Benin has officially become a member of the Smart Africa Alliance, an organization established during the "Transform Africa" Summit held in Kigali, Rwanda, in October 2013. The move provides Benin with a platform to accelerate the development of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) in alignment with the government's digital transformation goals.
The ratification of the agreement establishing the Smart Africa Alliance took place during a plenary session of Benin’s National Assembly on Tuesday, January 23. This initiative is part of the broader efforts by the government to fast-track the country's digital transformation and position itself at the forefront of the ICT agenda in Africa.
A budget of CFA24.3 billion (about $40.3 million) has been allocated to the projects of the Ministry of Digitalization and Digital Transformation for FY 2024. In 2023, the amount allocated was CFA31 billion. By joining the Smart Africa Alliance, Benin will benefit from strengthened regional collaboration with other African nations that share a similar vision and objectives regarding digital development. This collaboration will facilitate the exchange of experiences, best practices, and knowledge. Additionally, the organization guarantees Benin access to resources and funding to support its digital initiatives.
Benin's membership in the Smart Africa Alliance is expected to enhance the quality and coverage of electronic communication services while reducing costs. According to the Regulatory Authority for Electronic Communications and Posts (ARCEP), Benin had 15.46 million mobile phone subscriptions in the second quarter of 2023. Overall, the country recorded 10.14 million subscribers to mobile internet services and 24,641 subscribers to fixed internet, according to the regulator's latest statistics (March 2023).
Lebara Group is now bringing its affordable and reliable mobile services to Africa, starting with Ni...
Transport and food prices have been climbing steadily across Africa in recent years. In Côte d’Ivoir...
• BOAD releases CFA10 billion ($17.8 million) to support Boungou and Wahgnion gold mines.• Burkina F...
In a West African financial landscape marked by tighter regulation of the fintech sector, digital fi...
• Maritime sector faces renewed risks amid military tensions in the Middle East• Blockade fears at S...
• South Sudan initiates a $58 million, four-year project to transform basic education nationwide.• The program aims to directly benefit over 300,000...
• Cape Verde reclassified as an upper-middle-income country due to a 16.8% rise in GNI per capita.• Namibia downgraded to lower-middle-income after a...
• Ivory Coast grants two new four-year gold exploration permits to Global Industries Sarl and Rampage Exploration Sarl.• National gold production reached...
• Global coffee consumption projected to hit a record 169.4 million 60-kg bags in 2025/2026, up from 166.5 million in 2024/2025.• China’s coffee demand...
The Gerewol tradition is a fascinating ritual celebrated by the Bororo Fulani, a nomadic community primarily located in Chad and Niger. This annual...
In northern Ethiopia, in the Tigray region, lies Axum (also spelled Aksum), an ancient city that once stood at the heart of one of Africa’s most powerful...