Over the past decade, Benin has undergone a deep transformation of its infrastructure. Driven by substantial investment, the country has modernized its transport networks and logistics platforms. As leadership transitions, the challenge is to turn these gains into lasting social progress.

When Patrice Talon came to power in 2016, Benin had a significant infrastructure gap. His predecessor, Thomas Boni Yayi, who governed from 2006 to 2016, had initiated several projects in energy and roads, but the network remained broadly inadequate, cities were underdeveloped, and the port of Cotonou struggled to remain competitive.

A decade later, the landscape has changed. Through two successive Government Action Programs, the PAG 2016-2021 and PAG 2021-2026, Benin has committed more than 9,000 billion CFA francs ($16 billion) in investments to close the gap and strengthen its position in the subregion. That momentum is helping sustain economic growth, estimated at 7.5% in 2025 and projected to reach 7% in 2026, according to IMF data.

Land and Air Transport: From Connectivity Gaps to Territorial Development

The road network, long one of the country's weakest points, has expanded rapidly. More than 3,000 km of roads have been paved over the past decade, according to government data. Key arterial routes, including the Cotonou-Bohicon-Dassa corridor being widened to dual two-lane carriageways, along with northern corridors strengthening regional integration, are under construction to increase capacity to meet projected traffic demand.

In urban areas, the changes are even more visible. The Asphaltage project introduced a new standard for city streets. Its first phase delivered 672 km of paved urban roads across nine cities by 2021, before an expansion to additional towns beginning in 2024.

In Cotonou, the country's economic capital, major stormwater drainage works have reshaped flood-prone neighborhoods. Backed by a consortium of partners that includes the World Bank, the stormwater management program has delivered dozens of kilometers of drainage channels, paved roads and gutters, along with seven retention basins.

In total, more than 168,000 residents have benefited from these improvements, which include 46 km of primary collectors, 90 km of secondary collectors and gutters, and the paving and development of nearly 49 km of streets, supplemented by an additional 30 km of paved roads. The program also incorporated the construction of social and community infrastructure in affected areas, contributing to a lasting improvement in urban living conditions.

In aviation, the modernization of Cardinal Bernardin Gantin International Airport is a key milestone. Brought up to international standards, it handled around 550,000 passengers in 2025 and more than 7,700 metric tons of cargo, while improving the country's connectivity.

In parallel, the government has launched a project to build an airport at Glo-Djigbé at an estimated cost of 440 billion CFA francs. The project calls for a 3,400-meter runway, a 30,000-square-meter terminal, and capacity to handle 900 passengers per hour and 13,000 metric tons of cargo per year.

Port and Industry: Positioning for Regional Hub Status

The Port of Cotonou has also undergone a major transformation. Long criticized for its inefficiency, it has benefited from significant investment and a governance overhaul, supported by a modernization master plan valued at more than 500 billion CFA francs. Between 2017 and 2025, traffic rose from 9.4 million to more than 12 million metric tons, with processing times cut to under two hours in some cases. The port is now part of a more efficient logistics chain, backed by expansion projects, digitalization efforts and access improvements aimed at reducing congestion and strengthening its regional role.

Upstream, the Glo-Djigbé Industrial Zone, known by its French acronym GDIZ, developed with ARISE IIP, reflects the country's new industrial strategy. Planned across 10,000 hectares, of which 1,640 are already under development, it mobilized $1.4 billion in its first phase. Designed as a fully integrated industrial ecosystem, it aims to process raw materials locally, particularly cotton, and to create more than 300,000 jobs by 2030 by attracting investors.

Parakou, Benin's third-largest city located in the Borgou region, is a major commercial crossroads of more than 200,000 inhabitants, linking agricultural zones, including cotton-growing areas that account for nearly 40% of national production, to markets in Niger, Nigeria and other countries in the subregion. The rehabilitation of major roads has improved traffic safety, cut journey times by around 30 minutes and reduced accidents by nearly 20% since 2024, while strengthening trade with neighboring Niger and Nigeria.

Consolidating the Gains: Between Continuity and Social Expectations

Over the past decade, Benin has moved from a structural infrastructure deficit to an accelerated modernization drive. Romuald Wadagni, the former minister of state for economy and finance, who was elected with more than 94% of the vote, now leads the country. He inherits both those gains and significant challenges, including persistent territorial inequalities, limited social impact in some rural areas, and the imperative to translate infrastructure investments into sustainable and inclusive jobs.

Under his policy program, the new head of state plans to continue modernizing transport infrastructure to strengthen the country's connectivity. Priority projects include the commissioning of the Tourou airport, the development of river transport along the Ouémé River, the modernization of road transport, and the creation of a petroleum terminal at Sèmè-Podji.

Central to the strategy is strengthening east-west connectivity through new corridors linking Natitingou to Kérou and Prékété to Tchaourou, accompanied by safety and maintenance infrastructure.

"The aim is to equip Benin with a better-connected and more resilient road network, in order to facilitate the movement of people and goods, strengthen interregional trade and permanently reduce regional disparities," Wadagni's policy program states.

Benin has established itself as a country undergoing sweeping infrastructure change. The challenge in the years ahead will be to turn that momentum into a lasting driver of inclusive growth and regional integration.

Carelle Yourann