March 24, 2025 – Tunisia has taken drastic action against ride-hailing giant Bolt and other similar apps, suspending their operations as of today following allegations of fraud, money laundering, and tax evasion. The decision, announced by the Ministry of Interior, has sparked a mixed reaction: relief for many Tunisians tired of exorbitant taxi fares, and frustration among transport professionals who relied on these platforms for income.
Investigation Targets Bolt and Ride-Hailing Apps
The Tunisian National Guard’s Financial Unit launched an investigation into Bolt, an Estonian-based multinational, and other ride-hailing services, uncovering what authorities describe as serious financial misconduct. According to a Ministry of Interior statement, these companies are suspected of operating without proper licenses or using fraudulent permits. Worse still, they allegedly funneled funds overseas in violation of Tunisia’s strict foreign exchange regulations.
Bolt, a dominant player in Tunisia’s urban centers like Tunis and Sfax, has been singled out as the primary target. The company, which boasts 4.5 million partner drivers worldwide, reportedly had accounts linked to illegal transfers seized by authorities. In total, approximately 12 million Tunisian dinars (around 3.5 million euros) were confiscated from several ride-hailing firms. These companies have since been removed from the Tunisian Commercial Registry, and their local offices shuttered.
Why Tunisians Turned to Apps Like Bolt
The rise of ride-hailing apps in Tunisia reflects deeper issues with the country’s crumbling public transport infrastructure. In Tunis, a bustling capital of over 2 million people, buses and trains have deteriorated over the past decade due to chronic underfunding and neglect. For many, services like Bolt offered a lifeline—reliable transport that could be booked in advance, especially during rush hours when traditional taxis were scarce or overpriced.
Yet, this convenience came at a cost. Fares on these apps often tripled compared to standard taxis, a frustration echoed across social media by users fed up with drivers exploiting the system. Some traditional taxi drivers even posed as Bolt operators, either to inflate prices or refuse rides outright, adding to the chaos.
A Pricing Paradox Unique to Tunisia
What sets Tunisia apart is how ride-hailing platforms evolved—or devolved—in the local market. Unlike their original mission to provide affordable alternatives to taxis, apps like Bolt integrated traditional taxi drivers into their systems. This blurred the lines between regulated taxis and private hire vehicles, creating a logistical and pricing mess. Instead of undercutting taxi fares, these platforms often charged more, defying the very ethos of ride-hailing services.
The Ministry of Interior’s crackdown leaves thousands of drivers in limbo. Many, already in precarious employment, now face unemployment as the apps they depended on vanish overnight. Critics argue that rather than seeking legal legitimacy, these companies exploited Tunisia’s regulatory gaps, ultimately undermining their own model.
What’s Next for Tunisia’s Transport Sector?
The suspension of Bolt and its peers exposes the broader challenges facing Tunisia’s transport system. While the public welcomes relief from inflated fares, the loss of these services risks deepening the urban mobility crisis. Traditional taxis may reclaim some ground, but without investment in public infrastructure, the underlying issues remain unresolved.
For now, the Tunisian government appears focused on rooting out financial misconduct. Whether this marks the end of ride-hailing apps in the country or a chance for reform remains unclear. One thing is certain: the fallout from this decision will ripple through Tunisia’s streets for months to come.
