Only a few months after it launched in the West African country, the ride-hailing service Yango, owned by Russian internet giant Yandex, was suspended by Togo’s transport ministry due to security concerns.
The ministry said in a statement on Thursday that Yango started operating in June against national protocol and without permission.
According to the ministry, worries about passenger safety, law and order, and legal processes led to the decision.
The announcement read, “As a result, the operator YANGO’s activities are suspended throughout the entire national territory.”
According to Yango, the ride-hailing business had its headquarters in Dubai and ran separately from Yandex. It stated that negotiations were in progress with the Togolese authorities and that it was optimistic that an agreement would be reached to carry on with activities there.