Côte d'Ivoire is embarking on an ambitious reform aimed at better organizing the small parcel delivery sector, which until now has been largely dominated by informal delivery drivers. This restructuring follows worrying observations, particularly regarding road safety and the identification of service providers.

According to authorities, between 80 and 90% of traffic violations recorded in Abidjan involve parcel delivery drivers, often lacking permits, tax coverage, or even legal registration. The government therefore plans to activate a mechanism already enshrined in law, giving the Ivorian postal service, La Poste de Côte d'Ivoire, a central role in regulating and coordinating this sector.

The stated objective is to structure a currently fragmented ecosystem, while integrating existing market players. For Isaac Gnamba Yao, CEO of La Poste Côte d'Ivoire, this reform represents both a strategic turning point and a necessary modernization.

"This is excellent news for the postal industry, but above all an opportunity to modernize La Poste to adapt it to the requirements of e-commerce and urban logistics," he said during a meeting organized with professionals in the sector by the Directorate General of Land Transport.

The process will begin in January 2026 with a comprehensive census of delivery drivers, whether independent or employed by companies. An initial online registration phase will then be launched, followed by in-person verification. The relevant ministry specifies that this operation will be free of charge initially and will be accompanied by transitional measures to facilitate the integration of participants.

The government is seeking to reassure some operators regarding their concerns: the aim is neither to nationalize nor to restrict the sector, but to make it safer, more professional, and better structured. This reform also aims to provide delivery drivers with essential guarantees, including access to insurance, credit, training, and a recognized legal identity.

With the involvement of La Poste de Côte d'Ivoire as regulator and aggregator, the authorities intend to lay the foundations for an organizational framework adapted to the rapid evolution of e-commerce and urban logistics. This step is considered essential to support the growth of a rapidly expanding sector.