The Cocody district experienced a day of chaos on Monday. A spontaneous work stoppage by local taxi drivers (wôrô-wôrô) blocked several key roads, leaving thousands of commuters stranded. Between tax revolts and a standoff with the city council, the transportation sector is under immense pressure.

The ordeal of the users

From dawn, the scene was set: cars parked in single file and drivers massed at intersections, refusing to pick up passengers. On the Deux-Plateaux – Saint Jean axis, the paralysis was almost total.

For the residents, the surprise was brutal. Agnès Konan, an employee in Saint Jean, spoke of her dismay after waiting in vain for two hours at the Mobil station:

"It's a really awkward situation. My managers call me and I don't even know what to tell them."

The Spark: A Heavy-Handed Control Operation

The conflict was triggered by a raid by the mayor's office the previous Friday. This enforcement operation resulted in the impounding of numerous vehicles. The municipality justifies these measures by citing a need to clean up the sector , pointing to a lack of administrative documents and the absence of identification tags on some taxis.

"Too many taxes": The drivers' cry for help

Beyond mere inspection, it's the financial pressure, deemed "suffocating," that fuels the anger. Koné Abou, one of the drivers, is furious:

1. Tax double taxation: Antenna fees are being charged even though the vehicles are already equipped with them.
2. New taxes: An accumulation of daily expenses that reduces household incomes.
3. Threat of a long strike: Drivers are not ruling out a week-long work stoppage to make their voices heard. "We work mainly to pay taxes," he laments.

A dialogue of the deaf or a way out of the crisis?

In the midst of this storm, the UCTCC (Union of Municipal Taxi Drivers of Cocody) is trying to calm things down. Its representative, André Kambou, is playing the mediator: while acknowledging the city hall's right to conduct inspections, he denounces a lack of communication that ignited the conflict.

A platform of demands was submitted on March 26, 2026 , including:

1. The reduction in the cost of the parking permit .
2. The return of the price of the pre-technical inspection (which increased from 3,000 to 9,000 FCFA).
3. Simplifying administrative procedures.
4. The return of technical inspections under the direct management of the municipal services.

Towards a resumption of traffic

While tensions remain high, the UCTCC is optimistic. André Kambou announced a gradual resumption of work in the coming hours, relying on ongoing discussions with municipal authorities. This strike, however, highlights the fragility of the urban transport system in Abidjan, where even the slightest administrative disruption immediately impacts the lives of thousands of workers.