'Viva Public Transport, viva!' The resounding message of UITP’s Africa x MENA Conference 2024

As Morocco gears up to host the Confederation Africaine de Football (CAF) Africa Cup of Nations in 2025 and the FIFA World Cup 2030 (alongside Spain and Portugal), the timing couldn’t be more fitting for the Kingdom to host another significant occasion: the UITP Africa x MENA Conference 2024.

From 9 to 11 December 2024, Casablanca became a hub for discussions centred on public transport, welcoming 256 delegates from 28 countries across Africa, MENA, Europe and Asia.

Large-scale events present unique logistical challenges, requiring meticulous planning to ensure smooth mobility. Speakers shared the best practices from events such as the Hajj pilgrimage and the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games, providing Morocco tips and tricks as it prepares for CAF 2025 and FIFA 2030.

A unifying theme emerged from these examples: adaptability is key to accommodate new challenges. These events serve as catalysts for the development of public transport, and drive lasting benefits for cities and its citizens, fostering a culture that embraces public transport over private cars.

Football is probably the most popular sport in every African country, meaning pressure was on for Abidjan! Bouake Meite, General Manager Abidjan Transport Company (SOTRA), highlighted the role of public transport investment. The infrastructure developments made for the tournament have left a lasting impact, improving accessibility, bridging gaps in underserved areas, and improving the public’s perception of public transport.

The road to Hajj isn’t easy when you are behind the scenes! Mustafa Shibli, CDC Manager of the Makkah Bus Project, detailed the logistics of managing 2 million pilgrims. Lessons included adapting from previous Hajj seasons, expanding infrastructure and fleet capacity to accommodate growing numbers, and leveraging the latest technology, like crowd-management camera sensors, and implementing dedicated bus lanes, to guarantee efficient and smooth operations. The upcoming Makkah Metro project, part of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, will further enhance connectivity and safety.

Laurence Debrincat, Director Foresight & Studies & Olympic and Paralympic Games of Île-de-France Mobilité, presented strategies such as buffer zones to distribute spectators, a multilingual mobile app for journey planning (including a suggest preferred itinerary), and prioritising accessibility with dedicated taxis and parking for disabled individuals. Debrincat reinforced that collaboration with event organisers and optimising existing infrastructure – rather than creating new systems – proved vital. ‘Plan, test, coordinate but most importantly, cooperate!’, reinforced Debrincat.

Celebrating its 50th anniversary, Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) systems were the central focus of the conference. As cities worldwide face rapid urbanisation, such as Morocco, where 68.5% of the population is projected to live in urban areas by 2050 (Haut-Commissariat du Plan – HCP), BRT offers a scalable and cost-effective solution to traffic congestion, environmental challenges, and mobility inequities.

Fast, accessible and environmentally friendly – the Casablanca BRT project, operational since 2023, covers the entire city and exemplifies integrated urban planning. The “CasaBusway” service complements the metropole’s public transport offering by adding 2 exclusive right-of-way lines to Casablanca’s existing tramway network. Nabil Beladed, Director General of CASABUS, emphasised the role of public authorities and the collaboration between stakeholders to make it successful.

Connecting strategic points across the city, from north to south, Agadir’s BRT system prioritises green urban development, with bike lanes, LED lighting, and green spaces. Jamal Damich, Director of the Research Department, Grand Agadir pour la Mobilité et les Déplacements Urbains (GAMDU), explained that the project has already reduced vehicle congestion in the city centre, and the aim is to expand the fleet from 30 to 200 buses, to serve more people and boost economic activity.

In recent years, Morocco has demonstrated a strong commitment to modernising its public transport systems, with a particular focus on urban mobility. From BRT lines in Casablanca and Agadir to upgrades of the Rabat-Salé tram system, and the acquisition of 3,500 new buses, these initiatives align with the Kingdom’s strategic plan for public transport 2025-2029. These efforts, focused on accessibility, innovation, and sustainability, were highlighted Jelloul Samsseme, Wali Director-General of Local Authorities, who accepted UITP’s award for special recognition on behalf of Morocco.

The third plenary session focused on the concept of combined mobility, which integrates mass transport systems with other modes to provide seamless and efficient journeys for passengers.

Michael Banjo, Area Manager Stations at Transport for London, delivered a presentation on the untapped potential of waterborne transport across Africa’s inland waterways. Banjo showcased promising solutions, including pilot projects, private sector partnerships like Caverton Marine’s ferry fleet in Nigeria, and cross-border initiatives like the Lake Victoria freight service, which connects Uganda and Tanzania. Banjo concluded by emphasising the critical role of waterborne transport in achieving SDG targets and advancing climate action, positioning it as an integral part of Africa’s future mobility systems.

