Abidjan shutdown highlights cash flow challenges and regulatory friction in West African ride-hailing market
Uber has withdrawn completely from Côte d’Ivoire after six years of operations in Abidjan, marking the first African country where the ride-hailing giant has shut down entirely. The September 24 exit occurred without official explanation but reflects ongoing challenges with driver economics and regulatory compliance in the West African market.
The departure leaves Abidjan’s ride-hailing market to competitors including Bolt, Yango, and local player Moja Ride, who will absorb Uber’s former market share in a city where the company has operated since December 2019.
Driver Economics Drive Market Exit
The core issue appears centered on Uber’s payment structure failing to match local economic realities. Many drivers in Côte d’Ivoire require daily access to earnings for immediate expenses including fuel, vehicle maintenance, and household needs. Uber’s payout cycle and commission structure created cash flow challenges that made operations unsustainable for drivers dependent on same-day income.
This operational model mismatch reflects broader challenges global technology platforms face when applying standardized systems to markets with different financial infrastructure and cash flow needs.
Regulatory Friction and Market Dynamics
While Uber provided no official reason for the exit, regulatory challenges have historically complicated the company’s African operations. In April 2022, Uber suspended operations in Tanzania due to regulatory disputes, demonstrating a pattern where the company withdraws rather than extensively adapting to local regulatory requirements.
The Côte d’Ivoire exit suggests similar friction, though the relative silence around the departure differs from Tanzania’s more publicly documented regulatory conflicts.
Broader African Operational Struggles
Uber continues operating in Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, and South Africa, but not without significant challenges. Nigerian drivers staged at least two protests in 2025 over commission rates and delayed payouts, indicating that the economic model issues seen in Côte d’Ivoire persist across other markets.
These recurring protests suggest systematic problems with Uber’s approach to African markets rather than isolated local issues. The company’s global operational template appears increasingly misaligned with African driver economics and expectations.
Competitive Landscape Consolidation
Bolt, Yango, and Moja Ride now have opportunity to consolidate Abidjan’s ride-hailing market without Uber’s competition. However, they face the same fundamental challenges around driver economics, regulatory compliance, and local market adaptation that led to Uber’s exit.
The critical question is whether these competitors can succeed where Uber failed by offering better payment terms, stronger local partnerships, or more flexible operational models that accommodate daily payout expectations.
Market Entry vs. Sustainable Operations
Uber’s Abidjan entry in December 2019 came into an already competitive market, suggesting the company may have underestimated both the strength of existing players and the operational adaptations required for success. The six-year duration indicates sustained effort but ultimate inability to achieve sustainable unit economics.
This timeline suggests the issues weren’t temporary market entry challenges but fundamental mismatches between Uber’s business model and local market requirements.
Lessons for Global Platform Expansion
The Côte d’Ivoire exit reinforces that brand recognition and technology platforms alone don’t guarantee success in African markets. Companies must design payment systems around local cash flow needs, establish partnerships with local financial institutions and insurers, and collaborate effectively with regulators.
Without these adaptations, even well-funded global companies struggle to maintain sustainable operations in markets where driver and rider expectations differ significantly from developed economy norms.
Strategic Implications for African Mobility
For investors and entrepreneurs, Uber’s complete market withdrawal demonstrates that African mobility markets reward companies building around local financial realities rather than adapting global templates. This creates opportunities for regionally-focused competitors who can design operations specifically for African market conditions.
However, the fundamental economics of ride-hailing remain challenging everywhere, and local competitors must still prove they can achieve profitability while meeting driver income expectations and providing competitive rider pricing.
