• The Vision 2060 roadmap places digital technology among key growth drivers
• The strategy prioritizes AI, digital inclusion, and cybersecurity
• Structural gaps persist in skills, coverage, financing, and governance

Yesterday, Benin officially launched its roadmap intended to guide the country’s development over the next 35 years. The “Vision Benin 2060 Alafia, a World of Splendors,” gives digital technology a priority role in advancing Benin’s socio-economic ambitions.

?? Placée sous le haut parrainage de @PatriceTalonPR, la Vision Bénin 2060, «Alafia, un monde de splendeurs», a été officiellement lancée ce 03 février 2026 à Cotonou. Cette Vision constitue une véritable boussole stratégique pour le développement du Bénin à l'horizon 2060. pic.twitter.com/OErPzmShuN

— Présidence du Bénin (@PresidenceBenin) February 3, 2026

The document states that the national diagnostic identified several major drivers of transformation, including opportunities linked to the digital transition. Authorities plan to accelerate the development of digital technologies, with a strong focus on artificial intelligence. The Vision positions technology not only as a modernization tool, but also as a strategic lever for sovereignty, competitiveness, and collective empowerment.

To meet its 2060 objectives, the government says Benin must ensure equitable digital inclusion across the country, strengthen technological sovereignty through research, training, and local innovation, secure cyberspace and critical infrastructure, and integrate digital tools more deeply into public policy, education, and productive activities.

Digital technology is expected to reshape several priority sectors. In healthcare, planned investments target medical technologies and the digitalization of the health system. In education, the strategy calls for wider use of digital tools to expand access to learning content, alongside stronger emphasis on technological education to support youth integration into the digital economy and future industries.

In productive sectors, the use of information technology, digital tools, and artificial intelligence aims to optimize production processes, improve traceability, boost innovation, and raise productivity. Public administration reform is another pillar, with the objective of delivering more efficient, accessible, and user-focused digital public services.

Under the preferred scenario outlined in the Vision, the national economy transitions toward industrialization and digitalization, supporting the emergence of high value-added competitiveness hubs in strategic areas such as digital services, digital finance, and sustainable tourism. Benin aims to position itself as a leading player in Africa’s digital economy.

The growth of innovative startups, wider adoption of fintech solutions, and increasing use of artificial intelligence are expected to drive lasting changes in production, consumption, and learning patterns. Authorities also foresee the development of an inclusive and competitive national digital cultural economy, supported by new digital distribution channels.

In a more optimistic scenario, Benin begins a shift from a largely informal economy toward a more formal and circular one, supported by artificial intelligence and technological innovation. Over the longer term, key sectors such as mechanized and automated agriculture, industry, and digital services are expected to record strong growth, backed by public and private investment.

Strengths, weaknesses, and risks

These ambitions build on progress made between 2000 and 2024, including improved telecom infrastructure, rising skills levels, more diversified digital services, a relatively supportive regulatory environment, early steps in public service digitalization, and the availability of key infrastructure such as a national data center, an Internet exchange point, and a national electronic payment platform. Benin also benefits from a unique digital identifier for each citizen and its participation in the SAT-3 and ACE submarine cable systems, which enhance international connectivity.

The document highlights several factors that could accelerate digital transformation, including global technological advances, international partnerships, access to external financing, the expansion of e-commerce, political commitment to broader Internet use, and supranational strategies, particularly at the African Union level. Centers of excellence in applied mathematics and information and communication technologies are also cited as assets for local skills development.

At the same time, the strategy identifies persistent weaknesses and risks. These include uneven ICT coverage, limited financing and support for technology startups, governance and regulatory challenges, low digital skills among large segments of the population, reliance on imported technologies, Internet fragmentation, and the circulation of equipment that does not always meet regulatory standards.

According to the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), 2G, 3G, 4G, and 5G networks covered 98%, 85%, 85%, and 5% of Benin’s population in 2024, respectively. Mobile phone penetration reached 61.3% in 2023, compared with 32.2% for Internet use.

On digital governance, Benin ranked 146th globally in the United Nations E-Government Development Index in 2024, scoring above the African average but below the global benchmark. The country is also placed in the second tier of the ITU Global Cybersecurity Index, with room for improvement identified in capacity building and international cooperation.

Isaac K. Kassouwi