The municipal authorities in Yaoundé are seizing a crucial opportunity to bring order to the city’s taxi transport sector. This initiative aims to streamline operations and enhance security across the capital of Cameroon.

Luc Messi, the city mayor, emphasized the compulsory nature of this new directive. “This registration of taxi owners and drivers operating in Yaoundé, mandated by a municipal decree issued on June 25, 2026, is not optional. It is mandatory, and the door number assigned to each taxi following this registration will be the sole valid identifier,” stated Mayor Messi.

Previously, taxi door numbers were simply painted on by screen printers, lacking any robust security features. This often led to issues with accountability and identification within the urban transport network.

This situation is set to change dramatically, according to Catherine Kalisa, a technical advisor for the Yaoundé green mobility project and the driving force behind the new digital platform. “The platform will provide the city of Yaoundé with a comprehensive database, enabling us to secure this vital sector of urban transport,” Kalisa explained, highlighting the importance of this Yaoundé taxi registration initiative.

During the launch of the operation, a modest number of taxi drivers, approximately a dozen, completed the registration process, signaling the initial steps of this widespread reform.

Digital registration campaign concludes October 5

However, not all stakeholders welcome the new system. Jacques Didi, a taxi driver, voiced his skepticism, perceiving the move as a governmental distraction. “Instead of addressing the dilapidated state of our roads, the authorities are introducing something else entirely—a QR code that supposedly aims to control and secure taxi drivers. I assure you, this will not succeed,” Didi asserted, expressing concerns about the practicality of the new measure.

Conversely, Patrice Samen, a prominent figure in Cameroon‘s transport unionism, holds a more optimistic view. He hopes this mandatory digital registration will finally curb the long-standing problem of illegal transport services in Yaoundé. “Finally, the government has responded to our calls, as we have been daily urging action against clandestine transport and unregistered drivers. We will now instruct all taxi drivers to get identified,” Samen declared, signaling strong union support for compliance.

The digital registration campaign for taxis is scheduled to conclude on October 5. Following this deadline, the Mayor of Yaoundé has announced that sanctions will be imposed on any non-compliant taxi drivers and owners, underscoring the city’s commitment to enforcing this new regulatory framework for urban mobility.