The Togolese Ministry of Transport has officially suspended the operations of the ride-hailing platform Yango across the country.
The suspension follows a brief period of operation that began in June, during which the ministry claims the service launched without the necessary legal authorizations and in direct violation of national administrative procedures.
Government officials cited significant concerns regarding passenger safety, the maintenance of public order, and the failure of the company to comply with established legal protocols as the primary drivers for the ban.
In response, Yango, which is owned by the Russian tech conglomerate Yandex but operates out of its international headquarters in Dubai, emphasized its independence and stated that it is currently in negotiations with Togolese authorities to resolve the regulatory impasse.
This regulatory friction is part of a broader trend of West African nations tightening oversight on digital transport services to ensure data privacy and rider security. Similar challenges have faced digital platforms in neighboring markets, often centered on the classification of drivers and the payment of local transport levies.
