Yango Group has opened a new regional office in Abidjan, establishing the city as its operational headquarters for Africa. The move signals the company’s long-term commitment to the continent, where it currently operates in more than 16 countries.
A Strategic Move into West Africa
Yango first launched in Côte d’Ivoire in 2018 and has since expanded its portfolio of services across multiple African markets. The new Abidjan office will serve as the hub for coordinating operations, partnerships, and localisation strategies across the region. It is currently staffed with around 200 employees and is expected to grow further in the coming months.
The company described the office as a turning point in its African journey. “Africa was where our journey started,” said Daniil Shuleyko, CEO of Yango Group. “Today, we are investing in the future by making Abidjan the centre of our strategy for the continent.”
Building a Locally Adapted Ecosystem
The office will support Yango’s broader goal of building a locally adapted digital ecosystem. The company is pursuing a multi-service strategy, combining ride-hailing, food delivery, e-commerce, navigation, and embedded finance within its Super App.
In addition to services, Yango is emphasising digital talent development. It is expanding its Yango Fellowship programme into a pan-African initiative, with Abidjan serving as the training and coordination hub. The programme is designed to equip young Africans with the skills needed for the digital economy.
Competition in the Region
Yango enters a competitive West African market dominated by regional and global players. In the ride-hailing sector, it faces direct competition from Bolt, Heetch, and Gozem, which have established operations across major cities. In food delivery and logistics, players such as Glovo, Jumia Food, and Norebase have built customer bases and infrastructure.
Unlike its competitors, Yango is consolidating multiple services into a single Super App, positioning itself as an integrated alternative. The company’s strategy appears aimed at bypassing fragmented platforms by creating a seamless, all-in-one user experience tailored to African consumers.
Regional Impact in Francophone West Africa
The launch of the Abidjan office positions Côte d’Ivoire as a key technology and innovation hub for Francophone West Africa. The region, often underrepresented in pan-African digital investment strategies, stands to gain from Yango’s infrastructure, employment, and talent programmes.
The company’s presence is also expected to catalyse local partnerships and stimulate competition in transport, logistics, and digital payments. With the Super App model, Yango is effectively creating a digital framework that can adapt to local market conditions while enabling scalable cross-border services.
Cities such as Dakar, Ouagadougou, and Bamako may benefit from spillover effects, as Yango’s operational footprint expands and regional coordination improves through the Abidjan hub.
A Blueprint for Growth?
With its new headquarters in Abidjan, Yango is formalising its African footprint and preparing for sustained expansion. By combining its technology platform with local expertise and workforce development, the company is positioning itself to play a central role in Africa’s digital future. In a competitive and fast-evolving market, its integrated approach may offer a new model for growth in West Africa.
