Kotedougou: A control mission from the National Road Safety Office (ONASER) intercepted three public transport buses on Monday, May 25, 2026, which were overcrowded on the Bobo-Boromo road, specifically before the Kotedougou tollbooth, with a total of 79 additional passengers on board, AIB observed on site.
According to Burkina Information Agency, agents from the Western branch of ONASER, deployed on National Route 1 (RN1), discovered vehicles coming from a neighbouring country carrying a number of passengers far exceeding the authorized capacity. The first bus, designed for approximately 70 seats, was carrying over 120 passengers, an excess of more than 50 people. The second bus had 12 additional passengers, and the third 17, totaling 79 passengers over capacity across the three vehicles.
Alerted by the situation, AIB visited the scene to witness this issue, which remained concerning despite numerous awareness campaigns by ONASER. Officers on site checked vehicle documents, inspected equipment, and counted passengers before initiating the ticketing process. The control officers emphasized to the drivers the necessity of adhering to passenger limits, stating that additional vehicles would need to be arranged to accommodate the excess passengers.
Driver Ousmane Bamba, questioned by AIB, claimed no responsibility for the overloading, stating he was not involved in loading passengers as he was not a regular on the route. Another driver, Abdias Kabre, admitted to the overcrowding, citing exceptional circumstances and a plea for assistance from passengers from a distant country.
Mahamoudou Millogo, another driver, echoed similar sentiments, explaining that passengers pressured him along the way to board his vehicle due to difficult circumstances. Among the passengers, Issiaka Ouedraogo explained that their original vehicle had broken down, necessitating their request for help to reach Burkina Faso for celebrations. Aminata Zamsore, a pregnant passenger, described the overcrowded conditions and tensions among passengers due to lack of space.
Police Lieutenant Moctar Ouedraogo, head of operations for the western branch of ONASER, highlighted the measures taken in cases of overcrowding, including fines and the requirement for drivers to disembark excess passengers before continuing their journey. He stressed the importance of avoiding practices that endanger lives, noting the potential dramatic consequences of accidents with overloaded vehicles.
As the operation concluded, another vehicle was stopped for using non-compliant headlights, and the issue was rectified before it continued its journey. AIB verified the number of passengers before the buses resumed their journey without excess passengers, while additional vehicles arrived to transport the remaining passengers.