success and stressed the importance of maintaining bus operations under safe and comfortable conditions.

Drissa Sawadogo revealed that SOTRACO's fleet now includes 530 buses, with 500 acquired through a state initiative and 30 from the Greater Ouagadougou Urban Mobility Project. SOTRACO has transitioned to a mixed-economy company, with the state holding a majority stake. This change aims to enhance operational capacity, including bus deployment in all university towns in Burkina Faso and facilitating digital payment for passes and subscriptions.

However, Sawadogo acknowledged challenges such as traffic congestion and road conditions, which could affect bus punctuality and accelerate bus aging.