Addis Abeba Orders Taxi Terminal Shake-Up

Apr 13 , 2025. By NAHOM AYELE ( FORTUNE STAFF WRITER )

Key Takeaways:

• Addis Abeba's new transport directive requires terminal facilitators to transition into industries like manufacturing or construction, ending years of service at taxi terminals.
• The city promises periodic reviews but faces backlash from facilitators and unions who feel unprepared for an overnight industry shift.
• The policy proposes stringent penalties for non-compliance, yet drivers and commuters voice skepticism over its potential to address core transport issues.
• The lack of a structured transition plan raises concerns about the socio-economic impact on facilitators and their families amidst abrupt changes.
• As the city focuses on enforcement, debates centre around the urgent need for tech-based solutions and transparent strategies to address deeper transportation woes.

The Addis Abeba’s City Administration has introduced a rule obliging terminal enterprises, which have helped manage taxi loading zones for more than two years, to move on to different lines of business. The directive allows the Transport Bureau to review service and conduct every three months and terminate contracts with the associations that do not comply. Approved on March 8, 2025, the rule prescribes that, after two years of operation, these enterprises should shift to manufacturing, construction, city farming, or other service-oriented ventures.

According to Transport Bureau Head, Yabibal Addis, this measure will come into force in the next two weeks. He argued that line-up facilitators, a.k.a. "Tera Askebariwoch", knew from the start that their involvement in taxi terminals would end after two years. Many, however, have worked well beyond that period, fueling public complaints about disorganised terminals and unauthorised fare hikes.

“We receive endless reports of facilitators who tolerate inflated fares,” he told Fortune. “They've had enough time to transition into new businesses.”

The Addis Abeba City Line-Up Facilitators Union, which represents 4,500 members grouped into 165 associations, says it was blindsided by how rapidly the city wants to enforce this rule.

“We're shocked by the abruptness of it all,” Abraham Belayneh, the Union secretary, told Fortune.

According to Abraham, his members are not against moving into other industries, but they need time, training, and capital during the transition. He claims that city authorities have repeatedly required facilitators to contribute to municipal projects, including fundraising drives for the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), leaving them with insufficient savings.

“We've families and rents to pay,” he said. “Ending our jobs without notice will devastate many lives.”

The regulation imposes severe penalties for violations at terminals. If a terminal enterprise charges passengers or drivers beyond the permitted tariff, or fails to collect designated service fees, it risks fines or contract termination. A facilitator working without a uniform or official identification card may incur a penalty of up to 10,000 Br. Disrupting the flow of transport services can result in a 5,000 Br fine, while consuming substances such as alcohol or khat on duty could lead to termination.

City officials believe these regulations will restore order and accountability, but facilitators say they have limited control over what happens once taxis leave the terminal.

Among those worried about the new directive is Mubarek Gebre a member of  a 25-individuals association in the Ayer Tena neighbourhood. His association saved half a million Birr over 12 years, which he sees as inadequate for starting in other businesses such as construction or manufacturing.

“We collect fees from drivers, and the city often asks us to donate to different causes,” he said. “We never had a chance to build up enough capital to invest elsewhere.”

Mubarek fears he and his colleagues could soon be jobless.

Another facilitator, Tamrat Yigezu of the Zenebe Work Bruh Felege Line-Up Facilitators' Association, does not oppose the plan in principle but insists on a structured transition.

“We would leave if we had a roadmap, training, and time,” he told Fortune. “Pushing us out overnight will only cause chaos.”

Yabibal dismissed claims that facilitators had no way to save money or learn new skills.

“How can they manage to save now when they have not in five years?” he pondered. “Many of them own homes and cars. They simply do not want to give up easy.”

According to Yabibal, his Bureau receives frequent complaints from commuters who say facilitators do not prevent overcharging or disorder, undermining trust in the public transport system.

Tamrat disagreed. According to him, transportation fares are determined by the Bureau, and they collect money based on those tariffs. He acknowledged that some drivers might charge residents more than the tariff when leaving the terminal, but the associations should not be held accountable for that.

The city intends to reorganise and limit the number of terminal sites to 87, based on research suggesting that many current terminals are unnecessary. New associations will be formed, replacing older ones that have operated longer than two years. City officials believe that fresh facilitators, unaccustomed to the status quo, will better enforce official tariffs and rules.

Critics, however, argue that swapping one set of facilitators for another does not address the fundamental shortage of transporation, the congestion on roads, and the sometimes dysfunctional tariff system. Opinions differ sharply among taxi drivers.

A veteran driver, Ashenafi Tefera, who has been in the business for a decade, says that despite some issues, facilitators play a key role in preventing passenger theft and guiding traffic.

“They're helpful at busy terminals,” he said. “They direct people so we can avoid confusion.”

Another driver, Abdila Nasir, with eight years of experience, believes the city’s plan might create short-term chaos until the new facilitators learn the ropes.

“It's good if they stop letting drivers charge more," he told Fortune. "We need a smooth handover.”

Passengers also offer diverse viewpoints. A commuter, Kefyalew Berhanu, who regularly travels the Mexico-Bole route, appreciated that current facilitators maintain an orderly line, helping him get a taxi faster.

“I worry about the confusion when new people come in,” he told Fortune.

A passenger identified as Aklilemariam Kassahun observed facilitators often side with drivers who demand above-tariff fares.

“They don't look out for us,” he said. “If new facilitators can address that, it would be a change for the better.”

According to Union Secretary Abraham, the stakes are high for thousands of facilitators who have been in the job for years, some with families that rely on this income. He insisted that while they agree to diversify, they cannot do so overnight.

“We've been asking for training, but the city [officials] never responded,” he said. “We also have had to divert savings to projects the city itself encouraged.”

He fears the city’s sudden insistence on applying this rule amounts to forcing them out without the support they need.

Despite these objections, officials appear resolute. They say the new rule was introduced to address the myriad complaints from residents about arbitrary price hikes, lack of organisation, and occasional misconduct at terminals. According to Yabibal, existing associations have already exceeded their time.

“We can't continue turning a blind eye,” he told Fortune. “It's our job to protect citizens and ensure fair pricing.”

He blamed some facilitators for adapting to what he calls a “comfortable status quo.”

Concerns arise about whether replacing existing facilitators will resolve deeper problems in Addis Abeba’s transport sector. Transport expert, Abiy Alene, doubts it.

“Removing them does not address traffic jams or insufficient vehicles,” he said. “Tech-based solutions, like tracking drivers’ hours and fares, might be more effective.”

Abiy warned that bringing in inexperienced facilitators could make things worse before they get better, especially if the city offers no comprehensive plan.

Many facilitators also noted that the city has not offered a clear pathway into new jobs. With enforcement set to begin soon, both sides brace for a potentially bumpy ride, leaving drivers, passengers, and facilitators unsure whether these sweeping changes will address the underlying flaws of the city’s transport network or simply shift them onto the shoulders of a new batch.

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PUBLISHED ON Apr 13,2025 [ VOL 26 , NO 1302]

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