Rabat – In a recent statement, the wilaya of the Casablanca-Settat region has accused the operations of the foreign transportation company, Yango, of violating local laws and regulations. The statement claims that the company has been providing transport services via their “Yango” mobile app in Casablanca without obtaining necessary permits or proper approval.
Yango’s entry into the local market has generated controversy by employing unlicensed vehicles and unprofessional drivers. According to the authorities, neither Yango nor any other companies offering similar services have been granted licences to operate using private vehicles for public transport purposes.
The wilaya’s statement comes as part of local efforts to monitor and crack down on illegal transportation activities facilitated through smartphone applications. These practices are regarded as breaches of Moroccan law, particularly regarding public road transport and professional driving standards dictated by the Highway Code.
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Recently, there have been a flurry of complaints from Moroccan taxi drivers regarding the rise of ridesharing apps such as Indrive, which they claim need more government supervision so as to not take away their customer base.
Tensions between the two groups of formal and informal transportation providers tend to bubble back up, with rideshare app users complaining about harassment or even violence in some extreme cases. On March 21, Morocco’s National Union of Taxi Professionals called on its members and taxi drivers in the country to join a protest in front of the Ministry of Interior to address these challenges.
Citizens have been urged by regional authorities to avoid dealing with unauthorised transportation providers due to potential risks. Additionally, drivers working for these companies have been warned of possible administrative and legal repercussions related to public transport regulation and control.
