Mapping urban mobility and territorial accessibility in Kaya, Burkina Faso: Challenges for sustainable transport planning

Urban mobility has become one of the most pressing challenges facing secondary cities in the Sahel, particularly in contexts characterised by rapid demographic growth, forced displacement and limited transport infrastructure. The city of Kaya, located in north-central Burkina Faso, has experienced profound territorial transformations since the onset of the security crisis, resulting in a significant influx of internally displaced persons (IDPs) and increasing pressure on urban services and mobility systems. This study analyses the interactions between demographic dynamics, urban expansion and everyday mobility patterns in Kaya. The research draws on household mobility surveys, traffic counts, field observations and spatial analyses conducted in 2023. The findings reveal a mobility system dominated by walking (52.0%) and two-wheeled transport (46.5%), while collective transport remains almost non-existent. The study also identifies a strong concentration of traffic-generating activities around educational facilities and religious establishments, which together account for more than half of all traffic-generating points in the city. Furthermore, the results demonstrate that 57% of residents consider their primary mode of transport inadequate for their mobility needs. The rapid growth of the displaced population has intensified mobility demand and increased pressure on transport infrastructure, particularly within the most densely populated sectors. The paper argues that the mobility challenges observed in Kaya are closely linked to broader processes of urban restructuring induced by demographic change and forced migration. Strengthening urban mobility planning, improving accessibility and promoting sustainable transport policies therefore emerge as critical priorities for supporting inclusive urban development in rapidly transforming secondary cities of the Sahel.