By Sharon Atieno Onyango
Africa’s first continental and legally-binding road safety framework has entered into force.
The African Road Safety Charter came into effect on 12 March 2026, following ratification and depositing of instruments of ratification by 15 African Union (AU) Member States.
These countries include Benin, Central African Republic, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Mali, Morocco, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Togo, Uganda, Mozambique and Zambia.
“This ratification is a strong political statement to preserve human life and advance Africa’s collective vision of safer roads, safer vehicles and safer road users. The Charter’s entry into force gives us the legal foundation we need to hold governments accountable and drive real progress,” said Lerato D. Mataboge, African Union Commissioner for Infrastructure and Energy.
Road deaths rose by 17% in the decade to 2021 in the WHO African Region, with nearly 250 000 fatalities per year. Several African countries reduced road fatalities in recent years, yet the Region still holds the world’s highest road fatality rate.
The Charter compels signatories to take actions that are in line with the Global Plan for the Decade of Action for Road Safety 2021-2030 and African Road Safety Action Plan 2021-2030 which offer guidance for countries to meet the goal of halving road deaths and serious injuries by 2030.
These include:establishing a national road safety agency to coordinate road safety policy and enacting and enforcing laws that meet global best practices on the five key road safety risk factors – speeding, drink-driving, helmet use, seat belt use, and child restraints.
Others are developing national road crash data systems to inform evidence-based policy, investing in safe road infrastructure and vehicle safety standards and strengthening pre-hospital and post-crash emergency care.
“The entry into force of the African Road Safety Charter is a major milestone for Africa. This is exactly the kind of systemic, legally-binding intervention that can help turn the rising number of road deaths around. Rooted in proven solutions, it is a clear commitment to urgent action. We urge all African Union Member States to ratify and implement this landmark Charter,” said Dr Nhan Tran, Head, Violence and Injury Prevention at WHO.
WHO, in support of the AU Commission and the African Road Safety Observatory, played a key role in the process leading to the Charter’s entry into force, advocating at all levels for ratification and implementation, and working with African countries to strengthen road safety legislation, improve data and surveillance systems, develop national road safety strategies, strengthen emergency care systems, and build the capacity of national road safety agencies.
WHO’s Global Status Report on Road Safety, the world’s leading road safety data resource, provided the evidence base for the Charter’s advocacy, with country profiles giving a clear picture of progress.
