Côte d’Ivoire: The Government Opts for Barge Transport to Decongest the Port of Abidjan

Meeting on Wednesday, April 15, 2026, under the chairmanship of His Excellency Mr. Alassane OUATTARA, President of the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire, the Council of Ministers officially introduced barge transport in the port waters of Abidjan. This is a strategic decision aimed at strengthening the competitiveness of the Port Autonome d’Abidjan.

A Structural Response to Port Congestion

The Port of Abidjan has been suffering for years from chronic congestion, worsened by the influx of heavy goods vehicles on the city’s roads. In response to this issue, the government has opted for a barge transport solution.

This river-based container transport system will provide a lasting solution to congestion in the port area and improve the flow of road traffic across the city of Abidjan, through the creation of logistics zones and designated routes for heavy trucks — with no possibility for these trucks to pass through the city of Abidjan.

The scheme includes an accreditation mechanism for operators wishing to enter this new river container transport market. They will be required to obtain authorization issued by the Minister in charge of Transport, in accordance with current procedures.