From the waterways to the bustling streets, Emmanuel Dommergues, Head of the Mobility Governance Unit at UITP, shifted the focus to paratransit, where it accounts for over 50% of public transport trips in many cities in the Global South. While paratransit is indispensable for flexible urban mobility, its full potential depends on regulation, strong governance, and integration into formal transport systems. Recognizing paratransit as a cornerstone of urban mobility is crucial for achieving equitable and sustainable transport solutions in the Global South.

From Senegal’s Dakar BRT to Abu Dhabi’s Green Bus Programme, electric vehicle adoption and clean bus technologies are gaining momentum globally.

Thierno Birahim AW, Director General of CETUD, shared the experience of the Dakar BRT and presented the e-mobility Strategy, aiming for a fully zero-emission fleet to meet the demands of urban growth.

Anan Alamri, Head of Alternative and Sustainable Mobility, Integrated Transport Center, showcased Abu Dhabi’s Green Bus Programme strategic roadmap for achieving a net-zero fleet, as part of UAE’s vision for net-zero by 2050, while priotitising passenger-centric solutions.

Laura Delgado, External Affairs at CRTM, shared the success of Madrid’s integrated public transport system. Since the establishment of the Consorcio Regional de Transportes de Madrid (CRTM), the region has witnessed a unification of administrative responsibilities, fare systems, and transport modes. She also explained how modal integration connects rail and bus networks, promoting intermodality as a core principle, while technological integration ensures efficient data sharing between operators and passengers.

Industry experts, key stakeholders and funders explored different funding models and their roles in supporting the sustainability of urban and multimodal mobility systems. Morocco public transport fund, created in 2007, served as an example during the roundtable discussion. By financing infrastructure and adopting a holistic approach that includes social, economic, and environmental considerations, the Kingdom showcased how sustainable growth benefits all citizens.

As pointed out by Mustapha Loudini, Head of Local Finance Division, General Directorate of Territorial Collectivities, ‘Morocco is proud to have reached the level of public transport we have today, but it is important to consolidate the governance models. We need to think beyond public transport, we need to think about the whole mobility spectrum.’

However, there is no one-size-fits-all solution. Different countries can adopt varied models tailored to their unique contexts, each offering its own opportunities and challenges. What remains indisputable, though, is the necessity of investing in mobility systems.

The conference concluded with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the African Association of Urban Mobility Authorities (AUMA) and UITP. This partnership promises to foster sustainable, inclusive cities across Africa through shared expertise, capacity building, and advocacy.

As per the words of Jelloul Samsseme, Wali Director-General of Local Authorities, “UITP is driving the exchange of ideas and collaboration and making it possible to collaborate with the African regions.”

As delegates got a behind-the-scenes look into Casablanca’s multimodal tram-BRT maintenance center on the final day, the spirit of innovation and collaboration was palpable. “I left inspired by the ideas shared,” said one participant.

With discussions still fresh and plenty more to discuss, 11 December 2024 was a dynamic day for UITP members, as they took part in division meetings.

• UITP Africa Regional Executive Meeting: The first ever meeting, chaired by Edwins Mukabanah, President of the UITP Africa Division, CEO of Kenya Bus Company, Kenya, Bouaké Meite, Vice-President of the UITP Africa Division, CEO of Société des Transports Abidjanais; and Ousmane Thiam, International Expert in Transport and Urban Mobility, Honorary President of the UITP Africa Committee (Senegal), focused on the strategic developments of Africa’s public transport sector.  Key discussions revolved around addressing the continent’s pressing public transport challenges, incorporating paratransit into global urban mobility systems, and emphasising the urgent need for capacity-building programmes. The meeting also reflected on 2024 achievements, particularly on the activities of the UITP Regional Training Centre in Dakar, hosted by CETUD.
• MENA Regional Committee meeting: Led by the Senior Vice Chair Dr. Hesham Taha CEO Mwasalat Misr, approved the plans for UITP research and activities planed for 2025 and celebrated the commendable success and growth in 2024.
• MENA Bus platform working group meeting: Chaired by Badar Al Nadabi CEO of Mwasalat Oman set the priority topics for 2025 work program. The Sub Working Group chaired by Anan Al Amri, Section Head- Alternative & Sustainable Mobility Integrated Transport Center (Abu Dhabi), shared the updates on the project on ‘Decarbonising Mobility: The Rise of E-buses in MENA Landscape’,  exploring the landscape and current status of e-buses in the MENA region and conducting a benchmarking analysis based on best practices and indicators to aid the MENA region in understanding its requirements and enhance the e-buses adoption.