AU Aims to Cut Road Fatalities by 50% by 2030

By Dawan Africa - Reporter

Ethiopia,19 November 2025 - African Union Commissioner Lerato D. Mataboge has warned of the alarming rise in road traffic fatalities across the continent, noting that Africa records the highest rate of road deaths globally relative to population size.

She said the continent accounts for nearly 25 per cent of the world’s traffic-related deaths, placing economic burdens estimated at around 2 per cent of Africa’s annual GDP.

Her remarks came during the commemoration of Africa Road Safety Day 2025 in Addis Ababa, held alongside the World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims.

The event brought together regional officials, civil society representatives, and families of victims.

The Commissioner described the situation as a “real crisis”, highlighting the high fatality rates among youth and children, as well as significant losses among pedestrians and motorcycle riders, who constitute the majority of victims.

Mataboge urged member states to accelerate the ratification of the African Road Safety Charter, integrate it into national legislation, and implement urgent reforms.

These reforms include improving road infrastructure, tightening speed laws, enhancing public transport systems, and expanding road safety awareness programmes.

She emphasized that the African Union is implementing the African Road Safety Action Plan (2021–2030), which aims to reduce fatalities by 50 per cent by 2030.

Achieving this goal, she said, requires strong political commitment, increased investment in road safety, and closer cooperation between governments, the private sector, and civil society.

Mataboge concluded by stressing that saving lives on Africa’s roads “is not a choice, but an urgent necessity to ensure a safe and sustainable future for the continent’s people.”