At the invitation of the Economic and Social Council (CES), a team from the Ministry of Digital Affairs and Digitalisation led by the Minister Aurelie ADAM SOULE ZOUMAROU held an information session on the Digital Code on Thursday 24 July 2025, to enable the institution's members to grasp the implications of this major reform for Benin's development in the digital age.
An indispensable legal framework
Adopted in 2017 and updated in 2024, the Digital Code is the legal foundation of the country's digital transformation. The Minister Aurelie ADAM SOULE ZOUMAROU stressed that the Digital Code responds above all to a necessity: that of regulating the use of digital technology, just as the highway code regulates traffic. “The Internet is like a motorway: rules must be set to guarantee the safety and efficiency of all users,” she illustrated.
This law thus gives operators a clear framework in which to conduct their activities, launch new services or deploy digital infrastructure. It also provides for penalties for offenders, thereby creating a climate of trust for citizens and businesses.
A lever for the digital economy
Beyond the regulatory aspect, the Minister highlighted the liberating role of the Code. By recognising the legal validity of electronic documents and digital signatures, it makes the digitisation of public and private services possible. “Without this Code, most of our online procedures would have no legal value,” she explained.
Thanks to these provisions, Benin's digital economy can take shape, attract investment and encourage innovation. “This document is a fundamental pillar of our digital economy,” the Minister concluded.
At the end of the session, the President of the CES, Mr Conrad GBAGUIDI, praised the quality of the exchanges and reaffirmed the institution's commitment to supporting the implementation of the Code. He stressed the importance of collective ownership of this strategic reform, which is an essential lever for the modernisation of public administration and the socio-economic development of Benin.