Brazzaville Sets 72-Hour Clock for Moto-Taxi Compliance
Helmeted riders weaving through Brazzaville traffic have three days to adapt or stop. The General Directorate of Presidential Security, DGSP, issued a sharp reminder this week, summoning the body that oversees motorcycle and tricycle taxis and demanding immediate respect for existing transport law.
During an ad-hoc meeting inside the Camp Clairon compound, officers spelled out the motive: too many accidents, too many unregistered bikes and an urgent need to restore order before year-end traffic peaks. The session, observers say, lasted barely thirty minutes but set a clear tone.
The ultimatum mirrors earlier campaigns against reckless driving in the capital, yet this time monitoring will be handled directly by DGSP patrols stationed at main junctions such as Marché Total, Avenue de la Paix and the southern exits toward Kintélé, according to the communiqué.
The Key Rules Every Rider Must Follow
First comes mandatory registration. Every moto-taxi must now carry a visible plate linked to its holder, enabling police to trace ownership within minutes. Unregistered machines, even if brand-new, will be seized on the spot, the DGSP warns.
Second, helmets are non-negotiable. The directive specifies ‘homologated protective helmets’, a phrase borrowed from the Highway Code. Both driver and passenger must strap one on before the engine starts, ending the common practice of sharing a single cracked cap.
Third, the fluorescent numbered vest graduates from accessory to obligation. Authorities plan to pair vest numbers with a digital register, helping commuters rate service quality and flag misconduct. Officials argue the scheme benefits honest riders by deterring impostors.
Safety First on Congolese Roads
Road safety groups applaud the one-passenger rule as a life-saver. In dense traffic, extra bodies shift the center of gravity and stretch braking distance. Statistics from the National Road Agency credit overloading for 38 % of recent bike crashes in Brazzaville.
Prohibiting the ‘amazone’ side-saddle position particularly targets schoolchildren and market vendors who previously perched on one hip. Doctors at the Makélékélé referral hospital report spinal injuries linked to sudden tilts in that posture.
Finally, the text states that foreign nationals may no longer operate moto-taxis. Officials present the measure as a clarification rather than a xenophobic turn, emphasizing that working papers for commercial transport were already mandatory under existing labour law.
Riders React to the New Deadline
On Avenue Matsoua, rider Saturnin, 27, adjusted his still-packaged helmet and shrugged. “The fines will hurt, but it’s better than spending months in hospital,” he conceded, adding that he plans to visit the licensing office before queues grow.
Nearby, passenger Clarisse Mbemba welcomed the vest rule. “If the number is visible, I can report a bad driver. Right now, they disappear into traffic,” she said, pointing to a faded orange vest lacking digits.
Some operators, however, fear lost revenue. A veteran nicknamed ‘Papa Gaz’ argued that limiting trips to a single passenger will force him to double fares. Others worry about the cost of approved helmets, priced around 12 000 F CFA in downtown shops.
DGSP’s Expanding Role in Urban Mobility
The DGSP, typically associated with presidential protection, has in recent years widened its portfolio to include civil security tasks. Analysts note that transport discipline aligns with the agency’s mandate to safeguard public gatherings and official convoys.
A senior officer speaking on state radio underlined that the crackdown supports broader government aims set out in the National Development Plan, notably the pillar on safe mobility. He invited unions to join ‘permanent dialogue tables’ after the initial sweep.
Observers expect collaboration with the Police Nationale and municipal councils. Inter-service checkpoints could appear along the RN2 corridor toward Pointe-Noire, a move aimed at stopping non-compliant bikes from simply escaping the city limits.
What Passengers Need to Know Next
Commuters are advised to factor in possible delays as checkpoints emerge. Transport economist Edgard Ibata predicts a short-term dip in bike availability, especially during the morning rush, followed by a rebound once riders regularize papers.
Until then, authorities suggest alternative modes such as the public bus line between Talangaï and Bakongo or the ferry across the Djoué for peripheral villages. Officials stress that no fare adjustments are planned on those routes.
For riders still hesitating, the message remains blunt: regularise now or risk confiscation. As the Thursday midnight deadline looms, the neon glow of new vests may soon outshine the city’s evening traffic, signaling a safer, more orderly moto-taxi era.
Digital reporting tools are also on the table. The transport secretary confirmed that a WhatsApp line will collect photos of offending bikes, with location pins automatically forwarded to nearby patrols. Privacy safeguards, he assured, will restrict storage to thirty days.
Meanwhile, training workshops for riders are planned at district stadiums this weekend. Mechanics will demonstrate proper brake adjustment, while police instructors walk through signal hand-gestures and emergency stops. Participants completing the course receive priority slots for licensing examinations next month.
