Africa Urged to Turn E-Mobility Policies Into Coordinated Action
African countries and regional institutions have been urged to move faster from electric mobility policy commitments to coordinated implementation, with stakeholders saying the transition could strengthen energy security, sustainable transport, industrialization and local value addition across the continent.
The call was made at the Africa E-Mobility Week & Forum 2026 (AEWF2026), held under the theme “The African E-Mobility Strategy: From Policy to Action.”
The forum brought together governments, international organizations, businesses, financial institutions, academia and civil society to discuss how Africa can accelerate the adoption of electric mobility and build the infrastructure and industries needed to support the transition.
Participants said electric mobility is gaining momentum across the continent, but implementation remains too slow to address Africa’s climate, public health and economic needs.
Yohannes Hailu, Officer-in-Charge of the Connectivity and Infrastructure Development Section at the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), said the transition to electric mobility could reduce Africa’s dependence on imported fossil fuels while improving air quality and strengthening energy security.
He also pointed to the opportunity to create more value from Africa’s critical minerals by developing local manufacturing and regional electric vehicle value chains.
Hailu identified four immediate priorities: local manufacturing and regional EV value chains; charging infrastructure and energy readiness; finance and incentives; and skills, awareness, innovation and research.
The need for common standards was also highlighted as a key part of developing Africa’s electric mobility market.
During a breakout session on electric vehicle standards, ECA Transport Specialist Placide Badji underscored the importance of applying existing United Nations regulations to improve vehicle safety, environmental performance and industrial development across African markets.
Among the regulations highlighted was UN Regulation No. 100, which addresses the safety of vehicles with electric powertrains, including protection against high-voltage risks and requirements for rechargeable electrical energy storage systems.
Participants also discussed provisions for Acoustic Vehicle Alerting Systems, which are designed to help make quieter electric vehicles more detectable to vulnerable road users.
The forum’s Joint Declaration calls for greater investment in local electric vehicle manufacturing and assembly, battery-material processing, affordable financing, charging infrastructure and renewable-energy integration.
It also calls for greater opportunities for young people and women to participate in the emerging electric mobility sector.
The declaration places particular emphasis on harmonizing and implementing standards covering vehicles, batteries, charging systems, payment compatibility and interoperability across African markets.
It further calls for appropriate rules governing used electric vehicle imports, as well as the reuse, recycling and disposal of batteries.
Participants urged the African Union Commission, regional economic communities and member states to accelerate policy alignment and cross-border cooperation.
They also called for greater use of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) to reduce trade barriers and support the development of competitive regional electric vehicle value chains.
Better data was identified as another priority.
The Joint Declaration calls for an Africa-wide electric mobility database, while Hailu proposed the establishment of a pan-African electric vehicle observatory to track electric vehicle adoption, charging infrastructure, energy demand, environmental impacts and job creation.
The forum comes at the beginning of the United Nations Decade of Sustainable Transport 2026–2035, providing a framework for linking electric mobility with renewable energy, industrial development, regional integration, innovation and employment.
For African countries, participants said the next phase will require more than strategies and policy frameworks. It will require coordinated investment, common standards, stronger institutions and measurable implementation across national and regional markets.
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