Despite an awards ceremony held on March 22, 2026, to honor its partner drivers, Yango is facing a wave of departures in Cameroon. Drivers in Douala, Yaounde, and Bafoussam are reporting a significant drop in activity and are leaving the platform in large numbers.
The event, which took place on International Drivers' Day, was intended to recognize the commitment and professionalism of Yango's partner drivers. Refrigerators, televisions, microwaves, and even a motorcycle were offered to the top performers. Yango's Country Manager, Dr. Pilla Clovis, stated that the initiative aimed to reward drivers whose performance contributes to the improvement of urban mobility in Cameroon.
However, many drivers in Douala, Yaounde, and Bafoussam paint a different picture. They claim that activity is plummeting. In Bafoussam, several vehicles that were previously affiliated with Yango have disappeared from the platform. In Yaounde and Douala, the phenomenon is even more visible. A driver in Douala said that he could sit for hours without a ride and that he had left Yango to return to city taxi driving because it was no longer profitable. A driver in Yaounde confirmed that activity was down and that many drivers had left, with those remaining having no other choice.
In several neighborhoods, it is observed that vehicles that were once identified as Yango are gradually being transformed. Painted yellow, they are joining traditional taxis, which is evidence of a massive disengagement of drivers. Others prefer to drive the "line" between two cities, which is considered more financially stable.
Some observers suggest that these repeated ceremonies and awards are an attempt to restore a tarnished image. By highlighting a few success stories and one-off gains, Yango is trying to maintain the attractiveness of its platform, even as the number of active drivers appears to be declining.
While the March 22, 2026 initiative made some people happy, it fails to mask the underlying trend: the Yango model is losing its appeal in Cameroon. The drop in the number of rides, the perceived insufficient income, and the massive conversions are leading many drivers to turn the page. Competition from other ride-hailing apps like Gozem and OnGo could also be playing a role in this decline.
