Côte d'Ivoire Hosts Conference to Improve Road Safety and Mobility in Africa

Abidjan is hosting the 2026 African Conference of the Regional Advisory Group for Africa (RAG-A) of the International Committee of Automobile Technical Inspection (CITA). The two-day conference, which started on November 10, 2026, brings together around 145 experts and specialists in the transportation sector. The theme of the conference is "Accelerating Africa's Transition to Safe and Sustainable Mobility," with the goal of reducing road deaths and injuries by 50% by 2030.

The conference is significant for Côte d'Ivoire as it aims to strengthen the country's international visibility by positioning Abidjan as a hub for road safety and technical control in Africa. The event also seeks to train local actors on new CITA standards and diagnostic technologies, contribute to reducing road mortality, and support the modernization of the automobile fleet and the fight against automobile pollution. Côte d'Ivoire's Minister of Transport and Maritime Affairs, Amadou Koné, who is the patron of the 2026 edition, emphasized the government's reforms to sanitize the transportation sector and make mobility a tool for development, wealth creation, and territorial integration.

Minister Amadou Koné highlighted Côte d'Ivoire's commitment to sharing its experience, learning from international best practices, and pursuing necessary reforms to consolidate the national system. He expressed his hope for fruitful discussions, rich exchanges, and concrete recommendations that match the ambitions of states for modernizing their transportation systems and strengthening road safety in Africa. CITA President Gerhald Müller and Regional President Ferose Oaten welcomed the conference theme, which emphasizes the importance of vehicle inspection in achieving regional integration with fewer road deaths.

According to Müller, vehicle inspection using compliant tools can improve mobility, as despite Africa's evolution, road accidents are on the rise due to old vehicles in circulation. He suggested using artificial intelligence in mechanical inspection and encouraged states to share best practices, successes, and challenges. Assamoua Désiré N'Zi, Director-General of the Internal Transport Regulatory Authority (ARTI), highlighted the conference's focus on road safety, technical control, intelligent technologies, and the environment.

N'Zi discussed the impact of reforms in reducing road deaths in Côte d'Ivoire and expressed hope that the two-day conference would lead to concrete recommendations for safer and more sustainable mobility on the African continent. The conference aims to address the alarming rate of road deaths in Africa, with 1.35 million annual deaths and 92% of these deaths occurring in low- or middle-income countries.

The participants, comprising international experts from diverse backgrounds, will engage in discussions and exchanges to achieve the conference's objectives. The event is expected to conclude on Wednesday, with a challenge to reduce road deaths and injuries by 50% by 2030. The conference is a significant step towards achieving this goal and promoting safe and sustainable mobility in Africa.

The conference's outcomes are expected to contribute to the development of effective strategies for reducing road deaths and injuries in Africa. The event has brought together experts who will share knowledge, experiences, and best practices in road safety and technical control. The conference's recommendations will be crucial in shaping the future of road safety and mobility in Africa.

Key points

• The conference aims to reduce road deaths and injuries by 50% by 2030.
• Côte d'Ivoire is positioning Abidjan as a hub for road safety and technical control in Africa.
• The event brings together around 145 experts and specialists in the transportation sector.