Taxi Unions Rejoice as Morocco Shuts Down Ride-hailing Apps

Morocco has officially banned ride-hailing apps, and taxi unions are very happy about this. Taxi unions rejoice as Morocco shuts down ride-hailing apps because they have been fighting against these app services for a long time. The government’s decision to shut down ride-hailing apps in Morocco is seen as a big win for the traditional taxi drivers.

The Ministry of Transport and Logistics said that ride-hailing apps like Bolt and Yango are not allowed to operate in Morocco because private drivers using these apps don’t have legal permission. Morocco has formally banned ride-hailing apps to make it clear that people cannot use private cars for passenger transport without official approval. The law in Morocco says passenger transport needs to be authorized by the government, and app-based ride services don’t meet this rule.

The ministry also warned that drivers who offer paid rides without permission are breaking the law and could face fines or even jail. The Ministry of the Interior, which manages urban transport, shares this view. Interior Minister Abdelouafi Laftit said in parliament that private transport without proper permission goes against Morocco’s transport and road safety laws. Police have started actions in big cities to stop unlicensed ride-hailing.

Taxi unions rejoice as Morocco shuts down ride-hailing apps because they believe these apps are unfair competition. For a long time, taxi drivers said app drivers set prices that change a lot and don’t follow the rules that traditional taxis do. Taxi drivers have fixed fares, use meters, and passengers pay once they reach their destination. They feel the ride-hailing apps lie in a legal no-man’s-land and hurt their business by charging less or changing prices quickly.

But the app drivers say they are helping by meeting the growing demand. They also say riders like how easy it is to book a ride on their phone, see where the car is in real time, and know the price before getting in. This conflict showed a big problem in Morocco’s transport system, which has not changed much since before smartphone apps became popular.

Now that Morocco has formally banned ride-hailing apps, many people who liked to use these apps for easy access to rides might have fewer choices. In cities like Casablanca and Rabat, this might make getting around harder, especially during busy times.

The government’s move to shut down ride-hailing apps in Morocco is part of a larger trend in Africa. Several countries have reacted to the rise of digital transport services by putting rules or bans in place. For example, Senegal made new laws to make ride-hailing cars registered officially after taxi unions complained. Togo stopped Yango for safety and legal reasons. Cameroon banned Yango after protests from taxi drivers. Algeria saw Yango leave in 2024 because of legal problems. Tunisia also paused Bolt to check for tax and licensing issues.

All these changes show that African governments find it hard to control new, fast-changing technologies while also protecting traditional taxis. Morocco’s decision comes at an important time because the country will soon host millions of visitors for the 35th TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations. The ban may cause problems with transport unless Morocco creates new rules or offers alternatives for ride-hailing soon.

In the end, taxi unions are rejoicing as Morocco shuts down ride-hailing apps because they feel their work is protected and the rules are being followed. But for many people, this ban means losing a popular way to get rides. Morocco now faces the challenge of balancing clear laws and new technology to keep its cities moving.

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