Do digital shared mobility platforms in West Africa really need public actors ?

Keywords: digital platforms, shared mobility, territorial governance, socio-political innovation, West Africa, public actors
Abstract Type: Virtual Paper Abstract

Abstract

At a time when digital shared mobility platforms are multiplying in West Africa, this article questions the real willingness and capacity of public authorities to support their development. Our main hypothesis suggests that the lack of tangible engagement from West African public actors reveals a form of strategic disinterest in these new mobility solutions. Drawing on the work of Jaglin (2019) and Chenal (2020), this article explores the paradox of a State which, while withdrawing and letting the private sector manage public services, observes from afar, fearing that progress might happen too quickly.

Our research examines three critical dimensions: the resources mobilized, the competencies deployed, and the political vision displayed by public actors. The study, based on field surveys in three West African metropolises (Cotonou, Dakar, Abidjan), reveals a dual questioning about the legitimacy of initiatives often perceived as a new form of Western digital solution diffusion, and about the real political will to encourage these platforms.

Initial results highlight the ambiguity of public authorities' stance: between discourse favorable to innovation and the absence of concrete support actions. This situation raises fundamental questions: do West African authorities really want to see these platforms develop in their territory? The conclusions suggest that the success of these platforms might paradoxically lie in their ability to develop without waiting for public support that is slow to materialize, thus focusing on their growth without being hindered by administrative delays.