Ouagadougou: The Prime Minister, Rimtalba Jean Emmanuel Oudraogo, launched on Monday in Ouagadougou, the General Assembly on Land and Maritime Transport, a national framework for reflection aimed at overhauling the sector in order to build a modern, secure, inclusive and competitive transport policy for the country's development.
According to Burkina Information Agency, the Prime Minister, Rimtalba Jean Emmanuel Oudraogo, stated that recent crises have highlighted the limits of the current system, which is marked by an ageing car fleet, sometimes unsuitable infrastructure, insufficient professionalisation, persistent road safety issues, and high transport costs.
"The Estates General that we are starting are not a simple consultation, but a founding act," he remarked, urging a "moment of collective truth" to rethink the entire mobility chain. The Prime Minister emphasized the need to redefine national priorities, strengthen governance by simplifying rules and digitizing services, and place people at the center of any reform, particularly through driver training and user protection.
Mr. Oudraogo noted that under the authority of the President of Faso, Captain Ibrahim Traor, the government is dedicated to transforming the country into a better connected space through a sustainable and sovereign mobility strategy. He mentioned the acquisition of over 500 modern buses for mass transport by the State, including a first batch of 155 handed over to SOTRACO, to ease the travel of pupils, students, and urban populations.
These initiatives complement the support provided to freight carriers for vehicle renewal, the ongoing study to modernize the taxi fleet, and the upcoming implementation of an automated fare management system. This policy aims to reduce the sector's carbon footprint and promote more sustainable solutions.
The Prime Minister also highlighted the importance of strengthening rail transport, which is less energy-intensive, and developing maritime corridors via regional ports to enhance national competitiveness and sub-regional integration. A study on river transport has also been initiated to explore this potential.
The head of government urged public, private, trade union, academic, and community actors to "go beyond personal interests" and propose ambitious reforms and concrete solutions for a safer, efficient, and prosperous transport sector.