Africa Endorses Continental Plans to Drive Electric and Active Mobility Transition

African Transport and Energy Ministers have endorsed two major continental frameworks aimed at transforming mobility across the continent, marking a significant step toward safer, cleaner and more inclusive transport systems.

The Pan-African Action Plan for Active Mobility (PAAPAM) and a Continental Framework on Electric Mobility were adopted during the 5th Ordinary Session of the African Union’s Specialized Technical Committee on Transport and Energy. The frameworks seek to address rising road fatalities, air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions by promoting walking, cycling and electric vehicles.

The endorsement comes within the first year of the UN Decade of Sustainable Transport (2026–2035), positioning African countries to tackle climate, health and accessibility challenges while unlocking economic opportunities through integrated transport solutions.

“Today’s endorsement sends a clear signal that African governments recognise the urgency of shifting to electric mobility while also investing in the safety and wellbeing of the billion people who walk and cycle every day,” said Lerato D. Martaboge, African Union Commissioner for Infrastructure and Energy.

The electric mobility framework, developed by the African Union Commission in collaboration with the UN Economic Commission for Africa and the UN Environment Programme, outlines strategies to reduce dependence on fossil fuels, expand local manufacturing and harness Africa’s renewable energy potential.

Africa’s transport sector currently accounts for 31 percent of carbon dioxide emissions, while more than 70 percent of refined fuel demand is met through imports. However, progress is already underway, with an estimated 132,000 electric vehicles in operation across the continent. Ethiopia leads adoption efforts, and nearly half of African countries are now involved in assembling or manufacturing electric vehicles and charging infrastructure.

Meanwhile, the PAAPAM framework, coordinated by multiple UN agencies and regional bodies, is the first continental plan focused on prioritizing walking and cycling, which remain the most widely used forms of transport in Africa.

More than a billion Africans rely on walking or cycling daily, often for nearly an hour to access essential services. Yet infrastructure remains inadequate, contributing to disproportionate road fatalities. Africa accounts for 24 percent of global road deaths despite having only 3 percent of the world’s vehicle fleet, with pedestrians and cyclists making up over a third of those killed.

“Walking, cycling and electric vehicles are among the most effective and practical solutions for tackling the climate crisis and improving public health,” said Elizabeth Mrema, Deputy Executive Director of the UN Environment Programme.

Several countries are already advancing these efforts. Ethiopia has expanded pedestrian and cycling infrastructure in Addis Ababa, while Uganda and Egypt have introduced new mobility strategies. Rwanda has implemented fiscal incentives for electric vehicles and banned new registrations of combustion-engine passenger motorcycles in Kigali.

Elsewhere, Senegal has launched an electric bus rapid transit system in Dakar, and Kenya has rolled out a national electric mobility policy, with thousands of electric motorcycles already in use.

The newly endorsed frameworks are expected to accelerate such initiatives, providing a unified roadmap to scale investment, strengthen policy coordination and advance sustainable transport systems across Africa.