Uber Exits Four African Markets Amid Rising Competition

Uber Technologies exited four African markets over the past year, including withdrawals from Tanzania and Ivory Coast and the discontinuation of operations in Nigeria and Uganda on September 2. The company attributed these departures to affordability challenges in price-sensitive regions and increasing competition from lower-cost alternatives such as Bolt, inDrive, and Yango.

The exit from Nigeria disrupted the livelihoods of approximately 50,000 drivers, leading the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission to launch an investigation into the company's departure. In a related shift in the regional mobility sector, the Nigerian startup Moove announced plans to withdraw from its domestic market on October 8.

Despite these withdrawals, Uber maintains that Africa remains strategically important. The company reported over one billion completed trips across the continent and announced plans to invest more than $300 million in South Africa.