THE founding general assembly of the African Association of Urban Mobility Authorities (AAUMA) was held in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire, on February 21.
Several African countries have created urban mobility authorities (UMAs) to strengthen public transport governance in metropolitan areas experiencing the highest population and urban growth rates.
During a meeting between the Africa Transport Policy Program (SSATP) and UMAs that took place as part of the Sustainable Mobility and Climate Week (SMDC22) conference in Dakar, Senegal, in October 2022, the participants recognised the need to create a formal platform to exchange knowledge and experience of the planning, coordination, regulation, management and financing of urban transport systems in Africa.
The AAUMA founding general assembly was organised with the support of SSATP and the Urban Mobility Authority of Greater Abidjan (AMUGA).
During the meeting, the founding UMAs and first members adopted the statutes, code of conduct and business plan of the association, which outlines the organisational structure, priority thematic areas and proposed activities to be conducted in the first years of its existence.
At the end of the general assembly, the members unanimously elected the director general of the executive council of Urban Transport of Dakar (CETUD), Dr Thierno Birahim Aw, as president of the executive committee of AAUMA. He will be supported by three vice presidents: the director general of the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA), Mrs Abimbola Akinajo; the director general of the Maputo Metropolitan Transport Agency (AMT), Mr Antonio Dos Santos; and the director general of Casa Transports (Casablanca), Mr Nabil Belabed.
The permanent secretariat, established in Abidjan, is entrusted to AMUGA, through its director general, Mr Romain Kouakou.
