The Swedish group, a century-old global leader, is offering Chad an "integrated global package." This means that Stockholm's expertise will not be limited to the delivery of robust buses adapted to the Sahelian climate, but will encompass the entire architecture of the network: route planning, advanced maintenance, driver training, and even institutional support to regulate this new market. Chad aims to avoid the mistakes of the past by acquiring a turnkey system capable of withstanding the test of time and the desert dust.

This Chadian offensive is not an isolated event. It is part of a regional dynamic where neighboring Cameroon serves as a laboratory. Since 2022, Scania, supported by the Swedish public institution Swedfund, has been conducting numerous feasibility studies in Douala and Yaoundé to deploy up to 600 buses by 2027. Chad is closely observing these models, which integrate electronic ticketing and real-time passenger information. For N'Djamena, the challenge is to transform its boulevards into genuine development corridors. By progressively replacing the disorder of private minibuses with a fleet of low-emission buses powered by biodiesel or biogas, the country is killing two birds with one stone: modernizing its capital while respecting its climate commitments.

However, the operational challenge remains significant. Structuring a network in a city where urbanization has often preceded planning requires an iron political will. The success of this partnership with Scania will depend on the government's ability to clear dedicated lanes and integrate informal transport actors into this new value chain.

CK