In recent years, Benin has been investing heavily in developing its road network. To tackle mobility challenges, such as traffic congestion, the authorities are looking to implement a digital and tech-driven management system.

Benin is planning to use technology to improve the management of its road traffic. This information comes from Ranti Akindès, the Director General of the Road Infrastructure and Territorial Development Company (SIRAT), who was recently interviewed by Ecofin Agency.

"We have a program that will allow us, through connected devices, to manage and understand traffic flows and control circulation. It’s like the valves of the heart that regulate the flow of blood. Similarly, we will be able to interact with intersections so that they allow more or fewer vehicles to pass, spreading traffic more evenly over longer distances," Akindès explained. He also mentioned another key aspect of the initiative: the advanced scheduling of road maintenance work.

The initiative refers to the "smart mobility" model, which uses advanced technologies like connected devices, sensors, cameras, real-time data, and artificial intelligence to optimize traffic management, improve road safety, reduce congestion, and promote more sustainable transportation.

This plan is revealed as Benin, despite making large investments in recent years to expand its road network, continues to face the challenge of managing traffic effectively, especially in major cities like Cotonou, Abomey-Calavi, and Porto-Novo. This issue, which is common in many emerging African cities, also has a particularly structural aspect, according to Akindès.

"We, the people of Benin, have unfortunately, in many cases, gotten used to owning our own means of transportation. Everyone takes their own motorcycle or car, but especially motorcycles, as we are a country where two-wheelers are very popular," he said.

However, experts point out that implementing some forms of smart mobility requires intelligent infrastructure and a suitable vehicle fleet, such as connected vehicles. These vehicles, equipped with technologies like Vehicle-to-Vehicle (V2V) and Vehicle-to-Infrastructure (V2I) communication, can exchange information about traffic conditions, obstacles, weather, and more.

In Africa, countries like South Africa, Morocco, and Egypt are leaders in these types of initiatives. However, experts warn that issues like infrastructure delays and aging vehicle fleets could hinder the widespread implementation of these systems in many African countries.