Transforming Urban Transit: Yaoundé City Council Launches BRT Preparatory Phase

The Yaounde City Council, CUY and key urban mobility stakeholders gathered in Yaounde on Wednesday, September 23, 2026, to officially launch the preparatory phase of the capital’s flagship Bus Rapid Transit, BRT project, dubbed "TransYaounde."

Sustainable Urban Mobility Plan

Chaired by the City Mayor of Yaounde, Luc Messi Atangana, the ceremony brought together approximately 130 participants. Including sectoral ministry representatives, municipal mayors, law enforcement officers, utility concessionaires, civil society groups, transport trade unions, and international development partners.

The initiative marks a major milestone in operationalizing Yaoundé’s Sustainable Urban Mobility Plan, PMUS, initiated in 2018 to address the capital's rapid demographic growth and severe traffic congestion.

With Yaounde’s population approaching five million inhabitants and growing at an estimated 4% annually, projections warn that travel times could increase by 44% by 2035 without structural interventions. TransYaounde aims to reverse this trend by establishing a dedicated 22-kilometer North-South mass transit corridor. Connecting Olembé to Ahala 2 via Independence Square and the Central Post Office Roundabout.

Equipped with 28 stations in each direction, the system is designed to deploy 52 buses initially, operating at frequencies of 3 to 4 minutes. And maintaining a commercial speed of 20 km/h. Operating in dedicated central lanes, TransYaounde is expected to carry 43,000 passengers per day during its initial phase. With long-term capacity potential reaching 110,000 daily passengers as frequency increases to 1.5-minute intervals.

Addressing participants during the ceremony, Mayor Luc Messi Atangana emphasized that while preliminary feasibility studies concluded in 2023, the current phase focuses on Complementary Preliminary Design Studies, APS, launched on August 1, 2026. Alongside the Project Owner Support, AMO provided by the consultant firm, DVDH since January 2026.

"This phase allows us to involve all stakeholders and all beneficiaries - from institutional actors and transport operators to the general population - so that they can contribute to setting up a shared transport system for everyone," Mayor Messi Atangana stated.

Co-financed with support from the European Union, EU and the French Development Agency, AFD, the project is undergoing comprehensive technical, environmental, and institutional maturation. Construction is slated to start in 2028, leading toward target commissioning by 2030.

Stakeholder Ownership, Consultation

The launch of the preparatory phase for the TransYaoundé Bus Rapid Transit, BRT project marks a critical milestone in building widespread support among key urban mobility actors. Emphasizing the essential role of civic engagement, Alioum Thiam, head of the AMOBRT mission, highlighted that major infrastructure initiatives require extensive consultation with institutional partners, transport operators, and the general public to ensure seamless adoption.

He welcomed the city's proactive approach to bringing all stakeholders together. Noting that public ownership is essential to successfully navigating the complex studies, land acquisitions, and temporary traffic disruptions associated with constructing a modern transit system.

Transport Unions Behind Project

Commercial transport unions expressed strong alignment with the city council's vision, viewing the BRT network as a transformative step for the capital's mobility landscape. Representing the sector, Prosper Essomba, representative of transporters unions, expressed firm backing for Mayor Luc Messi Atangana's initiative. Confirming that trade unions overall have resolved to actively support the project through its completion.

Commending the local administration for including operators right from the onset, Essomba noted that the BRT network - alongside ongoing terminal construction at Olembé and Mvan - will generate significant positive impacts for both transport professionals and commuters across Yaoundé.

Collaborative Framework

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